Question:
dr doesn't prescribe actigall or antigas meds post...are there OTC meds...

I have noticed that many post-opers were prescribed actigall and an antigas med post-op. Mine does not. I was wondering if there is an OTC equivalent to the actigal?? I am going to ask my surgeon for a script for the actigall...but I would like to know if there is anything out there OTC just in case. Also, I bought a multi vit that contains 100% of B-12 .... so do I still need a sublingual? Also, was wondering how many pills people take each day...I have a multi (with 100% iron), and calcium cit, vit E (my idea not prescribed), biotin (to nip the hair thing in the bud-hopefully)...This adds up to 8 pills each day (I will take a few at a time throughout the day to get them all in)...I am following the dose amt on the bottles....does this sound right? I know that immediately post-op, I have to take chewables...when do I get to start taking the swallowed ones and do I need to split them into smaller pieces?? Im sorry that I have so many questions, but I know how important it is to do this right...... thank you    — cherokey55 (posted on July 1, 2002)

June 30, 2002
Hi Terri. I'm not sure exactly what Actigal is but when I have gas or gas pains I take Gas-X or phasyme xtra strength. They are small and they seem to work for me. As far as the vitamins go, your doc will tell you when you can start swallowing your vites. I think when you are 8 weeks you can swallow pills. I am 6 months post op and I take 2 Flintstone chewables, 4-500 mg Biotin, and 2-500 mg calcium citrate capsules, and 6-25mg iron daily. I also take a sublingual B-12 once a week. I think it is a 500mcg tablet. I am still taking the chewables cause the adult multi I was taking was too big and I had to cut it in half and everytime I took it, I threw it back up. Talk about a nasty taste in the mouth, YUCK! You still need a sublingual B-12 cause we don't absorb it any other way. You also need to take 2 of the multi's a day. Hope this helps, but I would still ask your doc. Some docs have different opinions on what and how much they want their patients to take.
   — Kim B.

June 30, 2002
My surgeon has us take 2000mg of the citrate a day, and you only absorb 500mg. at one time. I was given the OK to swallow at 3 months and I got stuck on 1/4 of a large multi. It wasn't until 6 mo. post that I could swallow an entire pill. And my B-12 levels have been great, my nutritionist doesn't recommend supplementing unless the levels are low. But we get bloodwork done at 2 wks, 1 mo, 3mo, 6mo, 9mo, and 12. Then the pace slows down to once a year I believe. Most surgeons don't do labs quite as often, maybe that is why B-12 is supplemented anyway, I don't know. Mine also prescribes Actigall, but I never took mine. There are differing opinions as to whether it helps or not. I take 2000mg citrate,2 multi, and supplement with extra iron since my levels STAY low. It adds up to 8 pills a day.
   — Cheri M.

June 30, 2002
Hello, I posed the same question today to those who are having gallbladder problems. Waiting to here something. I am currently taking augticall now. I haven't experienced any pain or anything. I am taking them because its suppose to help with gallstones. I take them twice a day along with 2 chewable Kmart childrens, 2 calcium, 1 vit c, 1 slow fe iron pill, 1 b12 1500 mcg. That equals to about 7 a day. I haven't experience hair falling out yet but I am only 3 1/2 months out. I have already cut by hair a little shorter. My doctor told me to make sure I get in my zinc to stop the hair thing but my multi vit has 30 and since I am taking it twice a day I am hoping I am getting the full two doses of it. I take my medicine throught out the day. and I could swallow from the beginning so I can't help you out there. Hope you have a good day and find out everything you need to know. Hope this helped.
   — Chris9672

July 1, 2002
Any of your doctors can prescribe Actigall if you want it. When I did a MedLine search, a minimum of 600 mg per day of Actigall decreased the incidence of gallstones during rapid weight loss. If your insurance requires prior authorization for Actigall, your doctor should be able to justify it due to being on a very low calorie diet which will cause rapid weight loss and increase the risk of stones.
   — Pamela B.

July 1, 2002
ORIGIONAL POSTER.........thanks, you guys are such a great source of advice. Us 'new guys' really appreciate you taking the time to answer questions that are old hat for you!
   — cherokey55