Below is a week-by-week schedule of the medications Dr.Bradley typically has a patient take after a hip or knee replacement. This provides a general guideline, but each patient’s medications may vary according to their medical issues, allergies, and specific recovery.

Anti-Coagulation

• Aspirin (ASA EC 81): Blood thinner to prevent blood clots.

  • 81mg tablet to be taken twice daily for 4 weeks after surgery to thin your blood a little bit to help against blood clots.

    • Sometimes this may be changed to a different medication for patients at higher risk for blood clots, due to an aspirin intolerance or allergy, or if a patient is already on anti-coagulation, in which case they will re-start their home medications. Alternate medications that may be used include:

      • Eliquis 2.5mg taken twice daily (for patients who can’t tolerate aspirin)

      • Xarelto, Lovenox, Warfarin, Aspirin 325mg, among others

Pain Control (Analgesia)

• Tylenol (Acetaminophen): Pain Medication.

  • Take 1-2 tablets every 6 hours for the first 3 weeks following surgery until you come to your follow-up appointment. Do not take more than 8 tablets in a 24-hour period.

• Voltaren (Diclofenac Sodium): Anti-inflammatory.

  • Take it twice a day for a total of 2 months after surgery. Make sure you take this medication with food.

• Flexeril (Cyclobenzaprine): Muscle Relaxant.

  • Use as needed for muscle spasm pain not relieved by the above pain medications. You make take 1 table every 8 hours as needed.

• Lyrica (Pregabalin): Nerve Pain Medication.

  • Take it twice a day for the first 3 weeks following surgery until you come to your follow-up appointment. Prescribed for hip replacement patients.

• Ultram (Tramadol): Medium-acting pain pill.

  • Use as needed for breakthrough pain (1st line), you make take 1-2 tablets every 6 hours after surgery as needed, the limit is 8 tablets in a 24-hour period. You are allowed to take this with all of the other medications.

• Oxycodone: Short-acting pain pill.

  • Use as needed for breakthrough pain (2nd line if Tramadol not working), you make take 1-2 tablets every 4-6 hours after surgery, the limit is 12 tablets in a 24-hour period. You are allowed to take this with all of the other medications.

Other Medications

• Protonix (Pantoprazole): Stomach protection.

  • Take 1 tablet daily, in the morning, to protect your stomach. You should continue this medication as long as you are taking Voltaren.

• Senna Plus (Senokot-S): Stool softener/laxative for constipation.

  • Take 2 tablets twice a day until you are off your Oxycodone after surgery.

• Zofran ODT (Ondansetron): To prevent nausea.

  • You have 20 orally dissolving tablets with an additional refill if nausea persists.

• Lysteda (Tranexamic Acid/TXA): Helps reduce bleeding and swelling after surgery, also has some anti-inflammatory effects.

For Some Patients at Dr. Bradley's Discretion

• Cefadroxil or Doxycycline: Preventive antibiotic.

  • For patients with specific medical issues, to be taken twice a day for the full 10-day period. We provide you an additional antibiotic to help with wound healing in the immediate post-operative period & lower the risk of an infection forming.