What is Colesevelam?
Category: Prescription Drugs
Most popular types: Welchol Cholestagel
Colesevelam is used with exercise and diet changes to reduce the amount of cholesterol and certain fatty substances in your blood. It works by binding bile acids in your intestines. It may be used alone or in combination with statins.
| Purpose | Patients | Evaluations | Perceived Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irritable bowel syndrome | 12 | 2 | |
| Bowel urgency | 11 | 5 | |
| Bile acid malabsorption syndrome | 4 | 3 | |
| Diarrhea | 4 | 2 | |
| Diabetes type 2 | 2 | 0 |
- Major
- Moderate
- Slight
- None
- Can't tell
Side effects
Side effects as an overall problem
| Severity | Evaluations | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Severe | 3 | |
| Moderate | 4 | |
| Mild | 2 | |
| None | 12 |
Commonly reported side effects and conditions associated with Colesevelam
| Side effect | Patients | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Constipation | 2 | |
| Chronic constipation | 1 | |
| Cold sores (fever blisters) | 1 | |
| Diarrhea | 1 | |
| Flatulence | 1 | |
| Muscle cramps | 1 |
Duration
Stopped taking Colesevelam
| Duration | Patients | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 1 month | 1 | |
| 1 - 6 months | 2 | |
| 1 - 2 years | 1 | |
| 2 - 5 years | 6 |
What people switch to and from
Patients started taking Colesevelam after stopping:
| Treatment | Patients | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Cholestyramine (Questran) | 2 | |
| Atorvastatin (Lipitor) | 1 | |
| Gabapentin (Neurontin) | 1 | |
| Lisinopril (Zestril) | 1 | |
| Naproxen (Naproxen Prescription) | 1 |
Patients stopped taking Colesevelam and switched to:
| Treatment | Patients | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Colestipol (Colestipol Suspension) | 2 | |
| Cholestyramine (Questran) | 1 | |
| ezetimibe (Zetia) | 1 |
Last updated: