hi guys, I was wondering how everyone takes their pills now that they are banded? i take between 0-4 pills a day some of them seem large.

Are all medications available in liquid form?

Anyone take liquid Advil (Napraxen)

Liquid Vicadin for pain (yuck)

or any other commonly prescribed pain medication like tramadol, or something?

how do you know if a medication is crushable or not?

Thanks Guys :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

Any pills that are enteric coated or time released or sustained release are NOT crushable. As for me, I take MANY pills a day (heart condition and iron deficiency anemia) and have no problems swallowing them.

I was told, anything smaller than a pencil eraser should be fine. BUT, I take no chances. The only pill I take whole is about the size of a birth control pill. The multi Vitamin I take is chewable. Any time I need something for pain, if it comes in pill form I break it up because I just can't stand it pulverized into powder and I HATE the liquid forms. I have some liquid tylenol with codeine and plain tylenol, but unless I'm desperate I don't take it. YUCK! :yuck:

As for liquid advil (ibuprofen), I'd talk to my doctor about that. Any NSAID (non-steroidal anti inflammatory) like ibuprofen or naproxyn (aleve) is not highly recommended for bandsters. Because they affect the lining of the stomach and the stomach acids, putting patients at risk for stomach ulcers that effect is amplified in bandsters due to our pouch/band anatomy. I was told it didn't necessarily have anything to do with the medication sitting in the pouch, but it was the chemistry of the drug and how it affected the stomach lining. My doc made me stop taking mine before surgery and I haven't taken any since.

When I took vicoden after a minor surgery, I just broke it into three smaller pieces and swallowed it. Sometimes, I put it in pudding or yogurt to help it go down better.

Most medications either come in liquid form or can be crushed. The only ones that cannot be crushed are the ones that are enteric coated or sustained release. These should be clearly marked "do not crush" on the labels. When in doubt, ask the pharmacist at your local pharmacy. Capsules work the same, they can be opened and the powder taken unless the insides are sustained release. Some bandsters take capsules whole after the gel-like shell has been softened in Water.

My doctor wants all pills crushed no matter their size. I put them in a little bit of boost or ensure and drink them down in the morning. I take 6 pills. I stopped taking my aciphex. lap doctor said i shouldn't have to take it anymore. So far he's right. no problems. I have also put the crushed pills in a little bit of coffee. However, the heat may affect some type of pills so I don't do that as often anymore.

I take extended release Toprol for migrain prevention and blood pressure, and it is extended release and does not come in liquid form. So what can I do? Pharmacist says ask the doctor and the doctor says ask the pharmacist.

I take extended release Toprol for migrain prevention and blood pressure, and it is extended release and does not come in liquid form. So what can I do? Pharmacist says ask the doctor and the doctor says ask the pharmacist.

Have you tried to swallow the pill? You can't cut the pill or crush it if it's extended release. A "trick" I use is to chew a pretzel until it's pastey and then pop the pill into it just before I swallow. It works everytime!

Thank goodness I don't have any prescription meds to take. I was concerned about this pre-op b/c I popped Tylenol sinus like popcorn. Oddly enough - I've only had a handful since banding. I use liquid Tylenol (cherry, not vanilla - gag) with a chaser of liquid Benadryl. Works faster than the pills I used to take.

I tried crushing the pills early on & mixing them in food but they were so vile I decided the pain was worth not having to taste it.

I take a few medications daily and just swallow them like normal... never had any problem. I just make sure I drink a lot of water with them and I'm good! My biggest pill is half the size of the lid of a tube of chapstick and the 2 others are tiny so maybe that's why?

If some of the pills are larger, you might do better taking them at night instead of in the morning. I take 2 prescriptions a day, but they are pretty small. The multivitamin I have is a friggin horse pill and I have to take 2 of them. I *can* take them, but I am looking for something chewable instead.

I take 4 pills and all different sizes. What has worked for me is that when I'm eating and am ready to swallow I pop the pill in my mouth and it goes down with the food.

I split mine with a pill splitter I got a longs. I asked my doctor first if these could be split so make sure you do that prior. Some of the drug chemistry does not allow them to be split. Good luck.

I sometimes take vicodin and soma for back pain. I chop the pills up quite fine and then swallow them a few pieces at a time.

I use a Pill Crusher and it works just fine. I crush the pill and mix it with it yogurt. I tried pudding and it also works but I like yogurt best.