Effexor XR

I've been wondering this for awhile now. I'm four month post op and as per my pcp and pharmacist at my bariatric center, I've been opening my anti-anxiety/depression capsules. I take it with yogurt in the morning, but I admit that occasionally forget it at times when I just don't feel like eating yogurt, it's rare though. My question is, will I be stuck opening the capsules for the rest of my life or will there be a time when I could just swallow them? It took me a long time to get to the right dosage and I didn't want to go to the trouble of changing them. It's no trouble opening them, it's just sometimes the texture of them in the yogurt gets to me and that is the only thing I can think of taking them with. I don't like the texture of apple sauce or puree foods and hate no sugar pudding.

at four months out, you should have no problem swallowing capsules whole. I've never broken them open, to be honest. Once I left the hospital, I was swallowing all capsules and tablets whole except for ursodiol and those big calcium citrate tablets - those took a few weeks.

ER- typically means extended release. The concences are we, post op RNY don't absorb Welly well that type of medication. It is recommended we get rapid release - or standard release meds. Check .With your doc.

I'm four months post op and take my Effexor without any problems. I agree with the other post, you're not really suppose to open the capsule because it's extended release. I waited to take mine until I can take the capsule whole. I got clearance from my doctor. You should be ok to do that already.

I was able to swallow regular pills the day after surgery, because my psych meds didn't come in any other form. One pill at a time with a tiny sip of water! You should be fine to do that, but check with your surgeon.

As others have mentioned, you'll want to switch to a formula that's not extended-release, so probably Effexor SR. You may need to take multiple doses per day, maybe one in the morning and one at night, but your body will absorb it better.

HI,, i was never told to open up any of my capsules? My PCP or anyone try to give me capsules, and BIG pills, I told them I am not allowed to have anything bigger than a good n plenty candy.. They told me WHY NOT? I mean shouldnt they know why not? also as for ibuprofen? or acetaminophen.. Which one are we allowed to take? My doctor says it doesnt matter? I was told one of them I shouldnt take?

But my theory with your situation, if you feel you cant swallow the capsules, continue to open them up and put the medicine in foods. I think its up to you actually? Or am I wrong?

rhonda

It's not that I can't swallow capsules, it's that I was I couldn't absorb it well due to the surgery. Every time I have an appointment, they tell me to keep opening them. I was just wondering it there will be a time where I could stop opening them and actually just take them like is. I have an appointment mid May with my pcp, I'm planning to ask her then. If I need to always open them, because of malabsorbtion, then I'll prefer changing them. I just hate the idea of changing them, since it took me a long time to get the right dosage. Thank you for your answer.

I was on Effexor XR before surgery for migraine prevention. My surgeon switched me to the tablets the day of my surgery. Instead of 150 mg XR (extended release) I was put on 50mg (standard release) three times a day because your surgery can alter the speed in which it is absorbed. I was glad they did this because I was able to slowly wean myself down to 50 mg twice daily and I plan to decrease it further. With the XR higher dose I would get palpitations any time I missed a dose!