Colesevelam lowers the bad cholesterol in our blood, also referred to as LDL cholesterol. By lowering the LDL cholesterol, Colesevelam helps in reducing the risks of toughened arteries and prevents heart attacks, blood circulation ailments and stroke.
Colesevelam is marketed under the brand name WelChol and Cholestagel. It is recommended to those having primary hypercholesterolemia or high cholesterol level in the blood. It usually complements a good exercise plan and a healthy diet consisting of low fat and low cholesterol foods. Colesevelam causes the passing out of more bile acid out of the body. This triggers the liver to produce more bile acid, which results to more cholesterol being taken out and cholesterol levels being lowered.
It can also be used to improve the glycemic control among people suffering from type 2 diabetes. It is not, however, recommended to those who have Type 1 diabetes.
Colesevelam may also be used with other drugs such as atorvastatin, lovastatin, fluvastatin, rosuvastatin, pravastatin, and simvastatin.
Colesevelam is taken orally 1-2 times a day, or as prescribed by a doctor. For best results, it is advised that patients take Colesevelam after meals and with a glass of water.
The dosage is usually based on the medical condition of the patient. Doctors gradually increase the dosage over time depending on the patient’s response to the medication. It usually takes 2 weeks or a couple of months to make the cholesterol level go down.
Patients should take the medication according to the dosing schedule prescribed by their physicians. It also helps if they take Colesevelam at the same time every day.
Some of the less common side effects of Colesevelam include chills, blurred vision, cold sweat, anxiety attacks, cough, confusion, pale skin, depression, dizziness, diarrhea, sore throat, irregular heartbeat, fever, headache, increased hunger, loss of appetite, and discomfort. Patients may also experience pain in the joints, muscle aches, nausea, runny nose, nervousness, seizures, shivering, sweating, vomiting, difficulty in sleeping and swallowing, and unusual weakness.
Some of the more common side effects of Colesevelam are heartburn, pain in the abdomen, bloating, belching, constipation, stomach discomfort, or a bloated feeling.
In case patients experience any of these symptoms, they should immediately inform their physician or pharmacist.
Colesevelam can result to low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. It is important that symptoms of hypoglycemia are controlled before it results to the patient passing out. Hypoglycemia has different symptoms so patients should learn which symptoms indicate that they have a low blood sugar. Some of the symptoms of hypoglycemia are anxiety, cold sweats, blurred vision, difficulty in focusing, drowsiness, fast heartbeat, restlessness, slurred speech, and unexplained weakness.
Patients should also refrain from eating high fat foods since Colesevelam will not effectively lower the cholesterol if they continue eating such unhealthy foods. It also helps if the patient complements Colesevelam with regular exercise.
It is also important that patients refrain from taking any drugs 4 hours prior and after taking Colesevelam since it can affect the effectiveness of this medication.
Colesevelam has the following structural formula:
• Chemical IUPAC Name is 2-(chloromethyl)oxirane; prop-2-en- 1-amine; N-prop-2-enyldecan-1-amine; trimethyl-(6-prop-2-enylaminohexyl) ammonium; chloride; hydrochloride
• Colesevelam available : 625mg tablets
Brand name(s): CholestaGel, Welchol
Review published on: 05 July 2009
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