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Depression and Anxiety Meds

I hope someone has been in the same situation I am in and can set my mind at ease.

I take Wellbutrin XL and Effexor XR. My surgeon told me to contact my psychiatrist and tell him about my surgery so that he can change my meds. Mainly get me off of the extended release because they can't be crushed. I was also told to ask about liquid meds. I can't imagine being without my medications. Let's just say that I'm not a pleasant person to be around if I miss taking doses for more than two days. I really don't want to go back there mentally. Anyone else with this kind of situation? Were you able to take your meds while on the clear liquid phase? Were you eventually able to take pills again?

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Yes the XR will be an issue, easily rectified. Please bear in mind that Effexor is widely known for its weight gaining side effects!

Good luck

I'm waiting to hear the same. I'm on Wellbutrin XL on the morning and Duloxetine in the evening. No anxiety meds, although I'm on atenelol for my rapid heart beat. I have 9 scripts, take about 30 pills a day with my vitamins. Thinking about crushing all of these and taking them scares me. Actually makes me ill, but I guess I have to figure it out. We can do it!

I'm with Kaiser. My surgeon told me that any pill that is smaller than a pencil eraser does not have to be crushed. I'm on wellbutrin XL and he said I don't have to crush them.

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My dr switched me to regular Wellbutrin three times a day instead on xl. Also taking 20 mg of Lexapro. I don't need to crush any pills.. just take them w Water.

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Hi Carrie. You're not alone in this! I take lexapro and Cymbalta. The lexapro is not a concern due to immediate release but my NP changed my Cymbalta from 30mg daily to 20mg BID. I've been instructed not to take more than 3 pills at a time. So far I have not had an issue while on the liquid diet.

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  • Author

Thank you to everyone for the answers. I'm calling my psychiatrist next week to get the Wellbutrin XL changed and to see what he says about the Effexor XR. Life is not so great if I forget to take the Effexor...for anyone. I definitely don't want to be having to fight that battle on top of just having surgery. I've also heard that the surgery can make you overly emotional too as you loose weight. Is this because of the hormones released as you lose or something else?

I haven't heard that about being over emotional, but due to my depression I was forced to get into therapy months before they would approve me for surgery. They did not mess around and took my depression very seriously and insisted that I sign paperwork promising to continue therapy and nurse practitioner visits for med management. I was emotional and anxious when I was in pain while in the hospital but have not noticed any other increase in anxiety or emotions. It is best to be prepared just in case with a great support system.

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You know it was weird but I had to really push treating my depression at the hospital stay. I really glad i planned out everything with my depression treatment beforehand.

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I'm waiting to hear the same. I'm on Wellbutrin XL on the morning and Duloxetine in the evening. No anxiety meds, although I'm on atenelol for my rapid heart beat. I have 9 scripts, take about 30 pills a day with my Vitamins. Thinking about crushing all of these and taking them scares me. Actually makes me ill, but I guess I have to figure it out. We can do it!

I'm in the same situation. Tried crushing but couldn't stomach all that. I got a pill splitter and break them into little pieces that I could swallow down. Much better. Hope this helps.

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I am also on Wellbutrin XL but had to switch over to 1 1/2 pills twice a day. My surgeon told me I have to crush it for the first six weeks. Also on Trileptal twice a day - liquid - which isn't awful. Also on liquid Zoloft - the worst taste I have ever encountered. :(

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I'm a little confused. Do you think you'll be able to get off of the depression and anxiety meds after surgery?

I forgot to take my meds for three days once because I had to take care of something that was totally outside my normal schedule and threw me off. Anyway, I noticed that I was getting pretty irritated with everyone by the end of day one. By the middle of day two, my mood was all over the place. My irritability greatly increased. I just wanted peace and quiet. Day three was bad...so bad...I wound up curled up on my bed sobbing. My husband then asked me if I had taken my meds. I realized that I hadn't. I took them immediately and started feeling much, much better by the next day. So, as far as I'm concerned, they can pry those pills out of my cold, dead hands. I don't plan on getting rid of them anytime soon. I honestly just don't do well without them whether I'm thin or not.

Well I was told the same thing about XL drugs too. I had a rnygb Nov 30th and it was a concern but I swallowed them post surgery in front of the PA and she was pretty amazed and they've lost none of their effectiveness! I take a very small dose of MS Contin for chronic pain which I am happy to report is going away just by virtue of weight loss!!! I'm cutting down on others as well like Lyrica and I'm finding I can live without the pain meds. Depression and anxiety is another story though! I still require those

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