Pill Crushing- Gag! :(

[RedheadGirl 2]

I'm four days post-op and I take 4 different meds on a regular basis plus the prescribed pain meds and antibiotic. My question and problem... Being only on a clear liquid diet for this first week I am struggling getting the crushed meds down. Anyone have any suggestions? Week 2 I get to add a few other liquids like creamy soups... I just don't know how I'm going to pill crush all the time. It makes me sick!

[YngGram 73]

I used to cut mine in half; but I read here today somewhere that some meds don't work correctly when altered. But if you can't get them in they don't work at all.

[lifeisjustbeginning2011 11]

I have the same problem. I mixed the pill powder with a few drops of fruit juice and then the tiniest amount of applesauce. The other thing is that 2 of my regular pills are be split, so I just spaced them out today. The nighttime sleepy meds are a killer though...the taste is just horrible. Buuutt you can always have a teenie tiny amount of applesauce to make it a bit less nasty.

[Time2BHealthy 1]

It was hard for me to takes meds crushed up or on applesauce. I was actually able to swallow them.

[tammy49 2]

I am having the worst time with the crushed meds they are disgusting. i tried them in juice and with pudding neither did much good it was awful and i gagged last night I don't know what else to try

[Cocoabean 430]

I was told by my surgeon to just take them one at a time, a few minutes apart. He said just don't take them in a handful like I used to do. Are all your pills large? My medications are all small pills. He probably took that into consideration.

Did your surgeon tell you to crush them, or are you going by what you read on here? I only ask because I stocked up on Protein drinks assuming I'd be using them all the time only to have my surgeon tell me i am not to drink my calories, at all. So, they sat on the shelf until I threw them away.

You might check with your surgeon and ask if you can break them into smaller pieces to swallow rather than crush them.

[Wheelchair 13]

PLEASE!!! Don't check with your surgeon on this. Most likely, he/she will not know.

Talk to your PHARMACIST!! With this question, it would be very foolish to ask someone who is not a specialist. If you have to split or crush pills, you may need to change your dosage and your pharmacist will be the one to tell you which is preferable. Then you can have your pharmacist call your surgeon and write you a prescription.

I'm not saying pharmacists are in any way 'smarter' than general surgeons... but 1 semester of pharmacology in med school cannot compare to the 4 years that PharmDs need to do.

Your pharmacist should have all of the information regarding your current medications and he/she will be able to tell you which can be crushed and which shouldn't be. They can also recommend a change in the formulation so that the pill can be crushed.

[vickyd 24]

I take all of my meds whole...depending on how big yours are (and how tight you are) you may be able to take them one at a time.

[Acadia 20]

If you can't take them whole, though you should be able to - I was able to take six small pills every day after surgery then back to my normal 12+ after that (mostly vitamins) - then call your pharmacist.

Wheelchair is 100% correct - your surgeon will not know.

First try to take the pills one at a time - WHOLE. If they feel like they get stuck take a sip of hot tea to help them dissolve just enough to fit through the stoma (hole between lap pouch and stomach).

If you have issues with any of them call your pharmacist and ask if they have a smaller pill (even if you have to take two to get the same dose), a liquid, a different size / type of capsule. Tell them your situation and they can determine what you can and cannot do with your medications.

A little note - by two weeks out I was taking a large 'horse pill' size Omega-3 capsule, so you won't be restricted for long but please stop crushing them - you're only risking hurting yourself by doing so.

[jennypenny 6]

I too take 4 meds (although I was able to get off Prevacid right after surgery which I'm thrilled about). Literally as I was being wheeled out of the surgery center, I said to my Dr. that there is an anti-depressant that I needed to take asap, and he said 'go ahead'. I was so relieved because I thought I was going to have to crush it too! I took it with no problem whatsoever! I don't want to suggest anything beyond your Dr.'s orders, but wanted to share that. Also, they gave me my pain med in a liquid form, and no antibiotic.

I'm four days post-op and I take 4 different meds on a regular basis plus the prescribed pain meds and antibiotic. My question and problem... Being only on a clear liquid diet for this first week I am struggling getting the crushed meds down. Anyone have any suggestions? Week 2 I get to add a few other liquids like creamy soups... I just don't know how I'm going to pill crush all the time. It makes me sick!

[CheckYes 46]

I had a med to take that my pharmacist said I could crush so I used to crush mine, sprinkle it on the end of a sugar free Popsicle and then bite the end off of and chew it to liquid before swallowing. The intense flavor of the Popsicle helped with the bitterness of the meds.

I'm four days post-op and I take 4 different meds on a regular basis plus the prescribed pain meds and antibiotic. My question and problem... Being only on a clear liquid diet for this first week I am struggling getting the crushed meds down. Anyone have any suggestions? Week 2 I get to add a few other liquids like creamy Soups... I just don't know how I'm going to pill crush all the time. It makes me sick!

[tengles 0]

I changed all my meds to liquid or dissolvable tablets.

[RedheadGirl 2]

None of my pills come in liquid or chewable form. I'm going to try taking some tomorrow without crushing. My Dr. went over my med list and changed my meds before my surgery to be able to crush them. However, crushing is honestly making me ILL! After today I'm almost ready to give up taking my anti-depressents and my BP meds but I do need them...soooo I will cut them or swallow them starting tomorrow. Anyone who can do crushing of many meds a day with no problem I give you props! It is SO nasty! I'm glad to hear from all of you on what you did or your advice. I'm so glad I am not alone with all this.

I changed all my meds to liquid or dissolvable tablets.

[Cocoabean 430]

When I said ask your surgeon about breaking them up rather than crushing...I am basing it on the fact that the surgeon told the OP to crush the pills in the first place. And that the pills would therefore be a crush-able/breakable variety.

What I meant was ask the surgeon if it would be OK to SWALLOW the pills rather than crushing them. Before I had my surgery my surgeon went over all my medications with me and the dosages. He said there was no need to crush them. The stoma could accommodate my pills with no problem as long as I took them one at a time.

I think it IS appropriate to ask your surgeon if you can swallow a pill whole. He'd know if your newly formed pouch can handle it. I don't see that as a question for a pharmacist.

[DarleneRN 4]

I had my surgery June 27th (still on full liquids). Was told I could swallow or crush as 'tolerated'. I've been to afraid to swallow them whole,,,I crush in juice, ,,gagging them down..after reading these replies, decided to try it. Made a cup of hot chai tea..and did it! Wonderful! Did 1 at a time,,,45 minutes a part,,no problem..thanks everyone!