MEDICATIONS After Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery changes many aspects of ones life, and medications are no exception. Most patients will be prescribed certain medications and supplements after their surgery, but the surgery can also affect what medications are safe to take for other reasons and how you take them.
The duodenal switch produces even more malabsorption and requires strict post-operative supplementation. These patients are specifically prone to protein deficiency, and they should take supplemental protein as well as vitamins and minerals.
Operations that restrict food intake without bypassing the bowel, such as gastric banding, sleeve gastrectomy and vertical banded gastroplasty, do not impair food absorption, so those patients do not require strict supplementation. They still need to take proton pump inhibitors (such as Nexium or Prilosec) to decrease reflux and protect the small gastric pouch. Due to rapid weight loss, ursodiol (Actigall) is also recommended to prevent gallstone formation.
Some medications are not recommended after bariatric surgery, but are not strictly prohibited for patients who have had restrictive operations (see table for details).
Making the stomach smaller through bariatric surgery decreases gastric acid production, which affects the absorption of calcium and can increase the patients risk of osteoporosis. Calcium carbonate requires acid to be absorbed, but calcium citrate, which we recommend for supplementation, does not.
The duodenum is the primary site for absorption of iron and is bypassed in the Roux-en-Y procedure. Like calcium, iron requires acid to be absorbed, which is lacking in the small gastric pouch. Gastric bypass patients can take iron salts combined with ascorbic acid (vitamin C) to acidify the stomach and facilitate absorption.
Vitamin B12 absorption requires intrinsic factor, which is produced in the bypassed part of the stomach, as well as acid; a lack of these can lead to vitamin B12 deficiency and anemia. Appropriate supplementation can be achieved by taking an oral formulation (1000 µg daily) or monthly injections.
The same risk extends to the salicylates (i.e., aspirin), but the risks and benefits of daily aspirin therapy should be considered on an individual basis. Safer options for oral pain medications include acetaminophen and opioids (Percocet, Vicodin, Tylenol #3 and Tramadol).
Oral biphosphonates are another type of medication that may produce marginal ulcers in gastric bypass patients. These drugs inhibit the loss of bone mass associated with bone diseases like osteoporosis and Pagets disease; commonly used biphosphonates include Actonel, Aredia, Boniva, Didronel, Fosamax, Reclast, Skelid and Zometa. However, there are alternative treatment options available, such as calcitonin salmon nasal spray, synthetic parathyroid hormone and Raloxifene.
Anti-acid medications (Nexium, Protonix or Prevacid) are prescribed to prevent ulcers in the gastric pouch. We recommend taking one of these for at least six months following any type of bariatric surgery.
This same principle also applies to delayed-release and enteric- or film-coated pills, which are coated with a material that prevents the medication from being released until the pill moves through the stomach to the small intestine. (Sometimes the abbreviation EC? is added to the name of a drug to indicate that it is enteric-coated.) Immediate-release dosage forms should be substituted, although they may need to be taken more often.
Oral contraceptives are another type of medication that may not be absorbed as effectively after surgery; thus, non-hormonal barrier contraception is recommended to prevent unwanted pregnancy for women who have had gastric bypass or duodenal switch operations.
Since bariatric patients consume less food, smaller amounts of stool are formed, which can lead to constipation. Some people find that taking two or three tablespoons of milk of magnesia every few days helps. Drinking plenty of water is very important, and nothing works well for constipation if water intake is poor. It is not uncommon for bariatric patients to have a bowel movement every two to three days once it is regulated.
Patients who continue to experience constipation can take a fiber supplement, like Metamucil or Fibercon, once they are on the pureed diet. Colace, a stool softener, is sometimes necessary for patients on pain medication to prevent constipation. Some patients are given Reglan and Zofran for nausea and to assist with bowel movements.
Rapid weight loss after bariatric surgery predisposes patients to gallstones. If you still have your gallbladder and the pre-operative ultrasound did not show gallstones, you should take Actigall for six months post-operatively to prevent them from forming.
Diuretics (water pills or Lasix) are frequently prescribed for patients with hypertension, edema and congestive heart failure. Many patients are instructed to hold off on resuming diuretics because it is important to avoid dehydration after gastric bypass surgery; this is usually decided on an individual basis.
Other antihypertensive medications are safe to use after gastric bypass. Typically, the dose decreases as patients lose weight and their hypertension improves. Consult your doctor to discuss changing doses and types of medication.
The opening produced by Roux-en-Y surgery is about 1.5 cm wide, and gastric banding also produces a small opening. Some pills (such as calcium, multivitamins and iron) are quite big and cannot go through this small connection easily. We advise patients to take these pills one at a time throughout the day, if possible. Very large pills can be cut in half or crushedbut only if they are not time-release medications (i.e., diabetes pills). Ask your doctors if the pills they prescribe can be safely crushed.
Advil
Aleve
Amigesic
Anacin
Anaprox
Anaprox DS
Ansaid
Arthrotec
Ascriptin
Aspirin
Azolid
Bextra
Bufferin
Butazolidin
Cataflam
Celebrex
|
Clinoril
Combunox
Darvon
Daypro
Disalcid
Dolobid
EC Naprosyn
Ecotrin
Equagesic
Excedrin
Excedrin IB
Feldene
Ibuprofen
Indocin
Indocin SR
Indo-Lemmon
|
Indomethagan
Lodine
Lodine XL
Meclomen
Mictainin
Midol IB
Mobic
Motrin
Motrin IB
Nalfon
Nalfon 200
Naprapac
Naprelan
Naprosyn
Nupin
Orudis
|
Oruvail
Pamprin IB
Percodan
Ponstel
Relafen
Rexolate
Tab-Profen
Tandearil
Tolectin
Tolectin 600
Tolectin DS
Toradol
Uracel
Vicoprofen
Voltaren |
Gastric Bypass
|
Gastric Banding
|
Sleeve Gastrectomy
|
Bilopancreatic Diversion DS
|
|
NSAIDs
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
Baby Aspirin (81 mg)
|
YES, but consider individually
|
YES
|
YES
|
YES, but consider individually
|
Acetaminophen
|
YES
|
YES
|
YES
|
YES
|
Opiates
|
YES
|
YES
|
YES
|
YES
|
Water Pills (Lasix)
|
NO, but consider individually
|
NO, but consider individually
|
NO, but consider individually
|
NO, but consider individually
|
Vitamins (B12, C, D)
|
YES
|
NO
|
NO
|
YES
|
Iron
|
YES
|
NO
|
NO
|
YES
|
Calcium
|
YES
|
NO
|
NO
|
YES
|
Protein Supplements
|
YES
|
NO
|
NO
|
YES
|
Antacid
|
YES
|
YES
|
YES
|
YES
|
Actigall (Anti- Gallstones)
|
YES
|
YES
|
YES
|
YES
|
Insulin and Diabetes Pills
|
YES, under strict blood glucose control
|
YES, under strict blood glucose control
|
YES, under strict blood glucose control
|
YES, under strict blood glucose control
|
Hypertension Pills
(other than Lasix)
|
YES, under strict blood glucose control
|
YES, under strict blood glucose control
|
YES, under strict blood glucose control
|
YES, under strict blood glucose control
|
Antidepressants
|
YES
|
YES
|
YES
|
YES
|
Extended-Release (XL, XR), Coated Medications
|
NO
|
YES
|
YES
|
NO
|
Philip Schauer, MD, FACS, the Director of Advanced Laparoscopic and Bariatric Surgery at Cleveland Clinic, has served as president of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.