Hi Everyone,

I'm new here, hoping to be banded soon if I'm approved. My question is....I have a medication that I have to take every day - it's a 75 mg capsule. Although it won't be a problem to have the surgery, I'm wondering how I will get the meds down after I've been banded. I can't take the beads out of the capsule apparently. Has anyone had a similar experience, and how did you manage?

well, this thread touches on my #1 gripe.

I asked the doctor a thousand times about taking my meds after the surgery, and he just glossed right over it.

Fact is, now he wont let me take any pills (tablets or capsules) no matter what the size...and the crushed up powder or capsule contents simply DO NOT WORK AS WELL AS BEFORE. They spike early, and then wear off way too early. (Not to mention that I am being forced to eat 2 small cups of applesause a day - that I dont really want to eat.)

It was my #1 concern before the procedure, and its my #1 concern now.

Yeah, I've lost some weight. But my cholesterol med isnt working as well, my blood pressure med isnt working as well, my diabetes med isnt working as well, etc.

I just dont understand why I cant take pills the size of aspirins. Others on here say they have the green light to take aspirin size pills.

If there are beads in the capsule, then it might be an extended release formula, and bandsters can't use extended release. I had to switch from Effexor XR to regular Effexor, which grinds up easily but tastes really bitter. I tried to take it today in a little Crystal Lite but gagged. I'll try something else tomorrow. I may have to violate the clear liquids rule and use a little applesauce, which works better. My other medication, I just empty out the capsule into a little Crystal Lite and it tastes fine. Hopefully, the huge money-grubbing pharmaceutical companies will jump on the bandster bandwagon and make liquid versions.

Thanks for reminding me about these flavor kits. I think I saw a sign at CVS pharmacy that they can add flavors. I may ask if I can buy directly from them.

well, this thread touches on my #1 gripe.

I asked the doctor a thousand times about taking my meds after the surgery, and he just glossed right over it.

Fact is, now he wont let me take any pills (tablets or capsules) no matter what the size...and the crushed up powder or capsule contents simply DO NOT WORK AS WELL AS BEFORE. They spike early, and then wear off way too early. (Not to mention that I am being forced to eat 2 small cups of applesause a day - that I dont really want to eat.)

It was my #1 concern before the procedure, and its my #1 concern now.

Yeah, I've lost some weight. But my cholesterol med isnt working as well, my blood pressure med isnt working as well, my diabetes med isnt working as well, etc.

I just dont understand why I cant take pills the size of aspirins. Others on here say they have the green light to take aspirin size pills.

I was told that any medications except b;ood pressure meds could be discontinued, but I think that is a dangerous approach. I have discontinued my diabetic med, but can't stop some of the others. I agree that doctors do not give this subject enough attention. I'm told the opening after banding is the size of a pencil eraser and an aspirin would get stuck!

Why can you not use extended release capsules? That is something I was never told and have never had a problem with. Actually, it's one type my doctor prefers I use if I can. It's easy to take. I took Effexor XR for 2 years without any problem, until med side effects caused other issues. Even though you open the capsule they still release the medication in small amounts. I also use a pill chopper, not crusher. It make the pill pieces the size of a birth control pill and that's the size my doctor always said was ok. Nothing bigger. So today I chop 6 tablets, been doing this combo for 6 months with no problems. Since there's so much when chopped, they've become my evening snack! LOL! I just take a little at a time.

Edited June 30, 200818 yr by Teakwood

I'm not so sure about that. I was banded last Wednesday and I have no problems taking my meds which consist of an aspirin size tablet and a capsule. Of course I haven't had any fills yet, but swallowing has not been a problem at all. I sometimes wonder if I have a band at all! LOL

Prozac comes in liquid. It tastes like hell.....but I'd rather make one mean face a day than mean faces all day long.

your medicine might come in 37.5 mg form--ask your dr. to prescribe 2 of those per day, rather than 1 75 mg capsule---they are easier to take. (i have the same issue).

good luck!

-girlinnyc

I feel your pain and admire your strength. I am on Lithium and was taking the liquid. It is undesribably awful. It was one I had flavored. Then it just tasted like grape flavored salt! I've also been on Depakote. That one tastes like dirty socks with cherry flavoring! Even my doctor told me the both would taste bad. I got off the Depakote because of side effects and switched to the Lithium tablets because I couldn't stand that it took me 5 minutes to swallow one medicine cup of Lithium. My stomach started to churn at the site of the bottle! LOL! It's actually flip-floping just thinking about it!

I had my surgery June 13th and have been taking my tablets successfully w/o crushing. Two can be crushed (anti-d 1 & bp med), one can't, antidepressant 2, but it couldn't cope with the taste and just gave it a go. Doc said if I couldn't handle I would know because I would throw up. I don't take them all at the same time. I take one before shower, one after, and one after I have done hair/make-up and got dressed.

Will this change after I get fills?

I am tempted to try my Effexor XR, but they made it sound like I would die if I used any extended release formulas. Maybe I should try chopping the regular (non XR) pill into 4 pieces and swallowing. I can't go off this medication. It has done wonders for me.

I know what you mean, at the moment I'm on immuno supressant drugs that I have to be on for at least 5 years and on the box it says they can't be crushed or taken apart which is annoying, when I went to see the doctor that originally prescribed them to me I asked him about it, he said that after banding maybe for the first day don't take the medication but after the second day try taking them, he said that not taking them for one day won't really affect me but if I didn't take them for 4 days or so it would. Also this medication is the kind where you can't go straight off them so I'm a bit worried what will happen if they don't stay down, I'm also on prednisolone after a condition I had flaired up again in may, I'm slowly being weaned off them at the moment but also with those I can't stop taking them suddenly, my doctor said that while in hospital I may be given the injection form of the steroid which is fine with me, but I'm mainly worried about the immuno supressants. I think the day of banding I won't take any of my medication and then tell the nurses/doctors about the prednisolone and then the day after surgery I won't take them either, the other ones I take are vitamins so that won't be bad at all and hopefully by day three I'll be able to swallow them, the biggest I have at the moment is a calcium tablet about the size of my thumb which can be cut in half, it'll probably take me an hour to take all of my tablets in the morning (8 in total) but that's the price you pay after banding hey!

Im a nurse and we usually open the capsule and sprinkle it on applesauce for the patients who have trouble swallowing. If its time released ask your Doc if its ok

I found that some of my meds did not work effectively when I crushed them. For example, a blood pressure med I took controlled my blood pressure all day, but crushed only worked for part of the day. When I confronted my surgeon and cardiologist, neither had any answers. The cardiologist admitted that the technology of lapband was new territory for many medications and doctors, many including him not knowing how to manage patients after banding. I eventually consulted the pharmacist who was able to call the physicians and make recommendations. Now I am fine.

Bottom line: Pharmacists may be better equipped to handle some of these med issues after banding. Take care, all!

Tammygirl

Medications are a challenge to those who have some that they can't stop taking. However, I wouldn't bother cutting up calcium. There is a chewable chocolate calcium that is great!