What can I take?

Hi All, I have been getting terrible headaches for years and I always took Excedrine. Now, I don't know what to do! I now I can't take asprin and I guess I can't take acedaminaphine either, so what the heck do I take? (Please forgive the horrible spelling) Christine

Hey Christine, I was so happy to see you last Monday at support group. About your headaches, I wish i can help you with this but I have no experience with this but Hey Peter or other Post-op help Christine with her terrible headaches and I need to know how we deal with this too!!!!! Meantime put cold on your small towel and lay down for a while withlight off and try to rest until someone will help you with this or try to call Dr A. 's office to find out if there is another way to deal this headaches Hugs Kathy K

The following is a list of the medications that are not safe to take ORALLY once you have had gastric bypass surgery. Any drug containing "aspirin or any NSAID" (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) is not safe due to the risk of gastric and small intestinal bleeding and possible ulceration. **Aspirin (Artria, ASA, Enseals, Aspergum, Aspro, Astrin, Bayer Aspirin, Bex, Coryphen, Easprin, Ecotrin, Empirin, Entrophen, Halfprin, Novasen, Sal-Adult, Solprin, Supasa, Vincent's Powders, Winsprin Capsules, Zorprin) *Bromfenac (Duract) *Diclofenac (Fenac, Voltaren, Rapide, Cataflam) *Etodolac (Ultradol, Lodine) *Fenoprofen (Nalfon) *Flurbiprofen (Ansaid, Froben, Apo-Flurbiprofen) **Ibuprofen (Aches-N-Pain, ACT-3, Actiprofen, Advil, Amersol, Apo-Ibuprofen, Bayer Select, Brufen, Excendrin IB, Genpril, Haltran, Ibuprin, Ibuprohm, Ibu-Tab, Medipren, Menadol, Midol, motrin, Novo-Profen, Nuprin, Nurofen, Pamprin, Rafen, Saleto, Trendar) *Indomethacin (Apo-Indomethacin, Arthrexin, Indochron, Indocid, Indocin, Novo-Methacin) *Ketaprofen (Actron, Apo-Keto, Novo-Keto, Orudis, Oruvail, Rhodis) *Nabumetone (Relafen) **Naproxen (Apo-Naproxen, Naprosyn, Naxen, Novo-Naprox, Nu-Naprox, Aleve, Anaprox, Apo-Napro-Na, Naprelan, Naprogesic, Synflex) *Oxaprozin (Daypro) *Piroxicam (Apo-Piroxicam, Feldene, Novo-Pirocam, Pirox) *Sulindac (Aclin, Apo-Sulin, Clinoril, Novo-Sundac, Saldac) Pain medication options after gastric bypass *Tylenol in any form *Tylenol with codeine *Vicodin *Percocet, Darvocet, Fioricet, Oxycontin *Toradol (ketoraloac): only if given by injection or IV *Celebrex (celecoxib) or Vioxx (rofecoxib) (these new drugs called Cox-2 inhibitors have less risk of causing gastric bleeding than NSAIDs) *Ultram (tramadol) *Soma, Flexeril, Robaxin, Zanaflex, other prescription muscle relaxants *for migrains: Imitrex, Ergotamine, Deseril *Glucosamine 1500 mg and/or chondroitin 1200mg The following list is a general guide to over-the-counter drugs. Be sure to check with your own surgeon to ensure that he or she agrees with these recommendations. Medications to Avoid Advil Alka-Seltzer Vanquish Aspirin Bufferin Coricidin Cortisone Excedrin Fiorinol Ibuprofen Motrin Pepto-Bismol Medications That Are Recommended For Colds Benadryl Dimetapp Robitussin Sudafed Triaminics Tylenol Cold Products Medications That Are Usually Well Tolerated (Try to obtain sugar free or diabetic formulas for any of these products.) Peri-Colace Panadol Tylenol Tylenol Extra Strength Gas-X Phazyme Colace Dulcolax Suppositories Fleet Enemas Glycerin Suppositories Milk of Magnesia This was an excerpt from "Weight Loss Surgery: Finding the Thin Person Hiding Inside You," available at http://www.wlscenter.com This book is a "must have" for any patient going through this surgery. Click here for order information http://www.wlscenter.com/Announce_Book.htm Hope this will help. Peter

Thanks for posting that Peter, what a good reference! Phyllis

Thank you so much Peter. I printed your reply so I will have it. Thanks again! Christine

As far as I know acedaminaphine (Tylenol) is safe. They sent me home on Tylenol w/ codine. If it is safe immediately post op, I would think you should be safe. Call you Dr to be sure though! Carmen

Hi christine, Wow Peter is such a wealth of knowledge..we are so lucky to have him on our board. I talked to Dr. aranow and he recommemded tylenol....if you are still crushing pills there is a liquid form. hope your headaches are better angel

OOps! I meant ibuprofen! Christine

Hi Christine, Sorry to hear you have had such a problem with headaches. I used to suffer for years from cluster headaches. Haven't had a problem with them since surgery, knock on wood. I have had a few minor aches and pains that I occasionally have taken the adult liquid tylenol for and that works nicely.

This WLS site has a complete list of medications that you cannot take. http://www.wlsfriends.com/faq/faq.php?answer=148&cat_name=Post Op&category_id=3#148