After weight loss surgery, regardless of procedure, the size of the stomach and/or the structure of the digestive system is changed in ways that prevent the patient from taking in too much food. The severe restriction of calorie intake is what causes the weight loss. But lesser-known is that bariatric surgery can also make the stomach more sensitive to some medications and cause malabsorption of others.
Here’s a guide to medications that are off-limits, the reasons why, and what you can use instead.
In general, both the therapeutic effects and the side effects associated with any medication can be different in a bariatric surgery patient – either lessened or magnified. It helps to realize how each procedure affects the stomach and intestines:
Patients who undergo gastric bypass surgery or biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch surgery have the most restrictions on medications post-procedure. They are the two surgeries where the digestive process and the small intestine are affected.
Patients who undergo gastric sleeve, gastric banding, or gastric balloon procedures do not have problems with absorption of the medication, but since the size of the stomach is limited, they may develop issues with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medications if the stomach lining becomes irritated.
After gastric bypass surgery or biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch surgery, you should avoid the following medications:
And keep these three general cautions in mind:
In terms of over-the-counter medicines that are safe to take after gastric bypass surgery or biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch surgery, these are the recommendations:
Purpose of Medication | Bariatric-Friendly Medications |
Pain relief | - Tylenol (acetaminophen) - Panadol (paracetamol) |
Allergies | Benedryl (diphenhydramine HCl) |
Cold or flu | - Benedryl (diphenhydramine HCI) - Dimetapp (brompheniramine maleate, pseudoephedrine HCl) - Robitussin (dextromethorphan polistirex) - Sudafed (pseudoephedrine HCl) - Triaminic (acetaminophen, dextromethorphan HBr) - Tylenol cold products (acetaminophen, aextromethorphan HBr, phenylephrine HCl) |
Acid reduction (proton pump inhibitors) | - Prilosec (omeprazole magnesium) - Prevacid (lansoprazole) - Nexium (esomeprazole magnesium |
Gas relief | - Gax-X (simethicone) - Phazyme (simethicone, calcium carbonate) |
Suppositories | - Dulcolax (bisacodyl) - Glycerin |
Formulas sometimes differ within brand names. To learn the active ingredients in any brand-name medication, you can search the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s DailyMed site.
Regardless of what kind of bariatric procedure you have, to talk with your doctor about which medications are approved for you to take. Every individual is different; what is fine for one person may be problematic for another. Every medication has side effects, and some medications are associated with the possible risk of weight gain, which your doctor may want to change.
The Soma Care Team continues to work with patients well after their surgery to ensure optimal healing. We are dedicated to helping you achieve your wellness goals. Ask us what weight loss surgery is like with Soma Weight Loss.
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