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. 2022 Apr 26;5(3):e605. doi: 10.1002/hsr2.605

Drug absorption in bariatric surgery patients: A narrative review

Abdullah Abdulaziz Alalwan 1,2,✉, Jeffrey Friedman 3, Osamah Alfayez 1, Abraham Hartzema 2
PMCID: PMC9059175  PMID: 35509385

Abstract

Background

Despite the increase in the number of bariatric surgeries performed, little is known about the impact of the surgery on drug absorption. Unpredictability is assumed with drugs, given the anatomical changes after surgery.

Objective

To evaluate the impact of bariatric surgery on drug absorption based on the type of procedure performed.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive literature review searching PubMed/Medline for published studies (from inception to December 2017) that evaluate the use of drugs and the assessment of drug absorption after bariatric surgery. Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic studies, case reports, and observational studies were included in our review.

Results

We found 60 studies addressing drug use after bariatric surgery. Twenty‐eight studies reported a decrease in drug absorption after bariatric surgery while only four studies showed an increase in drug absorption. Unchanged absorption of drugs was seen in 23 studies after the surgery.

Conclusion

The available information shows variations in drug absorption after bariatric surgery. The unpredictability may result from factors related to the patient, drug, and/or type of surgery. Therefore, pharmacists' involvement and close monitoring of patients after bariatric surgery could be effective to avoid sub‐/supratherapeutic responses.

Keywords: bariatric surgery, drug absorption, drug use, pharmacotherapy, therapeutics

1. BARIATRIC SURGERY

Recent years have seen increases in the utilization of bariatric surgery, often known as obesity surgery, metabolic surgery, or weight loss surgery. 1 Bariatric surgery has been attributed to long‐term weight loss, which is rarely achieved using pharmacological treatments and lifestyle modification approaches. Studies show that bariatric surgery is more effective than pharmacological, lifestyle, and dietary interventions and can significantly improve comorbidities such as diabetes, sleep apnea, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. 2 , 3 Obese patients who undergo bariatric surgery are more likely to have comorbidities that require pharmacotherapy management. The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of medications used in comorbidities management can be affected by the changes resulting from bariatric surgery. These changes in pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties are primarily due to the anatomical alterations caused by bariatric procedures, which are restrictive, malabsorptive, or a combination of restrictive and malabsorptive. 4 Restrictive procedures aim to decrease the amount of food ingested, as used in sleeve gastrectomy (SG), vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG), adjustable gastric banding (AGB), and gastric stapling. Malabsorptive procedures reduce the absorption of nutrients from food, such as in jejunoileal bypass (JIB) and jejunocolic bypass. Other bariatric procedures combine restrictive and malabsorptive techniques to achieve less food volume ingestion and less absorption of nutrients. These techniques are used in Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass (RYGB), distal gastric bypass, duodenal switch, and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD‐DS). 4 , 5 Consequently, most drugs are expected to behave differently in a bariatric population compared to a non‐bariatric population.

In recent years, SG and RYGB were the most performed procedures compared to other procedures, such as JIB, VBG, AGB, and BPD‐DS. In SG, a longitudinal resection is performed to create a sleeve‐like structure of the stomach along the lesser curvature. Weight loss in SG is achieved by reducing the amount of food intake, restricting caloric intake, and promoting a sensation of satiety; however, the endocrine mechanisms and related changes after SG remain unclear. 6 The other procedure discussed in this study is RYGB, which involves partial resection of the stomach to create a small pouch to limit the amount of food intake. This gastric pouch is stapled and anastomosed between the pouch and jejunum to disrupt the absorption of nutrients and restrict the amount of food ingested. 7 , 8 These anatomical changes may also interfere with drugs absorption, metabolism, and excretion.

2. METHODS

PubMed/Medline comprehensive literature search for published studies (from inception to December 2017) was conducted. We used combinations of the following terms “drug absorption,” “bariatric surgery,” “gastric bypass,” “bypass,” “gastroplasty,” “gastrectomy,” “gastric banding,” “sleeve gastrectomy,” “malabsorption,” “drug use,” pharmacodynamic,” and “pharmacokinetic.” We included pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic studies, case reports, and observational studies in our review. We excluded results from non‐English and animal studies.

