Question:
Can I still take antidepressants, blood pressure medicine and arthritis medicine.

I am hoping to have surgery and I take antidepressants (celexa), blood pressure medicine (Diovan HCT - Blood pressure medicine with a diuretic) and I also take arthritis medicine (mobic). What happens to your medicines after surgery?    — Eleanore Davis (posted on April 22, 2003)

April 22, 2003
Go over your current medications with your doctor before your surgery and have the new prescriptions ready prior to surgery if changed. Some pills can be crushed and others will need to be changed to a new dosage or form. I even have checked with my pharmacist to go over what is available. Some people are able to get off of medicines as they lose weight. Good luck to you!
   — Starrlina

April 22, 2003
Some medications come in liquid form. If your current medications is time-released you can't crush it-- you need to get it prescribed as a non time released. I have to tell you the meds I got in liquid form taste so bad I gagged--I just didn't take them for 3 weeks. After 3 weeks I could swallow the pills. You need to go over your meds with your doctor & come up with a plan.
   — Wanda R.

April 22, 2003
I was taking about 10 pills a day when I had my surgery in Oct of 2002. While in the hospital, my surgeon did not give me any of those meds. My blood pressure stayed within the normal range while I was in the hospital. After surgery I was put back on one blood pressure medicine, but it over controlled my blood pressure (got too low), so they took me off of it too. It has now been six months. I do not take any medication on a regular basis. My blood pressure is within the normal range, my cholestrol is below normal. I no longer take anything for arthritis or even for pain, except on an occassionally basis. My suggestion is talk to your Dr, but you needs may change drastically very quickly. Judy R
   — Judy R.

April 22, 2003
I believe you are asking, will you still be able to take those meds after surgery. Many people here on the site still take Celexa. As far as your arthritis medicine goes, Mobic is the newest one out and it is supposed to be the easiest one on your stomach so that will probably be okay. Soe, like Vioxx and Celebrex are on our no-no list just because of how hard they are on our tummies. (I know some still take them anyway and have no problems) Hopefully. as you lose the weight, you won't need the b/p/meds. I was taken off mine in the hospital but had to go back on them one month out. But I have the kind of b/p that is not caused by weight and no matter what size I am, I will have it. So, good luck.
   — Delores S.

April 22, 2003
ASK YOUR SURGEON! They are all different on what is and is not allowed. I restarted my Celexa and Diovan HCT as soon as I got back home. (As well as other meds). I am allowed to take Ibuprofen and Vioxx. (But I only take them infrequently.) You might want to see if Bextra helps with your arthritis. You may have a lot of pain relief after you start losing weight and are able to move around more easily.
   — koogy