Question:
Sleep or pain meds malabsorbed?

I'm over 3 years post-op RNY distal. I'm having problems with pain and/or sleep medicine 'going right through me' and not lasting enough for the intended effect. Example: I take temazepam 30 mg which should give me a full night's sleep. I'm wide awake in 4 hours. I take xanax periodically for anxiety and it works for a couple hours and I'm anxious again. Same with pain meds for dental pain. Prescription says once every 6 hours and I'm in pain from dental implants after 3 hours. Does anybody else think this has to do with malabsorption since the medication bypasses the area where it would absorb fully and then, obviously, work longer? Or is it just me :::sigh:::    — jazzinco (posted on August 2, 2006)

August 2, 2006
I am only about 45 days post op and have had medication absorption issues since day one. I take Xanax and have noticed that the effect isn't as long as preop, and have had to switch to liquid meds for most of my other things as I can't tollerate the pills. Talk to your doctor about other alternatives. Also, Xanax and pain meds do build up tollerances in your system causing them not to work as well. Chances are if it's been something you've been on long term that you may have built up a tollerance as well.
   — oceanrayne

August 2, 2006
i have insomnia, i was taking ambien 10 mg. then i heard about the ambien cr. this helps keep you asleep longer, ive had lots of sucess with this one, im 3 years post op and have been taking it for 6 months now. as for the pain meds im not sure, i know if you take more then recommended your body builds up a tolerence to them, i usually ask for different ones.
   — shellypoe

August 3, 2006
This is a question to discuss with your Primary & Sleep Doctor. Are you grinding the Pills up so they are more absorbable and not drinking once you've taken them? As drinking more is just flushing them out of your absorbing areas.
   — Michael Eak

August 3, 2006
I think your guess is pretty right on. I broke my meds into the smallest doses available and "time released" them to myself for better absorption. I'm thinking sleep issues seem to come free with the surgery. As we often discuss on the Grad list, many of the meds seem to last us only 4-6 hrs. It's SO not just you. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG
   — vitalady

August 4, 2006
I've had the same problems (I'm 1 year out), and now I ask for crushable meds only and grind them into a powder, and try to take them with a bit of food. My theory is that a small amount of food keeps the meds in my pouch long enough for them to be absorbed. My surgeon suggested this when I was first operated on. You probably should talk to a Bariatric specialist-your surgeon or nutritionist - about this. Good luck. Margo
   — MargoS

December 26, 2008
I thought I was malabsorbing my pain meds for my fibromyalgia and was taking pain meds every 4 hours instead of 6. My doctor doesn't understand this and won't bump up my rx so I was tempted to buy them online but is that safe and how do you know which website to use. hmmmm.....No it's not just you. Best Wishes.
   — Kristy