3. DRUG ABSORPTION AFTER BARIATRIC SURGERY

There is a paucity of literature that discusses the changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics after bariatric surgery. Because obese patients are likely to use one or more medications to treat obesity‐related comorbidities or to control postsurgery pain and adverse effects, it is important to understand drug absorption after bariatric surgery. Available evidence shows that drug absorption is more likely to decrease after bariatric surgery; however, the change in absorption is drug‐specific and substantially affected by the type of procedure received. 9 , 10 The decrease in absorption can be due to gastric restriction caused by the surgery where the stomach surface area is significantly reduced, which decreases the amount of hydrochloric acid secreted and increases the gastric pH, leading to poor disintegration, dissolution, and absorption of acid‐soluble drugs. Similarly, bariatric procedures that involve resection or bypass of the absorptive areas of the duodenum and proximal jejunum affect the dissolution and absorption of drugs due to a decrease in the surface areas for intestinal absorption. A long section of the intestines is bypassed in some bariatric procedures; thus, transporters that function as carriers of drug particles across the intestine lumen to the circulation lead to low bioavailability of drugs. Furthermore, extended‐release dosage forms are designed to travel through the gastrointestinal tract to achieve adequate dissolution and absorption. The bypassing of portions of the gastrointestinal system gives the drug an insufficient transit time to reach full absorption and consequently limits the bioavailability of the administered dose. 11 Other drugs, such as lipophilic drugs (i.e., phenytoin, selective serotonin receptors inhibitors, and thyroxin) depend on bile acids, which function as surfactants to enhance the solubility of the drug molecules. The secretion of the bile acids is impaired by the bypass procedure, which may lead to the incomplete dissolution and absorption of lipophilic drugs. 12 On the other hand, other studies reported an increase in drug absorption which can be attributed to mucosal hypertrophy that causes higher absorptive capacity in the remaining part of the intestines. 13

There are currently no guidelines for how to address drug use after bariatric surgery. Available studies presumed that the alterations in the gastrointestinal system after bariatric surgery are more likely to change drug absorption compared to the non‐bariatric population. Patient medication counseling should be provided before hospital discharge to ensure that patients are aware of the change in drug absorption after the surgery. Close monitoring of the patients' use of drugs soon after bariatric surgery is recommended to avoid adverse effects. If the levels of the drug administered can be obtained via laboratory tests, it is recommended to monitor the drug levels frequently. Due to the impairment of disintegration and dissolution after bariatric surgery, liquid dosage forms are preferred over solid dosage forms, if available. Additionally, enteric‐coated, film‐coated, delayed‐release, or extended‐release tablets are not recommended, and immediate‐release, crushable, or chewable tablets may have fewer variations in absorption after bariatric surgery. A nonoral route of administration, such as intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, vaginal, rectal, or nasal dosage forms, is preferred to avoid unpredictable absorption. A limited number of studies have examined the changes in drug absorption after bariatric surgery. The available literature that assessed the absorption of drugs reported either an increased, decreased, or unchanged absorption after bariatric surgery (Table 1). Due to insufficient data, absorption is concluded to be influenced by many factors; it is “patient‐specific” and “procedure‐specific,” and each patient should be managed independently. 9 Collaborations between pharmacists and surgeons can improve perioperative bariatric surgery patients' pharmaceuticals. Additionally, due to the possible changes in drug absorption and the expected need for drug adjustment, pharmacists' involvement in the drug management and drug reconciliation upon discharge can ensure a safe and effective transition for bariatric surgery patients. 14 , 15 , 16

Table 1.

