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Bile acid sequestrants for cholesterol

Antilipemic agent; Bile acid resins; Colestipol (Colestid®); Cholestyramine (LoCholest®, Prevalite®, and Questran®); Colesevelam (Welchol®)

 

Bile acid sequestrants are medicines that help lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol . Too much cholesterol in your blood can stick to the walls of your arteries and narrow or block them.

These medicines work by blocking bile acid in your stomach from being absorbed in your blood. Your liver then needs the cholesterol from your blood to make more bile acid. This reduces your cholesterol level.

This medicine also may help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar.

How Bile Acid Sequestrants Help

 

Improving your cholesterol levels can help protect you from:

  • Heart disease
  • Heart attack
  • Stroke

Your health care provider will work with you to lower your cholesterol by improving your diet. If this is not successful, medicines to lower the cholesterol may be the next step.

Statins are thought to be the best drugs to use for people who need medicines to lower their cholesterol.

Some people may be prescribed these medicines in combination with other drugs. They may also need to take them if other medicines are not tolerated due to allergies or side effects.

Both adults and teenagers can use this medicine when needed.

 

How to Take Bile Acid Sequestrants

 

Take your medication as directed. You may take this medicine 1 to 2 times per day or more often in smaller doses. DO NOT stop taking your medicine without first talking with your provider.

This medicine comes in pill or powder form.

  • You will need to mix powder forms with water or other fluids.
  • The powder may also be mixed with soups or blended fruit.
  • Pill forms should be taken with plenty of water.
  • DO NOT chew or crush the pill.

You should take this medicine with food, unless otherwise directed.

Store all of your medicines in a cool, dry place. Keep them where children cannot get to them.

You should follow a healthy diet while taking bile acid sequestrants. This includes eating less fat in your diet . Other ways you can help your heart include:

  • Getting regular exercise
  • Managing stress
  • Quitting smoking

 

Know Your Risks

 

Before you start taking bile acid sequestrants, tell your provider if you:

  • Have bleeding problems or stomach ulcers
  • Are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding
  • Have allergies
  • Are taking other medicines
  • Plan to have surgery or dental work

If you have certain conditions, you may need to avoid this medication. These include:

  • Liver or gallbladder problems
  • High triglycerides
  • Heart, kidney, or thyroid conditions

Tell your provider about all of your medicines, supplements, vitamins, and herbs. Certain medicines may interact with bile acid sequestrants. Be sure to tell your provider before taking any new medicines.

Taking this medicine may also affect how vitamins and other medications are absorbed in the body. Ask your provider if you should take a multivitamin supplement.

Regular blood tests will tell you and your provider how well the medicine is working.

 

Side Effects

 

Constipation is the most common side effect. Other possible side effects may include:

  • Heartburn
  • Gas and bloating
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Muscles aches and pains

 

When to Call the Doctor

 

You should call your health care provider if you have:

  • Vomiting
  • Sudden weight loss
  • Bloody stools or bleeding from the rectum
  • Bleeding gums
  • Severe constipation

 

 

References

Davidson DJ, Wilkinson MJ, Davidson MH. Combination therapy for dyslipedimia. In: Ballantyne CM, ed. Clinical Lipidology: A Companion to Braunwald's Heart Disease . 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 27.

Genest J, Libby P. Lipoprotein disorders and cardiovascular disease. In: Mann DL, Zipes DP, Libby P, Bonow RO, Braunwald E, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine . 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 45.

Goldberg AC. Bile acid sequestrants. In: Ballantyne CM, ed. Clinical Lipidology: A Companion to Braunwald's Heart Disease . 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 22.

Stone NJ, Robinson J, Lichtenstein AH, et al. 2013 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Treatment of Blood Cholesterol to Reduce Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Risk in Adults: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines. J Am Coll Cardiol . 2014 Jul 1;63(25 Pt B). PMID: 24239923 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24239923 .

US Food and Drug Administration. High Cholesterol--Medicines to help you. www.fda.gov/downloads/ForConsumers/ByAudience/ForWomen/FreePublications/UCM179918.pdf . Updated November 11, 2014. Accessed March 22, 2016.

 

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            Review Date: 2/24/2016

            Reviewed By: Michael A. Chen, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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