Malabsorbtion and Medication

I am looking for knowledge from WLS grads.  I'm 5 months post RNY  and have lost about 65 lbs. (started at 282 now at 215).  My cholesteral and diabetes blood tests are back to normal, I feel great and have restored energy (HOORAY!)   However my blood pressure is still very high (190/100 avg) and not much lower than pre-WLS.    BP issues do run in my family so weight loss may not be the total answer. 

My PCP has increased the dosages of the meds that I am taking and the numbers still do not seem to budge.  I am in constant contact with my PCP and have been working to educate her on the issues associated with RN,  i.e. malabsorbtion.  I undersand about vitamin intake and the malabsorbation of vitamins, but does anyone know whether this pertains to other medications as well??   If my BP medications are not being absorbed properly, then increasing them may not necessarily be the answer.  Possibly taking them at different intervals might work.  In any case I am not looking for medical advice, but I was just curious if anyone has any info regarding the malabsorbtion of medications.    Thanks!!!!

Good question.  I used to be able to take a sleep aid and it would knock me out so bad I could only take it when I didn't have to get up early the next morning.  Now it only lasts about 4 hours.  I chalked it up to the pouch and less stomach acid.  This is only my opinion, but it makes the most sense.

Make sure you BP is not extended release.  I was on Toprol XL before surgery - and had to go to another medicine (starts with an L) which is just the non-extended release med that is in Toprol.   I had to take it twice a day.  If you are taking a once a day med - that may be the issue.  you may need to take a non-extended release med.

in no way am I a dr & I thought this might help ,my bcontroll pills was not being asorbed right either so they had to give me a stronger pill so meds do also just my oppion ,I might be wrong but in my case they did me good luck

Thanks for your input. 

It depends on the med and how it is broken down - some pills require stomach acid to break down, since we produce little to no stomach acid that can cause an issue... if your pills are time release that can be an issue as well since we just have a pouch. I would just google the med and WLS and see if you can find any information or try posting to the main boards and see if people had an issue with the same med. There really is no set answer so its hard to say :-)

 

It's entirely possible if you are on any kind of timed release medication.  I have certainly heard of several instances (locally to me) of ladies who have gotten pregnant after WLS while diligently taking their birth control pills.  That seems to be an obvious answer although I'm not sure that surgeons have started to point that out. 

One other thing you might try....taking your BP meds at night.  I recently read a medical report in the news that taking your BP meds at night before bed worked better as your body responded to the lowering of the BP better while you are sleeping.  Another possibility is splitting the dosage into 2, assuming it is NOT timed release (1/2 in the a.m. and 1/2 in the p.m.)  Of course, you should always discuss with your doctors before making any changes, just to be sure.    Make sure you discuss with both your WLS surgeon and your PCP, and if possible, they should coordinate your care.   Good luck getting it under control.

Great suggestions, thanks!!!