Question:
Can I crush/cut-up my daily Zoloft (200mg) and Welbutrin (150mg/twice per day) dose?
I've read some of the many postings regarding the use of anti-depressants after surgery, but am confused as ever. I am 6 days post-op and have been off my medications since my surgeon stopped me cold-turkey after my poceedure (lap r-n-y). He said he wanted me to stay off my meds until next week, if possible. But I think I should go back on the medication ASAP. I can't stop crying. I'm tortured with fear, pain, and fright, wondering why I've put my body through this hell. I pray that any minute I'll wake up and see that this was all a bad dream. Does anyone think my anti-depressants will help? If so, do you know if I can cut up the 150 mg Welbutrin pills (the purple ones that look just like the Zyban) without risk? It seems OK to cut up the Zoloft since the pills have that "score" in the middle, but what about the Welbutrin? My psychiatrist is TOTALLY unhelpful and I don't know where to turn for help. I'm afraid, and I think I have to try to get these emotions under control if I'm going to begin a true healing process. Any help you can offer will be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks, ter — Terry F. (posted on July 13, 2002)
July 13, 2002
I know that it's ok to cut the Zoloft (it's actually soft enough to break).
And, you should be able to swallow the two halves without any trouble.
I'm not big on crushing medicine, bad experience with Lortab...don't ask,
it was dumb. Thought if you could cut it, you could crush it and BOY was I
wrong!
The Welbutrin, I can't help you with. You can call your pharmacist, he or
she can tell you if you can alter the pill.
Good luck!
— Lisa S.
July 13, 2002
Ter, First congrats on your surgery. I would definately ask the pharmacist
like the previous poster said. I also want to put my 2 cents in. Are you
taking Wellbutrin SR? If so it is an extended tab slow release tablet that
will not absorb properly in your new pouch. Please check and if so you
need to get the regular wellbutrin. The purple tabs that I have seen are
SR. So just check and be careful. Zoloft is also made in a liquid form,
and can also be prescribed. Some on here can tolerate it and others can't
(can cause dumping) so if you find out you cant split, or crush then there
is that option too. Have a blessed day and Huggers! Only 2 more days for
me! ~ANG~
— angel_wls
July 13, 2002
Consult your Pharmacist. Some meds should not be chewed or crushed as they
absorb too quickly and can be toxic. My Doctor told me to continue my meds
as usual. If you do not want to do that, Take High Doses of fish oil (omega
3's) and plenty of B vitamins as that is a natural remedy for depression.
Neither will hurt you.
— S R.
July 13, 2002
ur pharmacist should have all the answers to ur questions hun. they r so
much more knowledgeable about meds than most drs r. i also take zoloft, the
100 mg tab. the size is just right for swallowing. when i was discharged
after my surgery my surgeon said...'its not the length of the pill, its the
width. if the width is less than the width of ur pinky it is safe to
swallow whole. if it is a round pill the same size or larger than an
m&m candy u should NOT swallow it whole.' i have been swallowing my
zoloft since i got home & have never had a problem. at 3 months post op
i was able to swallow a tylenol caplet (not the coated one) with no problem
or ill effects. now at 6 months post op i am able to swallow 2 zolofts at
the same time & also 2 tylenol at the same time. i am concerned about
ur psychiatrist tho.how can he prescribe meds for his patients if he knows
nothing about the meds????? alot of meds cant be used with other meds
because it can counteract the effects of one or more of the meds or it can
create a dangerous chemical combination in ur body. he should know the meds
he prescribes inside & out! he needs to be aware of side effects that
can happen from meds. not only do i think he does not educate himself well
enuf about medicines & chemical compounds but he also sounds dangerous
to me. if i were u, i would be looking for a different psych. a word of
advice on the zoloft. after surgery i started slipping backwards (mentally)
even tho i was taking my zoloft as prescribed. at my next psych visit he
said it wouldnt hurt to double my dose because zoloft is a very safe
antidepressant/antianxiety drug & virtually non toxic medicine when
prescribed & taken properly & that it can be prescribed up to 300mg
a day. he also said it was safe to take the double dose together because
zoloft should be taken upon awakening in the morning. well, thank god, i
started feeling better again & when my next psych visit came we were
both pleased that my severe depression was lessening with the double dose.
we continued the session talking about my wls & how that was affecting
my mental state & in the course of me explaining the malabsorption
factor we both realized what had caused my decline after the surgery. i
wasnt absorbing the full dose of the 100mg of the zoloft! that explained
why doubling the dose had a positive effect on me. he thinks that maybe i
was absorbing 50 of the 100 mg dose & by taking 200mg i was probably
absorbing 100 mg, which is the dose i need to keep me stable! it was like a
light bulb went on over my head lol. so try to remember this & if u
start sliding backwards even tho u r taking ur depression/anxiety meds, u
might be experiencing 'the malabsorption factor'. good luck to u hun. &
once again i ask u to look for another psych...one who keeps up his drug
education.
