Cholestyramine, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: bile acid sequestrant; cholesterol-lowering

Generic and brand names: cholestyramine, oral; LoCHOLEST Light; LoCHOLEST; Prevalite; Questran; Questran Light

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to lower cholesterol levels when diet and exercise alone have not lowered them enough.

This medicine is also used to treat severe itching caused by high levels of bile acids in your blood.

It may be used for other conditions as determined by your health care provider.

What should my health care provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your health care provider if you have:

• problems swallowing
• thyroid problems
• diabetes
• alcoholism
• kidney disease
• liver disease
• gallbladder disease.

Also tell your health care provider if you have had major abdominal surgery.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your health care provider's approval.

How do I take it?

Take this medicine exactly as your health care provider prescribes. Do not stop taking this medicine without your health care provider's approval. This medicine will lower your cholesterol level only when taken regularly.

This medicine may come in different forms. If you have the powder form, carefully follow the directions for mixing it with liquids or food. Do NOT take this medicine in its dry form. Mix with water, soups, other liquids, or soft foods such as applesauce. Do not bake the drug in foods. If you do not understand how to take this medicine, ask your health care provider or pharmacist to explain.

If you are taking other medicines, take them at least 1 hour before or 4 hours after you take this medicine.

Drinking more liquid while you take this medicine help prevent constipation. Talk to your health care provider about this.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your health care provider.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine may keep your body from absorbing certain vitamins and folic acid. Your health care provider may recommend that you take a vitamin supplement with folic acid.

This medicine will not cure your problem. A low-fat diet and regular exercise are important to reducing cholesterol. Follow the diet and exercise program your health care provider recommends.

Do not breathe in any of the powder form of this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (report these to your health care provider right away. If you are unable to reach your health care provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reactions (hives, itching, rash, tightness in your chest, trouble breathing).

Serious (contact your health care provider right away): Black tarry bowel movements, severe stomach pain, severe nausea and vomiting, severe constipation, chest pain.

Other: Gas, heartburn, bloating.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Also, using these medicines together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your health care provider if you are taking any of these medicines:

• beta blockers such as acebutolol (Sectral), atenolol (Tenormin), pindolol (Visken), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal), and timolol (Blocadren)
• blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin)
• cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral)
• digoxin (Lanoxin) and digitoxin (Crystodigin)
• other cholesterol-lowering medicines such as lovastatin (Mevacor), atorvastatin (Lipitor), pravastatin (Pravachol), and simvastatin (Zocor)
• thyroid hormones such as Thyroid USP, levothyroxine (Synthroid, Levothroid), liothyronine (Cytomel), and liotrix (Thyrolar)
• tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), imipramine (Tofranil), and doxepin (Sinequan).

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.