Hello all- since banding I am taking my meds crushed up and they are AWFUL! Any suggestions as to how to make the meds go down easier? I have tried to mix with apple sauce and jello, but it doesnt help. I would greatly appreciate any feedback...Suzy

Me too! I take 12 pills in the am and 14 in the pm and it is bad..but better than getting sick on swallowing the pills whole like I used to try and do! Try using sugar free jello PUDDING. I like the vanila because it is super sweet. Crush up your pills and do it a little at a time not all of them at once. When you get the yummy mixture in your mouth put it way back to your throat and swallow fast. You do not want to swirl the mixture around as soon as it hits your mouth get rid of it...and remember a tiny bit at a time is less bitter. I hope this helps. Hang in there!

Some medications are available in liquid form. Ask your doctor to prescribe the liquid form, if that is not available see if you can switch to a similiar med that is available in a liquid. Sometimes a pharmacist can make recommendations to (as far as helping get pills down.) or liquid forms of meds.

Hi, My name is Earlene. I had surgery November 7th and have my first fill this Thursday, the 21st. I am very worried about my medications. Most of them are in capsule form. I take some time released ones and take potassium (six in all) that are the size of a medium button. I am worried about them getting stuck. I know I can get liquid potassium but I'm concerned about the time released ones. I am hungry now and try to eat more slowly. I've lost some weight but not as much as many I've heard about and I am hoping after the first fill, the weight will start to drop faster.

Thanks for any advice.

Earlene

I mix my crushed pills with a bit of honey...it still tastes bitter but the honey sweetens it enough to make it palatable.

becky

For the most part, I have the liquid or chewable version. However, one of my meds is Prilosec OTC which is a time release pill. I just swallow it whole and it hasnt been a problem but it is a fairly small tablet.

Thank you for the info. I take Nexium which is about the same size as Prilosec so perhaps it will be okay and I won't have a problem. How much weight did you lose after your first fill? I'm anxious to start seeing the scale go DOWN. Thanks!

Earlene:)

I wouldn't smash them, I would split them. They are whole that way. Make them into a size of an M&M and they will pass through the band no problem. Good luck.

I cut mine in 1/4's and take it that way. If you are having problems, ask for the med's in liquid form.

I didnt think of cutting the pill up into pieces, good idea! I'll try it! Thanks

Please be careful with cutting/crushing pills. Many of the once a day tablets are sustained release in nature and cutting/crushing them will negate many 24 hour release mechanisms, dumping a day's worth of the medication into your body at once.

You might want to look up a community/independent pharmacy (unlike a Wlgreens or CVS) and see if they do any liquid compounding. They will know which meds can be compounded into a liquid and which one's should not be.

Thank you for the advice about the time released pills. I managed to get all my meds down this morning except the potassium and I need to call my doctor to get a prescription for the liquid form. Thank you for the good advice!

Pudding was my answer but make sure they are not time released pills. I had a time release and thought I was going to die. I called the poison control hot line because I was having trouble breathing after I took the meds with a pain killer. duhhhh

Me too! I take 12 pills in the am and 14 in the pm and it is bad..but better than getting sick on swallowing the pills whole like I used to try and do! Try using sugar free jello PUDDING. I like the vanila because it is super sweet. Crush up your pills and do it a little at a time not all of them at once. When you get the yummy mixture in your mouth put it way back to your throat and swallow fast. You do not want to swirl the mixture around as soon as it hits your mouth get rid of it...and remember a tiny bit at a time is less bitter. I hope this helps. Hang in there![/quot

why do you take so many pills if you don't mind me asking?I would like to know is it the result of the lapband surgery because I don't take that many pills

Scorpio, none of the medications I take are Lap Band related. To be perfectly honest I would rather not disclose my medical history and to tell you my meds I would have to do so. Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

I use pudding sometimes too, but have found a bite or two on my meds and it gets small enough to chase down with some tea. Metformin is salty, Benecar is ok, my Cymbalta, I just open the capsule and take. Have had no problems with it.

After a fill, I will mix with pudding or yogurt. Have even been known to use sour cream in a pinch...