Question: Which medications should I avoid after weight loss surgery?
Answer: Your surgeon or bariatric physician can offer guidance on this topic and should be your source of medical advice. Always tell a doctor prescribing you medications that you are a post weight loss surgery patient and what type of surgery you have had. Ask them specifically if the medication they are prescribing is something those who have had your surgery can take. Confirm this again with the pharmacist when you pick up your prescription. With over-the-counter drugs (OTC), look for active ingredients on the box and when in doubt ask your doctor.
Some people choose to wear a medical alert bracelet post-op. I have a few and while I don't wear them all the time when I travel one comes with me. I have the following info on mine...
Name
Gastric Bypass (month and year of surgery)
No Blind NG Tube/No NSAIDS/ No Sugar
Allergies
Phone Contact
Some sources for bracelets: Lauren's Hope (super pretty), Amazon, Etsy
From the The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) website... "...One clear class of medications to avoid after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is the “Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs” (NSAIDs), which can cause ulcers or stomach irritation in anyone but are especially linked to a kind of ulcer called “marginal ulcer” after gastric bypass. Marginal ulcers can bleed or perforate. Usually they are not fatal, but they can cause a lot of months or years of misery, and are a common cause of reoperation, and even (rarely) reversal of gastric bypass.
Some surgeons advise limiting the use of NSAIDs after sleeve gastrectomy and adjustable gastric banding as well. Corticosteroids (such as prednisone) can also cause ulcers and poor healing but may be necessary in some situations. Some long-acting, extended-release, or enteric coated medications may not be absorbed as well after bariatric surgery, so it is important that you work with your surgeon and primary care physician to monitor how well your medications are working. Your doctor may choose an immediate-release medication in some cases if the concern is high enough. Finally, some prescription medications can be associated with weight gain, so you and your doctor can weigh the risk of weight gain versus the benefit of that medication. There may be alternative medications in some cases with less weight gain as a side effect."
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) to Avoid. This is not an all-inclusive list. Ask your doctor all medical questions.
Actron * Advil * Aleve * Algix * Anaprox * Ansaid * Aspirin * Acetylsalicylic Acid * Brufen * Butazolidin * Cataflam* Ceeoxx * Celebrex * Celecoxib * Ceoxx * Choline *
Clinril * Clotam * Daypro * Dayrun * Dexdetoprofen * Diclofenac * Diflunisal * Disalcid * Dolobid * Duraprox * Dynastat * Etodolac * Etoricoxib * Equioxx * Feldene * Fenoprofen * Fenopron * Firocoxib * Flurbiprofen * Flurwood * Froben * Ibuprofen * Indocin, Indocin SR * Indomethacin * Keral * Ketoflam * Ketoprofen * Ketorolac * Licofelone * Lodine, Lodine XL * Lornoxicam * Loxoprofen * Loxonin * Loxomac * Lumiracoxib * Meclomen * Meclofenamic Acid * Meclofenemate * Medipren * Mefenamic Acid * Melox * Meloxicam * Mesulid * Midol * Mobic * Mobiflex * Mono-Gesic * Motrin * Movalis * Nabumetone * Nalfon * Naprelan * Naprosyn * Naproxen * Nimalox * Nimesulide * Nuprin * Nurofen * Orudis * Oruvail * Oxaporozin * Oxeno * Parecoxib * Phenylbutazone * Piroxicam * Ponstel * Previcox * Prexige * Rapid * Recoxa * Relafen * Rofecoxib * Salflex * Salicylate * Salsalate * Salsitab * Sprix * Sulide * Sulindac * Tenoxicam * Tolectin * Tolfenamic Acid * Toradol * Trilisate Disaclid * Tufnil * Urbifen * Valdecoxib (Bextra) * Vioxx * Voltaren, Voltaren-XR * Xefo
Remember that advice you get online or in support groups may have been given specifically to that person for a reason unbeknownst to them and may or may not apply to you. Ask your Doctor.
Did I mention asking your doctor ;)
Did I mention asking your doctor ;)