Question:
What is the deal with Extended release medication?
Can we or can't we take extended release medicine? I have heard many times that we cannot take them, but I have not heard why. Is this just a myth? What facts do we have that show us that we cannot take this type of medicine? A web site or medical article stating this would be greatly appreciated. People keep saying that we can't take it, but noone has ever backed it up with some sort of concrete reasoning. Any help on this matter would be a great benefit to me. Thank you, Mary Beth — Beffy W. (posted on December 19, 2003)
December 19, 2003
I don't have any concrete research but my surgeon told me that I will never
have timed released medications again. I'm sure, being the inquisitive
person I am, that i asked him why and he must have given me a reasonable
answer. Just can't remeber it. i always question everything he tells me
so i am sure he told me. There is just so much info to try to absorb at
one time when you are learning this stuff.
— Delores S.
December 19, 2003
Charlene is right. We don't absorb them anymore. I found this out with
dramamine when I went to Magic Mountain. Usually one would do me. I tried
to take another one and it STILL didn't work. Ended up being a short day at
the park, if you catch my meaning. Blech!!
— Kris T.
December 19, 2003
You can prove it to yourself. Get an accurate sketch of your surgery, with
measurements, if you can. Take it to your pharmacist, and ask if you will
get the full benefit of this med when it will not spend time in the stomach
(with all the acids & such) and will bypass the duodenum and first part
of the jejunum, at least. The reasons for the using of regular meds are
several, but that's the easiest one to prove. My patient handbook came with
those instructions, so I never questioned it. When the only meds available
were TR, SR, XR, the dose was adjusted to compensate for the lack of
absorption.
— vitalady
December 19, 2003
Since a person can't take an "extended release" medication I have
to wonder about pain patches, or allergy medications. I can't imagine
suffering through life with puffed, swollen eyes, runny nose and excess
phlegm for the rest of my life. Any input on that?
Thanks,
Lynnette
Novato, Ca.
— LynnetteMFrary
December 19, 2003
As far as for myself, I have been taking Claritin-D on a twice daily basis
since the day I came home from the Hospital about 15 months ago. Thing
is...... I HAVE NEVER CRUSHED THE PILLS!!!!!!! I had been told that the
crushing of time released pill, at least this one, is what causes the
problems.
— Peggy B.
December 20, 2003
But i'm confused a bit about what I'm reading here--aren't some of the
prescription antacids we take extended release, i.e. nexium?
— marilise
December 21, 2003
I have to concur with the others who explained why time release won't work
now. Since we don't have stomach acid to begin with, it would be less
likely to be broken down but more importantly, it passes through our system
faster before it can all take effect. It's malabsorbed. But someone
mentioned pain patches below and patches are a different scenario. The
medication enters through your skin into the bloodstream and not via your
stomach so a bypass shouldn't affect that at all.
— sandsonik
December 21, 2003
There are some extended release and continuous release medications that are
designed NOT to be affected by gastric juices, because the medication is
released in the intestinal tract. These medications may not even change
shape as they pass through the body, and it may appear the pill has passed
through undigested! The pill is a matrix that holds the medication that is
leached out in the intestinal tract. I really don't think anyone can say
absolutely that we WLS folks never, ever can take extended release
medications again. I have never ever seen any evidence that this is fact. I
do believe this may be one of those things that becomes "gospel"
just because it is repeated so often. I am glad to see someone post this,
and it does not appear that anyone has offered up any concrete evidence or
any studies that have been done to prove - or disprove- the idea that we
never absorb extended release meds . (FYI - my DH (lap RNY 4/03) is on
Wellbutrin XL, and it works quite well for him.)
— koogy
January 2, 2004
I can only speak for my self, but I take once a day Claritin-D with exactly
the same excellent results as preop. I took Wellbutrin Sr preop , stopped
for a year and went back on at half the previous dose ( I am half the
weight I was) with again the same excellent results. the ferrous sulfate I
am not "supposed " to be able to absorb according to some sources
on here brought my hemoglobin , hematocrit and iron counts up dramatically.
I question things that are repeated til they become "truth" never
take it at face value unless you have seen scientific reports from a
reliable independant source if you want to trust the info.It may vary
depending on your surgery and your amount bypassed. I had an RNY with aprox
2 feet or 60 Cm. bypassed.
— **willow**
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