— sheryl titone
July 13, 2002
I can relate to having an "unhelpful psychiatrist." I've found
that many are not so eager to make changes in meds, even when medically
necessary. My surgeon said an absolute NO to cutting up any pills, even the
small scored ones. He wants nothing but liquids, then pureeds down that
stoma for the first 6-8 weeks. So I got some liquid Celexa and some
Depakote sprinkles. Cannot handle the Depakote sprinkles. So far I'm doing
well without. I believe Zoloft comes in a liquid now also, I would ask your
pharmacist. I read on AMOS where someone's surgeon told them to ALWAYS go
for liquid meds first, then chewables, even after healing is done. Makes
sense to me, I've read too many tales of people having pills stuck. I have
an occasional crying jag, I think it's hormonal in nature. But I know if I
get out and walk every day, sometimes 2x a day, I feel SOOOOOO much better
emotionally and physically. Even if you just go around the block. Let me
know if you ever need to talk :) Hang in there, it WILL get better.
(((HUGS))) - Anna lap RNY 7/3/02 -17lbs.
— Anna L.
July 13, 2002
wellbutrin is a "sustained release" pill and should not be
crushed or cut. I was taking darvocets whole three days after surgery with
no problem so if you really need them talk to your dr.
— paula B.
July 13, 2002
I had the same problem as you are having. I horribly depressed after
surgery. My Psych. increased my Zoloft to 200mg per day (two 100 mg pills)
My surgeon said that they could be crushed. I did cursh them before taking
for about two weeks. After that, I did the "water test" to see
how fast they would desolve in my pouch. I broke one Zoloft pill in half at
the score and put it in about an ounce of of room-temp water. It disolved
immediatly! I then knew I could break my two pills in half and swallow them
without having to worry about them getting stuck. I have been doing it
eveery since and have had no problem. Also, my surgeon wanted me back on
regular meds as soon as I was released from the hospital. He did not want
my depression to get ou to hand since depression is so common right after
surgery. Break your Zoloft tablets in half and swallow. If your Wellbutrin
is time-released, breaking them is not an option. If it is not
time-reasled, try the "water test" and procedd accordingly. If
you have any questions please email me.
— Sandra C.
July 14, 2002
I must repost my answer to your inquiry. I did not proof read and I must
apologize for all the spelling errors.
I had the same problem as you are having. I was horribly depressed after
surgery. My Psych. increased my Zoloft to 200mg per day (two 100 mg pills)
My surgeon said that they could/should be crushed. I did crush them before
taking for about two weeks. After that, I did the "water test" to
see how fast they would dissolve in my pouch. I broke one Zoloft pill in
half at the score and put it in about an ounce of room-temp water. It
dissolved immediately! I then knew I could break my two pills in half and
swallow them without having to worry about them getting stuck. I have been
doing it ever since and have had no problem. Also, my surgeon wanted me
back on regular meds as soon as I was released from the hospital. He did
not want my depression to get out of hand since depression is so common
right after surgery. Break your Zoloft tablets in half and swallow. If your
Wellbutrin is time-released, breaking them is not an option. If it is not
time-released, try the "water test" and proceed accordingly. If
you have any questions please email me.
— Sandra C.
July 14, 2002
My advice is to ask your pharmacist for a definite answer. I do know,
however, that the Zoloft can safely be broken in half. I am almost 4 weeks
post-op and I went back on my 100mg Zoloft in 3-4 days post-op because I
got so depressed, crying over everything. I also swallow them whole. They
are very small and my surgeon has no problem with it. As for the
Wellbutrin, call the pharmacy. Most doctors, unfortunately, know less
about this stuff than they should. A pharmacist is expert on the drugs.
Good Luck and God Bless!!! I know how you feel. Tina
— Tina B.
July 14, 2002
I got the liquid zoloft, and tried to take it. BURNED all the way down AND
it gave me uncontrollable diarrhea. Was very expensive and very, very
nasty. I took 2 doses and then started dissolving the pills and drinking
that. It was not terrific, but WAY better than the liquid zoloft. I don't
know a thing about Welbutrin. Good luck to you! Call your Dr., tell
him/her your symptoms, and say you feel you need to go back on the
antidepressants. As for the totally unhelpful psychiatrist, why are you
still going to that person? There are wonderful people out there who can
help!
— Loretta E.
July 14, 2002
I am 3 weeks post op and was on welbutrin before surgery. After the surgery
the surgeon said I could continue taking the welbutrin, just cut it into
small pieces and it will be fine. Sorry, not sure about the zoloft.
Open/Rny/6/20/02
— stacjean
Click Here to Return