Q – What Medicines Should I Avoid After WLS?
Medicines to avoid after weight loss surgery:
* Over-the-counter or prescription NSAID’s & salicates
* Aspirin/Salicylate
* Advil
* Alka Seltzer
* Anacin
* Ascriptin
* Aspirin
* Bufferin
* Coricidin
* Cortisone
* Dolobid
* Empirin
* Excedrin
* Feldene
* Fiorinol
* Ibuprofen
* Meclomen
* Motrin
* Nalfon
* Naprosyn
* Norgesic
* Pepto-Bismol
* Tolectin
* Vanquish
This is, by no means, a complete list but rather a list of frequently-used drugs that should NOT be used post-operatively by the gastric bypass patient.





Why can’t we take advil or tylenol for pain after surgery?
Advil (Ibuprofen) is the worst of these 2 medications for “bypass” patients. Advil in an inflammatory in the NSAID class (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) NSAID’s are notorious for reducing the mucous lining of the stomach which protects the stomach from it’s own acid. With out the mucous protecting the stomach, the acid in the stomach will eat through the stomach lining, causing ulcers and potential life threating hemorrhages. You can imagine how this side effect impacts a “bariactric bypass” patient who’s stomach is anything but normal after surgery and seriously susceptible to anything that messes with the stomach’s normal chemistry.
Tylenol (acetaminophen) isn’t as bad as the Ibuprofen class of drugs, but can still be hard on your “bypass” stomach. It should be taken only as required and you should monitor closely any side effects you feel related to your stomach. It has been know to cause stomach bleeding and certainly causes liver damage in high/long term usage. It would be my drug of choice for short term pain control. Bypass patients should discuss Long term pain control options with their doctor. One option to lower the impact of acetaminophen on the stomach might be to use suppositories.