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After weight loss surgery, you will need to take certain medications for the rest of your life. Which medications you are required to take depends on which surgery you had.
Medication guidelines for:
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass/sleeve gastrectomy patients
Laparoscopic adjustable gastric band patients
Additional medication guidelines
In addition to the new medications that you will take after surgery, you can still take most medications that were taking prior to surgery.*
For example, you should continue the following medications if you have:
- Hypertension: The dosage and amount of your blood pressure medicine may be decreased soon after your surgery. Particularly if you are on diuretics (water pills), your doctor may want to decrease the dose or stop soon after. These medications can also deplete your potassium levels besides lowering your blood pressure and if you are not staying as hydrated as you should (i.e. having lots of nausea and vomiting, and difficulty keeping liquids down) then this can just increase your chances further of developing seriously low potassium levels.
- Diabetes: You will usually see a decrease in your oral diabetic and insulin requirements and you may not need to take them at all soon after surgery.
- GERD (gastroesophogeal reflux disease/stomach acid reflux): Proton Pump Inhibitors can be taken after surgery but you may have to wait until you can tolerate small tablets or capsules. Prilosec (generic Omeprazole), Nexium, and Prevacid are available in capsule form. Protonix and Aciphex are available as small tablets.
- Arthritis: Use Naproxen, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), Aleve, aspirin or aspirin-like products with caution, and avoid if possible for at least six months after surgery. You should discuss these medications with Dr. Kerlakian and your primary care physician. Tylenol is safe to take. And under close physician supervision, you can take Celebrex and Bextra.
- Asthma/COPD: You may use inhalers following surgery. Oral steroids can be used if necessary, but you must be monitored closely for signs of gastritis or ulcers.
- If you still have a gallbladder intact: You should be taking 300mg Ursodiol (Actigall) twice daily to reduce the risk of gallstones for six months after surgery. You will begin taking this medication one week after surgery. You will need to open the capsule and mix contents with food or drink to ingest until one month after surgery. After one month you will be able to swallow the capsule whole.
As for over-the-counter medications, you can take the following medications for:
- Discomfort, headache or fever: You can take Tylenol caplets. Do not take aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen.
- Cold, flu, cough or allergy symptoms: Do not take any products that contain aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen.
- For diarrhea or constipation: You can take Milk of Magnesia for diarrhea or constipation and you may take Imodium AD for diarrhea.
- For gas: You can take chewable GasX for gas.
Note: During the first month after surgery you should only take small pills in their whole form. If you need to take a larger pill, it should be crushed first before swallowing. Most patients can take pills of any size after the first post-operative month. Check with your primary care physician to clarify if any changes or precautions are needed with your medications.
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