Educational resource. Follow the specific instructions from Dr. Hachadorian and your pharmacist — they take precedence over anything on this page.
Home › Patient Information › Postoperative Medications

Postoperative Medication Organizer

Select the medications you were prescribed and this page builds a personalized daily schedule to help you take them safely and on time.

Good pain control means staying ahead of the pain.

Tap each medication you were prescribed below. As you do, a personalized schedule builds at the bottom of the page. Tap ⓘ Why I'm taking this on any medication for a plain-language explanation. When you're done, use Print to keep a copy on the fridge.

Step 1 — Select your medications

Turn on the ones Dr. Hachadorian prescribed for you.

Which anti-inflammatory (NSAID) are you taking?

Take only ONE kind of anti-inflammatory at a time. These all do the same job — never combine them (for example ibuprofen with naproxen or meloxicam). Choose the one Dr. Hachadorian prescribed for you:

Prefer not to take all your pills at once? Choose how to time your Tylenol and your anti-inflammatory:

Take your anti-inflammatory with food. If you were told you can't take anti-inflammatories, simply leave this medication turned off — your Tylenol and gabapentin become the backbone of your pain control instead.

Oxycodone — how often are you needing it?

Oxycodone is the strong medicine for breakthrough pain. Tell us how often you're actually needing it right now and we'll place it into your schedule. As your pain improves, come back and lower this.

Never take oxycodone sooner than every 4 hours, and no more than 6 tablets (30 mg) in 24 hours. If a scheduled dose comes up but your pain is already controlled, skip it — you never have to take it just because it's on the chart.
Step 2 — Your daily medication schedule
Postoperative Medication Schedule
Michael E. Hachadorian, MD · Shoulder & Elbow Surgery · San Marcos, CA · (760) 750-1902

Call the office right away if you have

• Fever over 101.5°F, chills, or spreading redness/drainage at the incision
• Pain that is getting worse instead of better, or not controlled by your medication
• New numbness, tingling, or your hand/fingers turning pale, blue, or cold
• Excessive drowsiness or slowed breathing on oxycodone — hold the medication and call 911 if severe
• Calf pain/swelling, chest pain, or shortness of breath (call 911 for the last two)

This organizer helps you follow the plan your surgeon gave you. It does not replace your prescription labels or your surgeon's instructions — if anything here differs from the label on your bottle or what Dr. Hachadorian told you, follow your surgeon. Do not take additional over-the-counter products containing acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen/naproxen (Advil, Aleve, Motrin) on top of this schedule without checking first. Never drink alcohol or drive while taking oxycodone.

Michael E. Hachadorian, MD  ·  Shoulder & Elbow Surgery  ·  San Marcos, CA  ·  (760) 750-1902  ·  Mon–Fri 9 AM–4 PM