Urgent suggestions please - med change after surgery!!!

My surgeon tells you to speak with your PC doctor regarding your present prescriptions.

I did, but he is puzzled on what to do with some of my pills.   I take Celebrex for bad arthritis which is mostly effective. Without it I'm in terrible joint pain.  Celebrex is out after surgery so what do other people take?  Don't think liquid Tylenol will cut it.

I take Zoloft/sertraline for depression now and he does not want me to stop it.  What do other people do directly after surgery?  Doesn't seem to be a liquid version like with some of my other meds.  Zoloft isn't something you go off cold turkey.

Any valid proven suggestions would be much appreciated QUICKLY as time is of the essence.  

I don't know anything about the specific medications - or how malabsorbtion will effect you.  But, I wanted to say that I took pills for pain medication immediately after surgery.  Liquids frequently have a lot of sugar - and you don't necessarily need liquids or chewables.  All of my vits are pill form too.

I think I can manage cutting up the zoloft and taking it.  The Celebrex on the other hand is an NSAID and that's definitely a no no.

Most meds can be compounded into liquid form by pharmasist but they taste awful most of the time and if the medications can not be compounded you will need to crush them up and take them. If the tablet is small enough you can sallow it whole but check with your surgeon about when you can do that. I dont know if changing your meds is an option but I know that celexa which is in the same class as zoloft does come in liquid form. As for the arthritis you can try Ultram (tramodal) this works wonders for pain

The hospital gave me a pill crusher for my zoloft. I only went 1 day without taking it and that was the day of surgery!
It is very nasty crushed - and it may upset your pouch - but I delt with it. I needed my Zoloft.

Many people continue taking the Zoloft pills after surgery. They are quite small enough for you to swallow with no problem.  NO, you CANNOT discontinue the Zoloft cold turkey (and with teh numebr of people who experience post-op depression, you would not want to discontinue it at all).

I, too, took Celebrex before surgery.  Unfortunately, almost vevery anti=inflammatory out there is a no-no after NRY.  SO now I just take Tarmadol (and VIcodin when teh Ramadol is not enough) fro the knee pain.  Yuo MIGHT be one of the ones whose arthritis is much better after losing the weight (and therefore might find that you don;t need anything for it other than Tylenol).  Also, you do NTO have to take all liquids.  Many people swallow small pills from day one after surgery with NO problems at all (or at least by a month or so out when the swelling from surgery has subsided).

Lora

Celebrex is a different type of NSAID and does not have the same ulcer risk as drugs such as ibuprofen, naprosyn, etc. Have your doctor check your h. Pylori status which is a separate risk factor for ulcers. If you are positive, you should be treated prior to continuing Celebrex. My personal decision was to continue celebrex. I restarted as soon as i could take capsules. Without it i found it very difficult/ painful to exercise. I am h. Pylori neg, non smoker, and non drinker. Another alternative might be Tramadol. Hopefully, once I lose the extra weight I won't need it anymore. It is important that you discuss with your doctor the risks vs. benefits of any medicine.