Taking medications with the lap band??

slinkymalinky · 06-19-2008, 10:48 PM

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?

tammygirl · 06-19-2008, 10:53 PM

You may wish to discuss the medication with your physician. Some meds do not pose a problem at all. In other cases, an alternative med may work. Best case scenario, you no longer need the med due to your improved health! The best to you!

Tammygirl

ssdown · 06-19-2008, 10:55 PM

I had the same concerns as you. I have good restriction and the only time I have any trouble is in the morning. I have to pace myself when getting my morning vitamins down. You'll figure it out. I had no problem right after surgery. Hop it goes well for you. SS

Ebeth0013 · 06-19-2008, 10:56 PM

I have not had any problems taking capsules so far, but i did have my medications switched to a tablet so if i had too i could crush them. But so far no problem getting them down, but i may after my first fill.

Mimibate · 06-19-2008, 11:00 PM

I, too, have had a challenge with pill-taking. I have one pill that I take 4 times daily that is a 400 mg, whopper. I tried downing it with applesauce, yogurt, etc. and could never bypass the horrible flavor. The best try came with cranberry-pomegranate applesauce. The reason is that it tastes so tart itself that it almost kills the taste of the medicine. Good luck to you, and may this be your smallest hurdle in the race!! I have lost 45 lbs. and have about 30 to go. Every time that old medicine grabs my tastebuds, I just will it down and wait

for the day when I either swallow the pill whole or don't need to take it at all!

Mimibate

Jennifer S. · 06-19-2008, 11:19 PM

I have a very small (size wise) pill I take that can't be crushed so my surgeon told m to talk to the prescribing doctor to get another option...

He gave me a capsule that can be opened and put in yogurt, etc...the only problem was that it didn't help the reason I take the medication in the 1st place. So...I called my surgeon, told him this and he said to go back on the 1st type as long as I can swallow it and all is good!

I think it's just a pill by pill / person by person situation...

Good luck!

jbflorida · 06-20-2008, 09:14 AM

Speak to your pharmacist. One medication I take also comes in liquid form, so I got that.

He/she will be a good resource.

MicheleK · 06-20-2008, 10:34 AM

I'm glad I saw this thread, I currently am on a BP med that is about the size of an aspirin. I plan on showing it to my surgeon when I go to my appt next week.

barbara9460 · 06-20-2008, 11:06 AM

Check with your doctor and online with the drug company. Many meds come in liquid form. Also, capsules don't pose the same problems that pills do. I haven't had a fill yet, but I take capsules now. I have the meds in liquid, but they taste HORRIBLE! Always check with your doc for these things though, because what works for one may not work for another.

Best of luck!
Barbara

caribelita · 06-20-2008, 12:51 PM

There's a few possibilities:

1) You can change to a form of the medicine that can be crushed or at least split into smaller pieces. (You'll have to talk to your prescribing health professional for this)
2) You can change to another type of medicine that does that same thing (but that can be administered in a table that can be crushed or split up, or that can be administered in a capsule that can be taken apart--and that way you can put the little balls in applesauce or some other "smooth" food)

Hope this helps!

slinkymalinky · 06-22-2008, 11:52 PM

thank you all for your advice - it looks like it is certainly do-able....I'll just have to talk to my doctor about it!
Good luck everyone!

Jachut · 06-23-2008, 01:29 AM

I hate taking pills. I gag and carry on like a baby.

But at 3 ml in a 4ml band, I *can* take a large vitamin and 2 fish oil capsules one after another. It doesnt block me up or anything. If I can swallow the darn things in the first place that is.

Teakwood · 06-27-2008, 10:54 PM

I had my surgery 3 years ago and have maintained an 80 pound weight loss. I am on multiple medications daily so I have tried everything. The easiest to take is liquid, but many of them taste horrible. I've been known to scare my cats doing the "yucky dance" in the bathroom. I've had a few flavored by the pharmacist and that helps a lot. Capsules and tablets are ok but usually need to be openned or crushed and then mixed with something (chocolate syrup covers the taste of just about everything-gives me my fix too! LOL!) Work with your doctor and pharmacist and you will find what works for you and what you can tolerate taking. Good Luck!

SickNTired · 06-28-2008, 06:07 AM

As a pre-banded person, I am surprised that you still have to be on liquid medication after having lost all the weight you want to lose. Do you have any restriction now? Will you always have to take liquid meds?

Teakwood · 06-28-2008, 06:57 AM

The band is why I've been able to maintain. I have to follow the same rules on day 1000 as I did on day 1 in order to have continued success. I am adjusted to 2.1cc out of 4cc so the band has restriction. There is always a chance of something getting stuck, especially hard, dry undesolved medication. Hope this helps. As a post, post, post patient, please feel free to ask anything. I've probably been through it!