Lap Band and antidepressants

I had my surgery a week ago. I was on wellbutrin and zoloft (liquid) prior to surgery. Stopped the zoloft when I had to start my clear liquids two days prior (I take it mixed in oj). Stopped wellbutrin day of surgery. Plans are/were to just do zoloft from here out, since it is in a liquid. This morning is the first dose I have gotten down. My emotions are all over the place, crying for nothing. I am just so upset. I can't get control of anything. I am not getting in the protein I need. I just want to sit and cry. I am going to go to work for half a day today (did two hours yesterday) and hoping getting out of here will help me. How do others handle this with their meds. I feel like I am losing my mind.

Patricia, I take cymbalta for anxiety attacks. It is capsule form. I open it up and take it. It's a little gross, but I've gotten used to it. Hang in there!

I was able to swallow my pills within about 5 days. Once the swelling goes down a bit. I took a drink and took the pills one at a time. I cut my Zoloft in have and take a 50MG dose.

Hi, I have been on antidepressants for five years now for obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety attacks and depression. I take lexapro, and i have to cut it up into about four bits before i can get it down. I guess it depends on the type of form it comes in. I think you should talk to your doctor about your medication and see if there are any other forms the wellbutrin comes in. But you can just cut tablets up, it is possible, you just cant take it first thing in the morning because your band will be really tight. I understand that everything might seem a little too much at the moment, not only have you had major surgery and are healing but you are all over the place with your medications, and i have been told that the anaesthetic can cause depression. If it makes you feel any better, i felt exactly the same way. After about three weeks i started to feel normal again. I suggest taking it easy, finding out about what forms the medication comes in and talking to your lap band doctor about how to get them down. Good luck, take care.

(((((( Hugs)))) First of all, congrats on the surgery. You are only a week out -- I did the same thing....lots of crying. Zoloft isn't one of those meds that you can stop for a week and then just pick up and be back where you were. It will take a few days, maybe even weeks. You just have to keep reminding yourself that it will get better. Try sipping a protein dring all day...that will help you to get in what you need. I found the liquid Zoloft was nasty, so I chew mine mixed in with some peanut butter. I also have klonopin wafers (that dissolve or your tongue) for anxiety. It might be worth a call to your doctor to see if you can get something that will help in the now while you wait for the zoloft to kick back in. Good luck! Email me if you'd like to chat more.

****Not substituting my judgment for anyone's**** but why go off the Wellbutrin just because it isn't liquid? Regular Wellbutrin can be both cut and crushed. I switched from Wellbutrin SR (which can't be cut) to reg Wellbutrin post-op, crushed into in applesauce through the liquid/mushie stage and cut it from thereon. Still cut it to this day, along with 4 other meds, incl. one for anxiety. Not a quick fix by any means - you've been without and your body is withdrawing - but you might want to reconsider/talk to your doc about resuming the Wellbutrin too. JMO of course but changing meds immediately post-op is a huge shock to a system which is already adapting to a lot. Hugs, Caeli

The day after my surgery while i was still in the hospital i just started crying. Dont know why i did but i just cried and cried. While i was in the hospital i took my antidepressant which is Lexapro. What i did was just cru**** Now i can swallow it whole with no problem. You shouldnt stop taking them just because they arent liquid. You can crush them or cut them. You need them!

Oh you poor dear! I've gone through anti depressant withdrawal too. It is miserable. PLEASE call your meds doctor. I'm betting you didn't discuss the discontinuation of your medication with him. As Caeli mentioned, Wellbutrin comes in a non-time released dose which you can cut up. Now is really not the time to mess with your meds. LOTS of people go through depression just from having the surgery. Hang in there. And call your doctor immediately. {{{{Patricia}}}} Be extra gentle with yourself today.

I had a RX from my doc for liquid Celexa if I needed it, but I never did because I just cut up or groud up my meds. You need to keep on them regularly unless your doctor has told you otherwise. Having been on antidepressants for over 10 years now, I know only too well the effects of going off them. Talk to your doctor about this.

First of all just try to remember that everything you are going through right now is really normal and you are not losing your mind. It is perfectly ok to feel the way you are feeling under the cir****tances. In addition to having missed some of your medications you are also managing the anesthesia that is still in your system which can mess with your moods regardless of anything else. Give yourself credit for reaching out and sharing your experience with others and asking for help. Next, I just wanted to mention that I've never had a problem taking pills with the band. I've had restriction and even then I can still take things that are as large as an extra strength tylenol caplet. In fact, I took two of them the night after my surgery on my doctor's orders. I've never had to take liquid meds, unless it was nyquil or some thing else ENORMOUS. So that's just my two cents. Your band may not allow for taking whole pills, my point is only that I would ASSUME it can't if you've never tried and don't have restriction yet. If I were in your shoes I call the doctor who prescribes your meds and talk to him/her about what you are going through. Tell the doc all of your symptoms and work together to get you back on a balance that works for you. You can get through this, please remember you are not alone and you are having a normal experience. Good luck, Elizabeth