extended release meds
I see people ask about extended release meds a lot and thought I would post this.
Extended release meds are medications that are designed to be broken down and absorbed slowly, over time. Usually over a period of 12-24 hours. The benefit to them is that you have to take fewer pills a day. For instance, if you use extended release Effexor, you can take one 150 mg capsule once a day instead of two 75 mg pills 12 hours apart.
The problem is that after RNY, we no longer have a pyloric valve and the part of our small intestine that is used is shorter. That means pills don't stay in our system as long. They will probably pass out of our system in less than 12 hours, certainly in less than 24. So if we take an extended release drug, like Effexor XR, we won't get the full 150 mg. We'll absorb some of it, then it will leave our body before we absorb it all. And it's impossible to say exactly how much we will absorb.
Taking extended release meds won't hurt us. We just won't get the full benefit of them.
If you are crushing your meds, or opening capsules, now that can hurt you if you do that to an extended release med. If you do that, instead of absorbing 150 mg Effexor over the course of 24 hours, you will absorb it all at once. That's a bigger dose than your doc intended you to get all at once and in some cases, it may be a dangerously high dose to get all at once.
Some people do still use extended release meds after RNY. They just won't get the full benefit of them. Talk to your doc about whether any extended release meds should be changed to something else. Keep in mind that some docs, like PCPs, may not realize that we are advised not to use extended release meds or why, so you may need to explain it to them. You can also talk to your pharmacist about whether or not certain meds should be crushed or if capsules should be opened.
Extended release meds are medications that are designed to be broken down and absorbed slowly, over time. Usually over a period of 12-24 hours. The benefit to them is that you have to take fewer pills a day. For instance, if you use extended release Effexor, you can take one 150 mg capsule once a day instead of two 75 mg pills 12 hours apart.
The problem is that after RNY, we no longer have a pyloric valve and the part of our small intestine that is used is shorter. That means pills don't stay in our system as long. They will probably pass out of our system in less than 12 hours, certainly in less than 24. So if we take an extended release drug, like Effexor XR, we won't get the full 150 mg. We'll absorb some of it, then it will leave our body before we absorb it all. And it's impossible to say exactly how much we will absorb.
Taking extended release meds won't hurt us. We just won't get the full benefit of them.
If you are crushing your meds, or opening capsules, now that can hurt you if you do that to an extended release med. If you do that, instead of absorbing 150 mg Effexor over the course of 24 hours, you will absorb it all at once. That's a bigger dose than your doc intended you to get all at once and in some cases, it may be a dangerously high dose to get all at once.
Some people do still use extended release meds after RNY. They just won't get the full benefit of them. Talk to your doc about whether any extended release meds should be changed to something else. Keep in mind that some docs, like PCPs, may not realize that we are advised not to use extended release meds or why, so you may need to explain it to them. You can also talk to your pharmacist about whether or not certain meds should be crushed or if capsules should be opened.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
Something I've talked to my pain Dr. about and he's curious about trying is adjusting the dosage to where I'd absorb a theraputic amount of the med. My surgeon says some don't have issues taking XR meds post op but absorbing the proper dosage is the big concern.
I was also told it could be dangerous to break or crush XR meds because of them going through our system faster and the possibility of to much of the med being dumped into our system at once due to crushing or breaking.
I got into a huge arguement with my psych Dr. because he was convinced my surgeon was wrong about the change in how I'd absorb an XR med and the fact that I wouldn't be getting the full amount in my system. It took my surgeon, his nurse, my primary and me to get him to understand that I don't absorb meds the same.
I was also told it could be dangerous to break or crush XR meds because of them going through our system faster and the possibility of to much of the med being dumped into our system at once due to crushing or breaking.
I got into a huge arguement with my psych Dr. because he was convinced my surgeon was wrong about the change in how I'd absorb an XR med and the fact that I wouldn't be getting the full amount in my system. It took my surgeon, his nurse, my primary and me to get him to understand that I don't absorb meds the same.
"Be present for your journey, get to know who you really are and then be your authentic self with NO apologies"
You can follow my journey at mandaschange.blogspot.com
You can follow my journey at mandaschange.blogspot.com
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