Carafate post op...how long?

I was thinking the Carafate would be for four months post op, but I noticed my bottle is marked for 5 refills over the year.  It is NOT cheap, and I was wondering if it's a year or just 4 months?  Same too I guess with the Prevacid and Lexapro.  I know the Lexapro is to help with all the changes, and even just two weeks post op I feel pretty good about everything.  How long did you stay on it? Is there a weaning process?  Is the Prevacid for the first year?

I only had to take it for 1 month.  Then I was put on nexium.

Hmmmm...I was only put on it when I had an ulcer..twice. Each time was ~4-6 weeks I think. It sounds like maybe some surgeons are starting to prescribe it as a preventive measure. Rather than go through having an ulcer....and some of them can be bad enough to require a revision...I think that is probably well spent money. You might want to check at WalMart, Target, or Kroger's and see if it's included in their $4 per script list. It, or a generic form of it may be. I know several other places are having the discounted scripts too so you may just want to call around.               Sherri

Amy, I wasnt sent home on Carafate. It wasnt until I got my ulcer that I had to start taking Carafate.  I just had the Prevacid and Lexapro. So not sure on the Carafate.  You could just always call and ask them if you have to take it and if so for how long. As far as the Lexapro, I took it for about 3 weeks and just stopped taking it.  I wasnt depressed or having any troubles with coping, so I just stopped taking it. I told Dr. Gupta and she said that was fine. I am 7 months post op and still taking Prevacid, but then again I had an ulcer back in January.

I'll talk to Dr E at my post op check up on the 29th about the Carafate.  I seem to remember him telling me 4 months, and he said they are now prescribing it as a preventative measure because studies have shown significant improvement in healing with Carafate and prevacid, as opposed to prevacid alone.  I get my scrips at Meijer, and actually, now that I look at my receipts, the Prevacid was $75! UGH!!! The Carafate was $45.  Oy.....

I took that crap for about a week.  DISGUSTING!!!!   I am still on Prevacid over 18 months out.   I never filled the Lexapro. 

I talked to the pharmacist the night I got home from the hospital, because it is nasty tasting, and they suggested refrigerating it...HUGE difference in the taste! Not that it's good by any stretch, but it's certainly a lot easier to get down when it's cold.

i have to choke that stuff down. at my month check, the nurse i talked to said to really try to get it in 2-3 times a day. the 4th one was a try it but don't beat yourself up if you can't. i had 45 refills on my bottle and was worried i had to take it forever. doc evanson said that if i was doing good at 3 months then the carafate would stop, but the prevacid had to stay for 18 months. the combo is a big ulcer preventative. thanks for the fridge tip. i'm going to go scrounge my bottles up and stick them there. and ick. that stuff is seriously nasty.