Which Medications Should You Avoid After Bariatric Surgery?

Bariatric surgery can influence a lot of different aspects of your life, even smaller things such as the medications that you are taking. This is because weight loss surgery often changes the digestive system, in turn altering the way your body is able to handle your consumption of different nutrients. Take a look at these medication lifestyle changes that patients who undergo bariatric surgery such as lap-band surgery in Michigan must make.

• Diabetes Medications. After weight loss surgery, blood sugar levels can undergo substantial changes. In many people these changes are positive, and often weight loss surgery patients are relieved from the burden of diabetes after their operation. The majority of people are able to cut their diabetes medicines in half following medical weight loss surgery. Because glucose, or blood sugar, levels may be volatile after surgery, diabetic patients who undergo bariatric surgery need to monitor their blood sugar levels closely.
• Large Capsules and Pills. For approximately two weeks after surgery to lose weight, the stomach often cannot tolerate pills that are larger than a standard aspirin. Medications larger than this should be crushed or taken in a liquid form.
• Over-the-Counter Medicines. Time-released medications, like those in some pain relievers and cold medicines should be avoided after surgery for weight loss. Because the intestine has been shortened and the stomach altered, it’s difficult to predict how the digestive system will respond to time-released medications.
• Anti-Inflammatory Medications. Anti-inflammatory medicines, like aspirin or ibuprofen, can cause excessive bleeding, and therefore, should not be taken for at least two months after surgery. This will give ample time for the incisions and stitches to heal.
• Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory (NSAIDs). NSAIDS, bisphosponates, and corticosteroids should be avoided after weight loss surgery because the stomach will be more sensitive to the side effects of these medications.

If you take medications regularly and are preparing for weight loss surgery such as the Lap Band procedure, talk to your physician about the medications that you are on to determine if they are safe to continue taking in the days following your bariatric operation.