Question:
Should I change my Prescription meds to liquid form?

Someone must know...Should my 15 pills a day (prescription of course) be changed to liquid? ie: prednisone, singulair, theophaline, estradiol, previcid ......? My surgeon hasn't mentioned it but it was beginning to worry me, how will I ever get 7 pills down every night. Anyone been there? Help, Surgery is in 19 days.    — Brooke B. (posted on December 11, 2002)

December 11, 2002
I didn't have to take much in the way of medication. My surgeon gave me liquid Lortab for pain but I never took it. About 8 day out I had to start taking Celebrex for a week because of an injury - I took the capsules with no problem. This is somehting you need to discuss with your surgeon - he is probably the only one (or one of his staff) who can answer this question for you.
   — Patty_Butler

December 11, 2002
I was taking a ton of meds prior to my hospitalization...they will review all your meds while you are there, determine which can be taken crushed or broken into small pieces and which have to be changed. It will all be taken care of before you are discharged, try not to worry about it. My doctor allows us to swallow any pill smaller than 1/4". Many medications cannot be broken or crushed since they are time released, and thats why meds are sometimes changed. My prednisone was given to me IV for the first two dys, after that I was able to swallow 1 mgs. size pills. Good luck Open RNY 10/21/02 -42Lbs.
   — Linda 1.

December 12, 2002
Every surgeon will have their own preferences on this subject. Our surgeon is one of the pioneers in the field of lap bariatric surgery and he does not have his patients crush their meds or change to liquid medications. We were taking Percocet tablets for discomfort the day after surgery (RNY) and were told to resume all our previous medications as soon as we got home. If you are taking a large number of tablets, I would suggest that you space those out over the day instead of taking the whole handful at one time. We had no problems with any tablets or capsules at all. Best wishes!
   — Diana T.

December 12, 2002
Hi, I had the same questions prior to surgery. I took 13 pills a day. I have diabetes, hbp, arthritis, sleep apnea, the whole 9 yards! After the surgery, my doctor took me off all the medications. I was very happy. My bp is about 156/65, my sugar is around 132 almost every day, my joints aren't hurting me, even though the weather is changing drastically. I feel great! I haven't felt this good in at least 5 years. I am 51 years old, and since my surgery Oct 21,2002, I've lost 50lbs. I am very happy. Hope this helps you. Martha
   — Martha P.