One-third of Australians are struggling with obesity, leading many to opt for weight loss surgery. Every year, around 100,000 such surgeries are performed in Australia.
However, experts are cautioning that this kind of surgery may change how your body responds to medication.
Adelaide-based weight loss experts Dr. Teresa Girolamo and Rosemary Allin dive into how medication doses may need adjustments post-surgery in their article in Australian Prescriber.
Medication Absorption: What Changes After Surgery
Weight loss surgeries often shrink the size of the stomach or reduce the body’s ability to absorb food. These changes also affect how the body absorbs medication.
Dr. Girolamo explains, “Just like food, your body won’t soak up medicines the same way after surgery.”
If you’re on mood stabilizers or antidepressants, you may need higher doses to get the same benefits. Slow-release medicines may also be less effective.
“You might have to crush some tablets or turn them into liquid to help your body take them in,” Dr. Girolamo adds. She also warns against medicines like ibuprofen and aspirin that can irritate the stomach lining.
Other Effects: Alcohol and Birth Control
After weight loss surgery, the way your body handles alcohol will also change. Alcohol will enter your bloodstream faster and take longer to leave your body. This could impact activities like driving.
For women on birth control pills, Dr. Girolamo has another warning. “The pills may not work as effectively due to reduced absorption, so you should think about other birth control methods,” she says.
On top of this, you will have to take vitamin and mineral supplements for life.
The Silver Lining: Reduced Need for Some Medicines
But it’s not all cautionary news. As you lose weight, you may find that you need lower doses of medication for issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, pain, and even depression.
“Your lifestyle undergoes a huge shift after weight loss surgery. Your healthcare team, including your doctor, pharmacist, and dietitian, will be there to help you adjust,” says Dr. Girolamo.
The experts’ findings emphasize the importance of consulting your healthcare team before and after weight loss surgery, especially when it comes to medication.
By doing so, you’ll be better prepared for the changes your body will go through, ensuring a safer and more effective recovery.
If you care about weight loss, please read studies about the keto diet for weight loss: Pros and cons, and how to drink water to lose weight.
For more information about weight loss, please see recent studies about best cheeses to improve diabetes and lose weight, and results showing gastric sleeve weight-loss surgery: a real story.
The study was published in Australian Prescriber.
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