colesevelam

(coal SEH veh lam)
Welchol

What is the most important information I should know about colesevelam?

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Follow any diet or exercise plan outlined by your doctor. Diet and exercise are important factors in controlling cholesterol levels.

What is colesevelam?

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Colesevelam is a cholesterol lowering drug.

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Colesevelam is used with diet and exercise to reduce the amount of low-density lipoprotein (LDL or bad) cholesterol in the blood. This is important in reducing the risk of hardening of the arteries, which can lead to heart attacks, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.

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Colesevelam may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my health care provider before taking colesevelam?

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Do not take colesevelam if you have a bowel obstruction.

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Before taking colesevelam, tell your doctor if you:

have difficulty swallowing or have a swallowing disorder;

have a stomach or bowel disorder;

have had any major stomach or bowel surgery; or

are susceptible to fat soluble vitamin deficiencies.

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You may not be able to take colesevelam, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

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Colesevelam is in the FDA pregnancy category B. This means that colesevelam is not likely to be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take colesevelam without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.

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Colesevelam may decrease the absorption of certain vitamins, which are important during breast-feeding. Do not take colesevelam without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take colesevelam?

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Take colesevelam exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

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Colesevelam is usually taken one or two times a day with liquid and a meal. Follow your doctor's instructions.

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Store colesevelam at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

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If you take one dose of colesevelam a day, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If you don't remember until the next day, skip the missed dose and take only your next regularly scheduled dose.

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If you take two doses of colesevelam a day and you miss the first dose of the day, take that dose as soon as you remember or together with your second dose of the day. If you miss the second dose of the day, take that dose as soon as you remember. If you don't remember until the next day, skip the missed dose and take only your next regularly scheduled dose.

What happens if I overdose?

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Seek emergency medical attention.

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Symptoms of a colesevelam overdose may include abdominal pain, constipation, flatulence, and intestinal blockage.

What should I avoid while taking colesevelam?

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Follow any diet or exercise plan outlined by your doctor. Diet and exercise are important factors in controlling cholesterol levels.

What are the possible side effects of colesevelam?

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Stop taking colesevelam and seek emergency medical attention if you experience an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives).

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Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take colesevelam and talk to your doctor if you experience

constipation;

upset stomach; or

muscle aches or weakness.

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Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect colesevelam?

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Since other drugs may interact with colesevelam, do not take any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines while taking colesevelam without first talking to your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

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Your pharmacist has more information about colesevelam written for health professionals that you may read.

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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.