Medications to Avoid After Gastric Sleeve Surgery

At Beltre Bariatrics, we understand that being overweight can be detrimental to your physical, mental and emotional well-being. If you’ve recently gained weight and cannot seem to lose it through diet or exercise tactics, we are here to help you every step of the way.

Whether you’ve been vetted as a candidate for weight loss surgery, have recently gone through surgery, or are just trying to learn more about the recovery process, we are here to walk you through it all. From preoperation consultations to post-surgery recovery support, your weight loss journey matters to us.

Although gastric sleeve surgery is an excellent option for many who need to lose a significant amount of weight, there are various restrictions after surgery to consider, including medications to avoid.

Let’s discuss exactly what medications you should avoid after gastric sleeve surgery to help you plan out your post-operative recovery efficiently.

What is gastric sleeve surgery?

In short, gastric sleeve surgery or sleeve gastrectomy is a surgical procedure in which most of the stomach is removed to restrict food intake.

This surgery has been shown to have several powerful weight-loss and metabolic benefits. This, coupled with advances in laparoscopic surgical techniques, has made the gastric sleeve one of the most popular forms of metabolic surgery available today.

Weight loss surgery is not for everyone, but it can be an ideal option for those classified as overweight or obese. If you fall into these categories, you may be a good candidate.

We are here to help you begin a journey to a healthier and slimmer you through gastric sleeve surgery. Dr. Beltre is a board-certified surgeon and one of the only fellowship-trained bariatric surgeons in Central Florida. He performs weight loss surgery on thousands of patients who experience amazing and lasting results each year.

What medications should I avoid after gastric sleeve surgery?

Because gastric sleeve surgery has a significant effect on the size and function of the stomach, especially in the early stages of recovery, there are various medications you should avoid.

The most popular medications to avoid include:

• Alka Seltzer products
• Aspirin products (including baby aspirin and enteric-coated aspirin)
• Bismuth Subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol)
• Celebrex
• Coricidin cold medicines
• Corticosteroids (both prednisone and cortisone can cause stomach ulcers)
• Fiorinal
• Ibuprofen
• Naproxen
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

Various changes to the way you take medication may be required during recovery

After surgery, please be mindful of the following circumstances and discuss your unique situation with your bariatric surgeon to determine the best way forward.

• Large capsules and tablets can become stuckin new, smaller stomach pathways. You may need to crush or chew tablets, empty capsules, or take liquid versions of your current medicine for safety after surgery.
• Time-release and enteric-coated medications can be difficult for the body to absorb after gastric sleeve surgery. Because they can’t be crushed or chewed, they should be avoided entirely.
• Your current health conditions may change over time due to weight loss and new dietary restrictions. Because of this, your current prescription medication dosages may need to be adjusted to fit your new lifestyle and body changes.

If you are currently taking any prescription or over-the-counter medications regularly, it is essential to let your doctor know before surgery to ensure you have a viable treatment plan to follow during recovery that both meets the needs of your recovery and your health conditions.

If you’re interested in learning more about effective surgical weight-loss options, including gastric sleeve surgery, we’d love to help you further. It’s time to say no to obesity and get on the right track to a healthy weight. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with our experienced weight loss team.