Quick Question

I don't have all of my binder together anymore so I wanted to ask this...

I know we are not suppose to have rapid release capsules but what about extended release?? I know in the past I could not have a certain drug because it was extended release but what about vitamins that are extended release?

Just wondering.... My B1 and B12 are still at the low end of normal and since Hendrick is a worry wart I have to start taking more vitamins and I bought some that are extended release.

Suzanne

Hi Suzanne-

It's my understanding that we can't have extended release meds, but perhaps someone with more experience can chime in.

I know that I was on an extended release heart med that they switched to a shorter acting one. I have to take it twice a day now.

Nope, extended release meds are virtually useless for us.  Those types of pills rely on sitting in the stomach / gastric acid for an hour or more to begin to dissolve, then slowly releasing their medication as it travels through the intestinal tract.  But when we take pills with water, they are washed straight through the pouch and into the small intestine and hurried through the rest of the digestive tract.  So the pill isn't in there long enough to release all it's medication. 

So stick with immediate release type pills.  I take a b-complex pill, but they also have a liquid you might want to try. 

As for B12, it MUST be a sublingual tab that dissolves under your tonuge so it can enter your system directly through the bloodstream (veins are very close to the surface underneath your tongue).  B12 can not be processed in the stomach any longer -- it requires Intrinsic Factor which has been bypassed with the surgery -- so we need to do either sublingual tabs or injections.

Also remember the B vitamins work as a family (teamwork) so it's best to take all of them at the same time.  There are B's in your multi-vitamin, so take your B-complex and B12 sublingual all at once for the best chance of absorption.

HTH
Pam

Wow....I did not know this, nor had I ever even thought about it.  I take an extended release med.  I take three of them at one time and I take them at bedtime.  I may have to ask my doc about it.  Learn something new everyday! 

Here's an article that might help.  I've printed a copy of it and given it to my doctor. 
http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/pwsammy/uzone,blog/action, comments/blog_id,61570/blog_post_id,152577/

Thanks. I'm calling my doc tomorrow.  Tina 

Your PCP may not know that answer- I would call your surgeon

It's a definitely a "NO" on extended release pills. I had to change a couple of mine for this reason just prior to surgery. They just pass through the pouch too fast to be absorbed into our systems. Keep Up the good work!