Big Pills & the Band

 Hey there,

This morning I woke up with a terrible headache and took 2 excedrin migraine tablets. When I woke up a few hours later, I was a mess. Long story short, I PB'd 3 times, and now finally feel better. I know to take it easy today and tomorrow and eat soft foods.

What my real question is - my doctor put me on Metformin earlier this week, and I have been fine taking them for the last 2 days, but the pill is huge. Has anyone had trouble with this pill? Will some days cause me trouble, but others not? When I spoke to her about an alternative, she said the only option was an injectable, which I would prefer to stay away from.

Anyone with similar experiences, please help!!

ewww I would not want shots either :o( .  Some people can take pills just fine and others cant .  Can you cut the pill in half or maybe even thirds that way you dont take no chances of it getting stuck ? 

You can buy pill cutters at Pharmacy's if you cant get them with a knife.  I think I would try that route before I would go and get shots .

 The doctor said because it's extended release, I can't cut them. Looking for other solutions. So far, I've been okay with the Metformin, but I REALLY had a hard time this morning with the Excedrin (which I have taken before, since surgery).

never had the first problem with a pill.

You may have had the problem today because it was in the morning and you just got up.  I usually have more trouble first thing in the morning with eating; I have to be really careful.  Maybe you were just a little tighter than normal.  When you take the Metformin do you have to take it first thing in the morning?  If you do, maybe you can move around some and drink something warm before you take the pill. 

 I never though of that. I take the Metformin at night, with dinner. Maybe that's why I haven't had a problem. Thanks!!

You're welcome!

I've read that we should keep pill size to smaller than an M and M. If not then need to find an alternative or try warm tea before taking the pill, that sometimes relaxes the tummy. Getting pulls stuck can require unfilling the band, right Jean?, to let them go on thru.

 That's really the point I was at this morning. I had already called my doctor, and he said as long as I threw up, I would be okay, just to take it slow today. But if the discomfort lasted much longer, I was planning to go to his office to get an unfill. That was NOT a fun experience. 

But like QueenBee said above, I think it was because I took the pills early in the morning. I just took my third dose of Metformin (an infamous horse pill) without any problems. We'll see how it goes!

I took Metformin also when I was first banded. After losing the weight, I no longer need it! You can be asked to switch to the regular release. The extended release can't be crushed, but the regular release can. I had to do that because my Band doctor is adament that no whole pills be taken. You may be fine at this time, but if you are more tight for whatever reason at a later time, you may end up having issues where you'll need an unfill. Ask your endo doc if you can change to regular release. I understand the reason for the extended release, but maybe there can be a discussion about the seriousness of taking whole pills. Just a thought.