Summary of the changes in drug absorption after bariatric surgery

Drug Route (dosage form) Procedure Outcome Comments
Amoxicillin Oral (unspecified) RYGB Ineffective A case report of a 29‐year‐old pregnant woman treated with amoxicillin as well as other orally administered antibiotics. Oral treatment regimens failed, which could be due to interrupted absorption. IV ceftriaxone was used to treat the infection. 17
Amoxicillin/clavulanate Oral (unspecified) RYGB Ineffective A case report of a 29‐year‐old pregnant woman treated with amoxicillin/clavulanate as well as other orally administered antibiotics. Oral treatment regimens failed, which could be due to interrupted absorption. IV ceftriaxone was used to treat the infection. 17
Acetaminophen Oral (tablet) JIB Unchanged A pharmacokinetic study on 8 bariatric and 15 non‐bariatric patients; pre‐ and postsurgery. C max and AUC were similar pre‐ and postsurgery. 18
Acetaminophen and caffeine Oral (unspecified)

SG

RYGB

 Unchanged A controlled cohort study compared 24 patients who underwent bariatric surgery and 28 non‐bariatric normal‐weight patients. A lower AUC and C max in morbidly obese compared to healthy non‐bariatric patients and bariatric patients. The bioavailability was normalized after bariatric surgery and showed no difference between bariatric surgery patients and normal weight patients. 19
Ampicillin Oral (unspecified) JIB Decreased A pharmacokinetic study on 6 patients. Ampicillin was given as prodrug pivampicillin and pre‐ and postsurgery ampicillin levels were obtained. Bioavailability decreased significantly. 20
Atorvastatin Oral (unspecified) RYGB Varied A pharmacokinetic study on 12 patients pre‐ and postsurgery. AUC showed both a threefold increase and twofold decrease pre‐ and postsurgery. 21
Atorvastatin Oral (unspecified) BPD Increased A pharmacokinetic study on 10 patients pre‐ and postsurgery. AUC showed a twofold increase in both pre‐and postoperation levels. 22
Atorvastatin Oral (unspecified) RYGB and BPD Decreased A pharmacokinetic study on 12 RYGB and 10 BPD patients assessed pre‐ and postsurgery. The long‐term effect (27 months) showed a decrease in the AUC. 23
Azithromycin Oral (tablet) RYGB Decreased A pharmacokinetic study on 14 bariatric and 14 non‐bariatric patients. The AUC was 33% lower in the treatment group. 24
Caffeine Oral (powder) RYGB Unchanged A pharmacokinetic study on 18 bariatric and 18 non‐bariatric patients. C max and AUC did not change; however, T max was shorter in the RYGB patients. 25
Citalopram Oral (unspecified) RYGB Decreased A pharmacokinetic study on 12 bariatric patients who received SRIs. Two patients were given citalopram and showed a decrease in the AUC 1 month after surgery; however, the AUC tended to normalize 6 months after surgery. 26
Cyclosporine Oral (unspecified) JIB Decreased A pharmacokinetic study compared one bariatric patient to seven non‐bariatric patients and showed a 50% lower concentration of cyclosporin in the bariatric patient. 27
Cyclosporine Oral (unspecified) LAGB Unchanged A case report of a patient using cyclosporine after a heart transplant. Cyclosporine levels remained steady after the surgery. 28
Dabigatran Oral (capsule) RYGB Decreased A case report of a 66‐year‐old male patient who showed a left ventricular systolic dysfunction on transesophageal echocardiogram and abnormal findings on magnetic resonance imaging alongside other thromboembolic symptoms. The study indicated that anticoagulation with dabigatran was subtherapeutic. Later, the patient's symptoms were improved after bridged with heparin and switched to warfarin. 29
Dabigatran Oral (capsule) RYGB Decreased A case report of a 67‐year‐old female patient who showed subtherapeutic serum trough levels of dabigatran. The patient was switched to warfarin to evade thromboembolic events. 29
Dextromethorphan Oral (syrup) RYGB Unchanged A pharmacokinetic study on 18 bariatric and 18 non‐bariatric patients. C max and AUC did not change; however, T max was shorter in the RYGB patients. 25
