Colesevelam
| (koe-leh-SEH-vel-lam) |
| Welchol |
| Class: Antihyperlipidemic/Bile acid sequestrant |
Action Increases removal of bile acids from the body by binding bile acids in the intestine, impeding their reabsorption. As body loses bile acids, cholesterol from the blood is converted to bile acids, thereby lowering serum cholesterol.
Indications As adjunctive therapy to diet and exercise to reduce elevated LDL cholesterol in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia (Fredrickson type IIa). Can be administered alone or in combination with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors.
Contraindications Bowel obstruction; hypersensitivity to any of the components of colesevelam.
Route/DosageMonotherapy
ADULTS: PO 3 tablets (625 mg each) twice daily with meals or 6 tablets once daily with a meal. Depending on the desired effect, may be increased to 7 tablets daily.
Combination therapy
ADULTS: PO 3 tablets (625 mg each) twice daily with meals or 6 tablets once daily with a meal in combination with an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor is the recommended dose. Doses of 4 to 6 tablets (625 mg each) daily administered simultaneously with or dosed apart from an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor have been shown to be safe an effective.
InteractionsVerapamil: Plasma levels may be decreased by colesevelam.
Lab Test Interferences None well documented.
Adverse ReactionsEENT: Pharyngitis. GI: Constipation; dyspepsia. OTHER: Asthenia; myalgia.
PrecautionsPregnancy: Category B. Lactation: Drug not absorbed systemically. Children: Safety and efficacy not established. GI disorders: Use with caution.
Popularity: 1% [?]