I don't know about drugs but when I became dehydrated many a times, Gatorade and water couldn't hydrate me. I never found any relief until a intravenous was stuck in me I can't say though if I could hydrate myself if I did have my colon in those situations, since I never became dehydrated while living with a colon.

I'm not sure about time released drugs but I was told by my dr. that the small intestine does the absorbing of medications (and nutrients too) and its not effected by not having a colon. Having said that, I'm not entirely convinced that's always true.

My surgeon said no extended release formulas or enteric coated meds. I take liquid vitamins and minerals.

Active,
It is not just our colonless position but what/when we eat and what meds we take at the time...I am a non-breakfast-eater...I do juice, coffee, vits, meds, water....that is it until around noon...so I have to be very careful what I take or it just runs right through me (I find it in stuck in my tube on the way out (have K pouch)...so it is live and learn. Certain vitamins like the big B complex ones just do not disolve so if I want to take them I need to use a pill crusher...(not reccomended for time release meds...very bad idea), my epilepsy meds were slow release (didn't realise it at the time) and I wasn't getting any relief until one day I fell asleep for 4 days...they all released at once...so if they have a coating, peel them (ask your pharmacist first), if they are in a capsule, open them, if time released ask advice and if possible find the liquid versions of any other vits/meds (very few meds come in liquid form other than for babies so check dosage)...
Sometimes I eat a banana with certain meds because it slows my system down and allows things the time to absorb.
Sharon

I was constantly dehydrated when I had my temp. ileostomy and for me, as well, only I.V. hydration seemed to help. This is no longer a problem since having my takedown ten years ago. I, too, was told all the absorption of nutrients happens in the small intestine. The large intestine's job was to absorb water. I no longer worry about it and do take timed release meds, etc. They seem to work just fine for me.

The only doctor who ever mentioned this to me was my gyn who said a birth control shot may be better just because it's better safe than sorry. Any time I take any pain killers or sleeping pills, I feel the effect so I know they're working. I do take the vitamins that say "fast absorbing" just to be sure though.

quote:

My surgeon said no extended release formulas or enteric coated meds. I take liquid vitamins and minerals.

I got the same advice, and this would technically also apply to extended release sleep meds like Ambien XR. You don't want to be taking a drug that is still releasing when it comes out because of the shorter transit time from mouth to anus.

I can't take any vitamins anymore. Otherwise I was told no time release even though I have taken some time release pills by accident and had no issues with it digesting.

I was told no time-released meds as well. My doc switched me to oral pain meds as soon as I could eat solid food (like two days after surgery?), and my stoma nurse has been approving other prescription meds, so I'm sure most pills are fine.

Right now since I am only 2.5 weeks out from surgery one, I am taking chewable vitamins (gummy daily women's multi-vitamin, gummy vitamin C, tums for calcium) just to be safe, along with a couple of small prescription pills (birth control and acid reflux) and my pain pills, which I am just to the point of not really needing any more. Everything seems to be digesting just fine - feeling the effects of the pain pills and nothing coming out the stoma. Once I'm approved for a full diet, I plan to add some of my other pill supplements back in, even though they would probably be fine now.

It is true drugs are mostly absorbed in the small intestine but the speed of transit could also have an effect? On day when the pouch acts up and it is fast and watery perhaps the meds are not so well absorbed.that variation on day to day and between people could account for some of the problems experienced by some?

I've had no absorption problems with drugs or vitamins and supplements. With the exception of D, I take everything in pill form.

Sue