Digoxin Oral (tablet) RYGB Unchanged A pharmacokinetic study on 12 bariatric patients pre‐ and postsurgery. T max was lower in the RYGB patients. However, the AUC did not change. 30
Digoxin Oral (tablet) JIB Unchanged A pharmacokinetic study on 7 patients pre‐ and postsurgery. The AUC remained unchanged. 31
Duloxetine Oral (unspecified) RYGB Decreased A pharmacokinetic study on 12 bariatric patients who received SRIs. One patient was given duloxetine and showed a decrease in AUC 1 month after surgery; however, the AUC tended to normalize at 6 months after surgery. 26
Duloxetine Oral (tablet) RYGB Decreased A case control Pharmacokinetic study on 10 bariatric and non‐bariatric patients. Bariatric patients were exposed to 57% of the drug compared to non‐bariatric patients. AUC and T max were lower, while C max did not change. 32
Escitalopram Oral (unspecified) RYGB Decreased A pharmacokinetic study on 12 bariatric patients who received SRIs. Two patients were given escitalopram and showed a decrease in the AUC 1 month after surgery; however, the AUC began to normalize at 6 months after surgery. 26
Escitalopram Oral (unspecified) RYGB Decreased A pharmacokinetic study on four patients pre‐ and postsurgery. Bioavailability decreased after the surgery. 33
Ethosuximide Oral (unspecified) JIB Decreased A case report of a patient who underwent JIB surgery and showed a decrease in ethosuximide absorption; therefore, a dose increase was warranted. 34
Furosemide Oral (tablet) RYGB Unchanged A pharmacokinetic study on 18 bariatric and 18 non‐bariatric patients. The C max and AUC did not change; however, T max was shorter in the RYGB patients. 25
Hydrochlorothiazide Oral (unspecified) JIB Decreased A pharmacokinetic study of five patients showed a 50% lower AUC in bariatric users compared to healthy users. 35
Imatinib Oral (unspecified) SG Decreased A case report of a patient who has been treated with imatinib and had achieved therapeutic plasma concentration levels before bariatric surgery. After bariatric surgery, the patient had lower C max and AUC levels. The plasma concentration was 60% lower after the surgery. 36
Lamotrigine Oral (unspecified) RYGB Unchanged A case report of a patient who was diagnosed with epilepsy and treated with phenytoin plus phenobarbital. The levels of these two drugs became subtherapeutic following surgery. Phenytoin was replaced by lamotrigine, which showed therapeutic levels. 37
Levothyroxine Oral (tablet) RYGB Unchanged A pharmacokinetic study on 15 bariatric and 15 non‐bariatric patients. AUC of the total T4, free T4, and Δ TSH had the same levels in both groups. 38
Levothyroxine Oral (tablet) RYGB Decreased A case series of 4 patients who were treated with levothyroxine tablets showed supra‐therapeutic TSH levels after the surgery compared to the levels before the surgery. The patients were switched to levothyroxine oral solution; the TSH levels were then in the normal range. 39
Linezolid Oral (unspecified) and IV RYGB Increased A pharmacokinetic crossover pre‐ and postsurgery study. AUC increased and clearance was decreased after the surgery, suggesting lower doses after bariatric surgery. 40
Metformin Oral (tablet) RYGB Increased A pharmacokinetic trial of 16 bariatric and 16 non‐bariatric patients matched based on BMI and gender. The bariatric group showed 50% higher bioavailability and 21% higher AUC. 41
Methylphenidate Oral (tablet immediate release/slow‐release) RYGB Ineffective A case report of an ADHD adult patient who reported a lack of efficacy after RYGB. Switching an immediate‐release tablet to a slow‐release tablet did not improve the efficacy. A therapeutic effect was obtained after switching to the transdermal dosage form. 42
Midazolam Oral (unspecified) and IV RYGB Unchanged A pharmacokinetic study on 18 bariatric and 18 non‐bariatric patients. C max did not change; however, there was a slightly lower AUC and shorter T max in the RYGB patients. 25
Midazolam

Oral (tablets)

IV (vial)

