Medication Question

I am scheduled for RNY on April 14.

 

I am wondering about the body's ability to process medication after the surgery.  I currently take 8 pills/capsules every morning.  Two are fish oil, two are Vitamin D, one is a multi vitamin and three are medications in capsule and tablet form.

 

Will I be able to keep taking these pills?  Will I have to split them up throughout the day?  Will I have to get them in liquid form...and if so how do I find out if they even come in liquid form?

 

So many questions....thanks in advance.

 

--Gillian

im on 8 medications as well vitimins and other medical meds. At first I had to take them through out the day now I can take them twice a day im 2months out

Nurse here - I strongly suggest you speak with BOTH your prescriber and surgeon regarding medication absorption. If their opinions do not match up - find a third, reliable/professional, opinion.

The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery says it's OK to take pills after surgery, as soon as you can tolerate it.  I was able to swallow pills the same day as my surgery with no trouble.

If you want to know if medications come in liquid form, you can ask your pharmacist.

RNY patients are advised not to take extended release medications, because due to our shortened digestive tract, they won't be in our system long enough to be fully absorbed.  If any of your meds are extended release, ask your doctor if they can prescribe non-extended release versions instead.

As Kelly said, you should be fine as long as none of the medications are extended release.  You might need to space them out initially, immediately after surgery, but you will eventually reach a point where taking 8 pills at once shouldn't be any issue.  I've taken 5 at once, one of which was a large extra strength colace.  No biggie.

I folded fast on using chewables. I hated them. I just wanted to echo previous advice about extended release meds. Just in case you are on a xr antidepressant like some of us were. My doc had to call the pharmacist to get my meds converted. Pharmacist knew what was available in regular form.

One more thing is meds tend not to last as long for me as they do for non-ops. So painkillers and my Effexor both tend to wear off a bit early.

 

Thanks for all the responses.  I don't think that any of my meds are extended release.  I plan to speak to the doctor about it when I go in for my pre-op appointment.