Question:
Do I stop

I am 41 - 264 #s and ready for my Lap Band--- BUT--- last week I went to the physciatric eval and that docor told me to stop my antidpressant- along with prevacid etc... I AM SO AFRAID TO STOP THESE MEDS- I have been on cymbalta for 2 years and my anxiety is finally in control- Also I have MS and I become so down due to the MS - With the lap band cant I just break the cap open and sprikle in Jello and slurp it slow -not chewing or breaking the caps - and the others cant I just crush and mix with a little something? I do not want to go against doctors but - I Do not want to get depressed.    — Loraluv-aol.com (posted on April 18, 2009)

April 18, 2009
Wow, I would feel the same way. I have to have my Effexor everyday or I physically get sick. My body is dependant upon it. I can't believe your Dr.'s told you this. The Effexor was the only thing I was worried about in the hospital, because I know what my body does if I miss a dose. I would sit down with you Dr. and explain your anxiety about it. It's not safe to just STOP. I have to crush all of mine up and it's horrible. I gag every morning. Good luck to you.
   — Bootsee01

April 18, 2009
You shouldn't stop your antidepressant cold turkey. You always need to wean down if you are going to stop taking them at all. I agree with the other answer. I would discuss it with the doctor.
   — [Deactivated Member]

April 18, 2009
Whoa!!! MY surgeon told me to ABSOLUTELY NOT stop taking my antidepressants. They don't want me to stop taking them for at least a year out, even though I don't feel I need them. It was in his explicit instructions, including everything in the printed packet that the hospital gave me when I went in for my pre-op workup. DO NOT STOP TAKING YOUR ANTIDEPRESSANT MEDS. And they also told me NOT to stop taking my thyroid medication. Those were the only medications I was allowed to take on the morning of surgery! I'd check with your surgeon right away. Stopping medication like that cold-turkey can cause psychotic breaks and other nasty problems....
   — Erica Alikchihoo

April 18, 2009
I understand your concerns. I also take Cymbalta; I take it for depression. After failing on 3 other antidepressants before this one, Cymbalta was a God-send. I talked to my surgeon and my prescribing physician about it, and they told me to NOT stop taking my antidepressant. I open up the capsule and take it with a tablespoon of applesauce. So far, I haven't noticed any differences in mood or any other problems. (I've been doing it this way for about 9 days.) When I was approaching lap band surgery I searched a number of different WLS websites/message boards and found that many banded Cymbalta users say that they just open up the capsule and they have not had any issues. I also find it odd that the doctor told you to stop taking Prevacid. I was not taking Prevacid before surgery, but my surgeon put me on Prevacid for 30 days after surgery, so it seems weird that your doctor would tell you not to take it. Maybe he just doesn't want you to take it in the few days immediately preceding surgery?? Also, I am not sure if you are taking thyroid meds, but you should not stop taking those either. I have hypothyroidism and must take my meds everyday. On the day of my surgery, I did not take my levothyroxine pill in the morning because I had a 7:30 AM surgery, so they gave me my thyroid medicine through my IV while I was in the hospital that afternoon. I would raise your concerns with the surgeon AND with your primary care physician, so you know exactly which medications you can take and which days not to take them. Good luck getting everything worked out!
   — ads2e

April 18, 2009
I had my lapband on April 1st. The only medications my doctors told me to stop was my two diabetic pills. They wanted me to take my blood pressure pill the morning of surgery, and my antidepresent the night before and then after. My surgeon did not want my blood pressure to high, nor did he want me nervous about about having surgery. I started all meds back up the evening I had surgery. I have had no problems with any of my meds. Good luck--Carolyn
   — Cjames3259