 RYGB Unchanged A pharmacokinetic study on 18 patients pre‐ and postsurgery. Bioavailability remained unchanged, although systematic clearance increased by 1.7‐fold. 43
Midazolam Oral (solution) RYGB Unchanged A pharmacokinetic study on 12 bariatric patients; pre‐and postsurgery. T max was lower in the RYGB patients. However, the AUC did not change. 30
Moxifloxacin Oral (tablet) and IV RYGB Increased A pharmacokinetic crossover study on 12 patients who showed higher C max and AUC after bariatric surgery. 44
Mycophenolic acid Oral (unspecified) RYGB Decreased A pharmacokinetic study compared the levels of six bariatric patients to the levels of published levels of non‐bariatric patients. The AUC was significantly lower in the bariatric patients. 45
Nitrofurantoin Oral (unspecified) RYGB Ineffective A case report of a 29‐year‐old pregnant woman treated with nitrofurantoin among other orally administered antibiotics. Oral treatment regimens failed, which could be due to interrupted absorption. IV ceftriaxone was used to treat the infection. 17
Omeprazole Oral (unspecified) RYGB Unchanged A pharmacokinetic study on 18 bariatric and 18 non‐bariatric patients. C max and the AUC did not change; however, T max was shorter in the RYGB patients. 25
Penicillin V Oral (tablet) JIB Increased A pharmacokinetic study on eight bariatric patients; pre‐and postsurgery. C max and AUC were higher after surgery. 18
Oral contraceptives Oral (unspecified) BPD Decreased A prospective pre‐ and postsurgery study using a questionnaire of 40 women. The study concluded that an oral contraceptive may fail when used in bariatric patients due to a lack of absorption. 46
Oral contraceptives Oral (unspecified) JIB Unchanged A pharmacokinetic study on 12 bariatric and 6 non‐bariatric patients to compare absorption in both groups. The plasma concentration of the drugs was similar between the groups. 47
Oral contraceptives Oral (unspecified) JIB Decreased A pharmacokinetic study on six bariatric and five non‐bariatric patients concluded that the AUC was lower in bariatric patients. 48
Phenytoin Oral (unspecified) RYGB Decreased A case report of a patient who was diagnosed with epilepsy and treated with phenytoin plus phenobarbital and never had an episode for 30 years. The patient had an episode 1 year after the surgery; phenytoin levels were subtherapeutic. 37
Phenytoin Oral (capsule) JIB Decreased A pharmacokinetic study on seven bariatric and nine non‐bariatric patients. Absorption and AUC were lower in the bariatric group. 49
Phenytoin Oral (unspecified) JIB Decreased A case report of a patient who underwent JIB reversal surgery and showed a decrease in phenytoin absorption and was recommended to increase the dose. 50
Phenytoin Oral (unspecified) JIB Decreased A case report of a patient who underwent JIB surgery showed a decrease in phenytoin absorption; therefore, a dose increase was warranted. 34
Phenobarbital Oral (unspecified) RGYB Decreased A case report of a patient who was diagnosed with epilepsy and treated with phenytoin plus phenobarbital and never had an episode for 30 years. The patient had an episode 1 year after the surgery, and phenobarbital levels were subtherapeutic. 37
Propylthiouracil Oral and IV JIB Unchanged A pharmacokinetic study on nine patients; pre‐ and postsurgery. Drug levels were obtained, and approximately 80% of the drug bioavailability did not change. 20
Ranitidine Oral (tablet) BPD Unchanged A pharmacokinetic study on seven patients who underwent bariatric surgery showed AUC and plasma concentrations similar to those in non‐bariatric patients. 51
Ranitidine Oral (tablet) BPD Unchanged A pharmacokinetic study on 10 patients pre‐ and postsurgery and 11 patients who did not go through the surgery. Drug levels were obtained; C max and AUC were similar among the presurgery, postsurgery, and normal patients. 52
Rivaroxaban Oral (tablet) RYGB Unchanged A case report of a patient who was unstable on warfarin anticoagulation treatment. The patient was switched to rivaroxaban and showed normal absorption of rivaroxaban. 53
Sertraline Oral (unspecified) RYGB Decreased A pharmacokinetic study on 12 bariatric patients who received SRIs. Two patients were given sertraline and showed a decrease in the AUC 1 month after the surgery; however, the AUC tended to normalize 6 months after the surgery. 26
Sirolimus Oral (tablet) RYGB Decreased A pharmacokinetic study compared the levels of six bariatric patients to published levels of non‐bariatric patients. The AUC was significantly lower in the bariatric patients. 45
Tacrolimus Oral (unspecified) RYGB Decreased A pharmacokinetic study compared the levels of six bariatric patients to the published levels of non‐bariatric patients. The AUC was significantly lower in the bariatric patients. 45
Tamoxifen Oral (tablet) RYGB Decreased A case series of three women who showed subtherapeutic levels after surgery. 54
Temozolomide Oral (unspecified) RYGB Unchanged A case report of one patient who showed no changes in C max or AUC compared to the data of non‐bariatric patients. 55
Tolbutamide Oral (tablet) RYGB Unchanged A pharmacokinetic study on 18 bariatric and 18 non‐bariatric patients. C max and AUC did not change; however, T max was shorter in the RYGB patients. 25
Venlafaxine Oral (unspecified) RYGB Decreased A pharmacokinetic study on 12 bariatric patients who received SRIs. Five patients were given venlafaxine and showed a decrease in AUC 1 month after the surgery; however, the AUC tended to be normalized 6 months after the surgery. 26
Warfarin Oral (tablet) RYGB and gastrectomy Resistance A case report of a patient who developed warfarin resistance after bariatric surgery despite a dose increase. 56
Warfarin Oral (tablet) RYGB Unchanged A small cohort study matched 27 bariatric surgery patients to 59 non‐bariatric surgery patients to assess warfarin dose change. Bariatric surgery patients showed a continuous decrease in warfarin doses following the surgery compared to non‐bariatric patients. However, the doses returned to those used in non‐bariatric surgery patients. The change in INR values did not parallel the change in warfarin doses. 57
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Abbreviations: ADHD, attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder; AUC, area under the curve; BMI, body mass index; BPD, biliopancreatic diversion; C max, maximum serum concentration; INR, international normalized ratio; IV, intravenous; JIB, jejunoileal bypass; LABG Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding; RYGB Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass; SG sleeve gasterectomy; SRI, serotonin reuptake inhibitor; T4, thyroxin; T max, time to maximum concentration; TSH, thyroid‐stimulation hormone.

