Medications

  1. Ibuprofen (Motrin) 400 mg every 8 hours (21 pills) for pain and inflammation
  2. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) 2 pills of 500 mg every 8 hours (42 pills)
  3. Take one 2.5 mg Eliquis the day you travel on a flight that is more than 4 hours long. And then you'll be taking a pill every day after surgery according to Dr. Lev's instructions given to you at your face to face consultation appointment the day before surgery.
  4. Omeprazole (Nexium) 20mg, one pill a day (7 pills). This helps your tummy when taking antibiotics.

If you can get a prescription for the antibiotics and fill it where you live (perhaps even using your insurance), you’ll save a lot of money because in Costa Rica the antibiotics are very expensive. Here’s the info about your choices of antibiotics. Choose one that suits you best.

First choice : Keflex 500 mg three times a day for 7 days. (21 pills).
(Can not be used if the patient is allergic to Penicillin or Keflex or Cephalosporin)

Second Choice: Bactrim Forte 1 pill twice a day for 7 days. (14 pills)
(Can not be used if the patient is allergic to Sulfas.)

Third Choice: Levoquin 500 mg one pill a day for 7 days. (7 pills)
(For Patients who are allergic to Sulfas, Penicillin, Keflex, Cephalosporins or Bactrim, and are or less than 50 years old )

Fourth Choice: Dalacin 2 pills of 300mg together twice a day (4 pills per day) for 7 days (28 pills)
(For patients who are allergic to Sulfas, Keflex, Penicillin, Cephalosporins or Bactrim and are more than 50 years old)

Also, this is just my thing, not prescribed by Dr. Lev, but this list is what I travel with wherever I go in the world just FYI.

  • Extra Strength Tylenol, nighttime formula for pain and relaxation/sleep (they don't seem to carry Tylenol in Costa Rica for some reason so bring it from home)
  • Dramamine (original formula for nausea and to help with relaxation/sleep)
  • Stool softener (I take "Mag-O" which keeps me regular when taking a lot of medication or to prevent constipation which sometimes happens when I travel)
  • Lorazapam (this is a prescription drug that helps with relaxation and sleep)
  • Benedryl which helps with sleep and also allergies.
  • Compazine (this is a prescription medication for nausea)

Love, Didi🌺