Pills and Lap Band

[hgranola 1]

I haven't gotten my surgery date yet but it's looking like the end of May or beginning of June. However, I take a LOT of medication. By a lot I mean 11 different pills at night and 6 in the morning and that's not including the Vitamins. Some of the pills that I take are rather large. How is this going to work when I get banded? Am I going to have to crush all of them? Just the larger pills? Maybe just use my pill splitter on the large pills? What size pills will fit? Will I just have to crush/split them temporarily?

Anyone out there take a large amount of medication too and have any advice?

[kimky67 0]

My doctor said never try something larger than a regular m&m. I have taken tylenol that size and I was ok, however that was a couple weeks after surgery and before i had any saline in my band. I only took one medication prior to my surgery which was in capsule form. My doctor switched it from 1 capsule per day to 2 small tablets a day. There are probably options if you'll talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Just make sure you do it before surgery . As far as Vitamins, there are lots of liquids or chewables that work just fine. Hope this has helped! Good luck!

[hgranola 1]

My doctor said never try something larger than a regular m&m. I have taken tylenol that size and I was ok, however that was a couple weeks after surgery and before i had any saline in my band. I only took one medication prior to my surgery which was in capsule form. My doctor switched it from 1 capsule per day to 2 small tablets a day. There are probably options if you'll talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Just make sure you do it before surgery . As far as Vitamins, there are lots of liquids or chewables that work just fine. Hope this has helped! Good luck!

I'm buying my Vitamins in chewable forms. I've been eying my medications suspiciously ever since I held the tiny lap band in my surgeon's office. I was thinking I could smash the larger pills up and put them into applesauce or something....maybe put them into a Protein shake when the time comes. None of my meds are time released so they can be split. One of my meds is diclophenac which will have to be switched I think because it's an NSAID which I hear is a no-no because of stomach irritation.

[deltadawn5683 0]

I also would like to know the answers to these questions, as I take a lot of medications also. I can't just stop taking them and am worried how i will get them down. The idea to crush and break in to food is a good one. thanks for that option. I'll watch for more news!

[54Shirley 105]

Your Dr. might order some things in liquid form. I know because he did that for me. He also recommended a splitter, crusher, pill container combo.

We have one, and got it on ebay. This thing is great, it's circular ( ABOUT THE SIZE OF A HALF DOLLAR) and they are stack able. So you use what you want. Crusher, or Pill Container, then eventually splitter.

The Crusher is easy, you just put your pill in and turn the screw down cap, and it's crushed.

Also sugar free pudding is a great way to take the pills. Crush one, and put it into a spoon of pudding. Swallow that, then take a regular spoon of pudding after. It works out pretty good.

[Spot 20]

I'd like to add what my doctor said about crushing pills. Make sure they're crushed-crushed with no sharp edges because if that were to poke you in your restricted area, you're going to wish you were never born, etc.

I haven't verified as I am pre-op, and surely your results will vary.

The amount of medication you're taking is alarming. Not in amount... well, yes in amount but surely you have reasons, lol. What I mean is, you're probably going to need to insist your doctor and pharmacist check to see if you can crush or break open some of your meds, or if there are alternatives.

I imagine it would take more applesauce than your banded stomach could handle, should you go that route. I look forward to reading the responses you get. The thought of eating my pills makes me ill.

[dits4golf 0]

I haven't gotten my surgery date yet but it's looking like the end of May or beginning of June. However, I take a LOT of medication. By a lot I mean 11 different pills at night and 6 in the morning and that's not including the Vitamins. Some of the pills that I take are rather large. How is this going to work when I get banded? Am I going to have to crush all of them? Just the larger pills? Maybe just use my pill splitter on the large pills? What size pills will fit? Will I just have to crush/split them temporarily?

Anyone out there take a large amount of medication too and have any advice?

I have trouble w/larger pills. Taking them w/hot liquid ( coffee? ) helps. U may have to split them. I'm told it doesn't bother everyone. You'll just have to wait & see. The up side? I take far less meds now than I did. (8>).

[Lynster54 0]

Check with your pharmacy,some medications can not be crushed or split..i just went through this last night at my pharmacy.

I haven't gotten my surgery date yet but it's looking like the end of May or beginning of June. However, I take a LOT of medication. By a lot I mean 11 different pills at night and 6 in the morning and that's not including the Vitamins. Some of the pills that I take are rather large. How is this going to work when I get banded? Am I going to have to crush all of them? Just the larger pills? Maybe just use my pill splitter on the large pills? What size pills will fit? Will I just have to crush/split them temporarily?

Anyone out there take a large amount of medication too and have any advice?

[Humming Bird 275]

The good news is that when you start dropping large amounts of weight you will no longer need many of the Rx meds.

You should have a very detailed talk with your PCP and with your surgeon about this issue. Of course all of us bandsters can tell you what we think, what we do, and even what our surgeon told us, but the details of your personal situation needs to be discused in person with your docs. (take your meds with you, not just a list)

In my case, my surgeon told me to NEVER take a pill of any size whole. He told me of a patient that had to have a pill that was stuck surgically removed and that was enough to convince me. In the 21 months since surgery I have not taken a pill whole, but I was not taking any Rx meds prior to surgery and do not take any now. All my vits. are chewable, sublingual or liquid.

I have had to take something stronger for headaches than what comes in liquid form. I found that it makes it so much better if I first crush and then disolve in a teaspoon of warm Water. Then there are no nasty bits left behind.

[54Shirley 105]

When you take your meds to your surgeon, He will decide liquid, crushed, split, or even a change for a while. Like 2 small pills in place of 1 medium pill.

They will figure it out, they always do.

But I would invest in a splitter, crusher, and pill carrier.

They are reasonably priced. Just look around or on ebay.

He will let you know what you can split, crush, or not.

[ElizabethNYC 1]

I would defintely start asking your doctors now if they can switch any of your pills to liquid. If not as long as they aren't time released you can crush them and get them down. I take synthroid and my surgeon gave me the ok to take that whole (it's real tiny). My pain pills I had to cut and my Vitamins are all chewable.< /p>