4. CONCLUSION

Drug absorption shows variations after bariatric surgery. The available data ascribed the variations in absorption to many factors including route of administration, dosage form, patient‐specific factors, type of surgery, and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic considerations. Therefore, patient‐tailored therapy with close monitoring of drugs is warranted after bariatric surgery. Prescribing and dosing guidelines alongside the engagement of specialized healthcare professionals such as pharmacists may help improve therapeutic outcomes in this patient population. Further studies to evaluate the use of drugs in the bariatric surgery population are needed.

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS

Abdullah A. Alalwan, Jeffrey Friedman, and Abraham Hartzema: Conceptualization. Abdullah A. Alalwan: Formal analysis. Abdullah A. Alalwan, Osamah Alfayez, Jeffrey Friedman, and Abraham Hartzema: Writing – review and editing. Abdullah A. Alalwan: Writing – original draft. Dr. Abdullah A. Alalwan had full access to all the studies in this review.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

TRANSPARENCY STATEMENT

We confirm that this manuscript is an honest, accurate, and transparent account of the study being reported; that no important aspects of the study have been omitted; and that any discrepancies from the study as planned (and, if relevant, registered) have been explained.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This research was not supported by any internal or external funding.

Alalwan AA, Friedman J, Alfayez O, Hartzema A. Drug absorption in bariatric surgery patients: a narrative review. Health Sci Rep. 2022;5:e605. 10.1002/hsr2.605

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article (and/or) its supplementary materials.

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Data Availability Statement

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