Are you wondering if you can take Nyquil after gastric bypass surgery? You’re not alone. After weight loss surgery, many patients have questions about which foods they can and cannot eat. And while your surgeon will give you detailed instructions about what to avoid and when, it’s still a good idea to understand the risks associated with certain foods and medications before making your final food choices.
Check out this blog post for more information on whether you can take nyquil after gastric bypass surgery.
Table of Contents
What is Nyquil?
Nyquil is an over-the-counter nighttime cold and flu medication manufactured by Johnson & Johnson. The active ingredients in Nyquil are acetaminophen and doxylamine succinate (an antihistamine). The medication is meant to relieve the symptoms of colds, such as a stuffy or runny nose, cough, headache, and fever. The effects of doxylamine can last between 6 and 10 hours, which is why this is the most common time frame for people to take it.
Can You Take Nyquil After Gastric Bypass Surgery?
No, you should avoid taking Nyquil after gastric bypass surgery. The acetaminophen in the medication is toxic to the kidneys when taken in large doses over a long period of time. For that reason, you should avoid taking it after gastric bypass surgery. The risk of kidney damage is particularly high if you take more than the recommended dose of acetaminophen.
The antihistamine in Nyquil causes drowsiness, and both the antihistamine and acetaminophen are also very mild (but effective) stimulants. The combination of these two effects can cause you to feel very sleepy. And if you’re already a light sleeper, loud noises could wake you up enough to interrupt your sleep cycle. This could potentially throw off your sleep pattern enough to delay your healing.
Why Is Taking Nyquil After Gastric Bypass Surgery a no-no?
As mentioned above, the acetaminophen in Nyquil is toxic to the kidneys when taken in large doses over a long period of time. For that reason, you should avoid taking it after gastric bypass surgery. The risk of kidney damage is particularly high if you take more than the recommended dose of acetaminophen.
The antihistamine in Nyquil causes drowsiness, and both the antihistamine and acetaminophen are also very mild (but effective) stimulants. The combination of these two effects can cause you to feel very sleepy. And if you’re already a light sleeper, loud noises could wake you up enough to interrupt your sleep cycle. This could potentially throw off your sleep pattern enough to delay your healing.
Other Medications to Avoid After GB Surgery
Aspirin: This can cause gastrointestinal bleeding, especially in the first few weeks following surgery. If you take aspirin for cardiovascular reasons, talk to your doctor about switching to another medication.
Antibiotics: Some antibiotics increase the risk of bowel infections after surgery. Talk to your surgeon about which medications you should avoid after gastric bypass.
Certain herbal supplements: Be careful about which herbal supplements you choose to take after surgery. St. John’s Wort, for example, is known to decrease the effectiveness of certain medications, including antidepressants, birth control, and diabetes medications.
Vitamin supplements: Some vitamins are harmful to your health. Calcium, for example, can cause constipation, nausea, and vomiting. Talk to your doctor about which vitamins you should avoid after gastric bypass.
Safer Options
Excedrin: This pain reliever and fever reducer is a safe alternative to aspirin and acetaminophen after surgery. It’s also less likely to cause irritation in your stomach.
Tylenol: This is another safe alternative to aspirin and acetaminophen. Like Excedrin, it’s less likely to cause irritation in your stomach than some other pain medications.
Ibuprofen: This medication is another option for pain relief, but only after your first post-surgical week.
Acunelix: This prescription medication is specifically for pain relief in patients with gastric bypass.
Melatonin: This is a hormone that promotes sleep. It’s completely safe to take after gastric bypass surgery. Unlike antihistamines, melatonin does not cause drowsiness.
Sleep soundly after surgery:You may be sleeping more soundly after gastric bypass surgery, but that doesn’t mean you’re sleeping more efficiently. You may actually be spending more time in light sleep than deep sleep, which doesn’t promote healing. To improve your sleep quality after gastric bypass surgery, you may want to consider a sleep aid like Lunesta or Sleep IQ.
Conclusion
After gastric bypass surgery, you’ll need to avoid certain foods and medications for the sake of your health. The acetaminophen in Nyquil is toxic to the kidneys when taken in large doses over a long period of time. For that reason, you should avoid taking it after gastric bypass surgery.
The antihistamine in Nyquil causes drowsiness, and both the antihistamine and acetaminophen are also very mild (but effective) stimulants. The combination of these two effects can cause you to feel very sleepy. And if you’re already a light sleeper, loud noises could wake you up enough to interrupt your sleep cycle. This could potentially throw off your sleep pattern enough to delay your healing.
