Psychiatric Medications

[beautyforashes 0]

I struggle with bipolar disorder and have a number of psychiatric medications that I need to take to remain stable. Crushing up most of my pills would not be an issue, but I have one that is extended release that would be changed if crushed. How are medications, etc. dealt with in post op and beyond?

[RJ'S/beginning 5,357]

I am on medications for depression and I take them without crushing them up. You will have no problem with that at all. Just make sure there is plenty of sipping Water after okay!

[WL WARRIOR 690]

I agree. I never had to crush a pill or take liquid form even the day after surgery. You do need to be careful and take one pill at a time.

[chasingpolaris321 214]

I am bipolar as well and did struggle a bit with my medications after having the sleeve surgery. liquid lithium is perhaps the grossest thing on the planet, and some medications are really bitter when crushed. I got through it, but was told not to swallow whole pills for a month. I ended up quartering most of them instead of crushing and that made it manageable. I take four medications and so most of my struggle was the dozens of tiny pill pieces I had to take the time to slowly swallow.

[AngelaWilliamsMD 290]

You may need to speak with your pharmacist about the best way to handle this, as you can't quarter or smash an extended release drug.

[chasingpolaris321 214]

You may need to speak with your pharmacist about the best way to handle this, as you can't quarter or smash an extended release drug.

Right, sorry, just to clarify I did take the extended form of one of my pills and my doctor switched it to the non extended version twice a day. FOR SURE run everything by your surgeon and psychiatrist, they are the only ones who can help you figure out what's right. Quartering my pills was cleared by my doctor, but it is completely dependent on the medication whether or not that works.

Good luck!