Post-Op Tool
Medication Tracker
Your medicines, doses & a daily log
Patient
Surgery
Date
Write in your actual prescriptions below. The names shown are the medicines Dr. Pettit commonly uses — your exact medicines, doses, and timing come from your prescription labels and post-op protocol.
| Medication | What it's for | My dose | When / how often | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AcetaminophenTylenol | Base pain control — take around the clock | Foundation medicine. Do not exceed your daily limit (per Dr. Pettit's protocol, no more than 3,000 mg in 24 hours). Avoid other products that also contain acetaminophen. | ||
| Anti-inflammatory (NSAID)Celebrex, Meloxicam, or Ibuprofen | Reduce pain & swelling | Take with food. Alternate with Tylenol. Do not combine with other NSAIDs (Advil, Aleve). | ||
| Breakthrough painOxycodone | Only for severe pain not controlled by the above | No driving, alcohol, or machinery. May cause drowsiness & constipation. Take only as needed. | ||
| Nonopioid pain medicineJournavx (suzetrigine) | Moderate to severe pain — replaces oxycodone | If prescribed, this replaces oxycodone — do not take both. Loading dose 100 mg the evening of surgery, then one 50 mg tablet every 12 hours; do not take before surgery. No grapefruit or grapefruit juice. Tell us if you have liver disease, take hormonal birth control, or take a CYP3A medicine. | ||
| Blood thinner (clot prevention)Aspirin — or Eliquis / Lovenox | Prevent blood clots (DVT) | Keep taking for the full course (often about 30 days). Do not stop without asking us. | ||
| Anti-nauseaZofran (ondansetron) | Nausea, as needed | |||
| Muscle relaxerFlexeril (cyclobenzaprine) | Muscle spasms, as needed | Causes drowsiness. | ||
| AntibioticAs prescribed | Help prevent infection | Finish the entire course. | ||
| Stool softenerColace (docusate) ± MiraLAX | Prevent constipation from pain meds | Start the day of surgery. No bowel movement in 2 days → add a gentle laxative; 5 days → stop the opioid and call the office. | ||
| Other / home medication | — | |||
| Other / home medication | — |
Medication Safety
- Tylenol + an anti-inflammatory are the foundation; use breakthrough pain medicine only when needed.
- If you were prescribed Journavx, it replaces oxycodone — do not take both, and avoid grapefruit.
- Keep a daily stool softener going while on pain medicine.
- Take the NSAID and antibiotic with food; don't mix two NSAIDs.
- Keep taking your blood thinner for the full course to prevent clots.
- No driving, alcohol, or machinery while taking opioid pain medicine.
- Dispose of leftover narcotics at a police or fire station.