Colesevelam helps lower your cholesterol levels in the blood.
Excessive cholesterol in your body can clog up your blood vessels. This can lead to many health problems such as stroke and heart diseases, including heart attack.
This medicine is meant to be taken as part of a complete cholesterol management programme that should include exercise, a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Colesevelam may be used to treat other conditions as decided by your doctor.
Take Colesevelam exactly as directed by your doctor or according to the instructions on the label. Do not take more or less than instructed by your doctor.
Take it together with food or immediately after a meal. Try to take it at the same time each day.
Colesevelam is available as a tablet or granules for oral suspension.
If you are taking the tablets, swallow them whole with a glass of water. Do not break, crush, or chew the tablets.
If you are taking the granules for oral suspension, empty the entire contents of a packet into a glass or cup and add 1 cup (240 mL) of water, fruit juice, or diet soft drinks. Stir it well and drink. Do not take the medicine in its powder form or without mixing it with a liquid.
Colesevelam must be taken regularly for it to be effective. Continue taking this medicine even when you feel better. Do not stop taking it unless instructed by the doctor.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your normal dosing schedule.
DO NOT double a dose under any circumstances.
If you often forget to take your medicine, let your doctor and pharmacist know.
Alert your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- blockage in the bowel or bile ducts (a tube-like channel which carries bile from the liver to the upper portion of the small intestine)
- blood triglyceride (fats in the blood) levels above 500 mg/dL
- history of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) caused by high levels of fats in the blood
as Colesevelam may not be suitable for you.
Inform your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- blood triglyceride (fats in the blood) levels of 300 mg/dL or above
- stomach or bowel disease e.g. gastroparesis (a condition where the stomach cannot empty normally), inflammatory bowel disease (group of diseases that cause long-term inflammation of the digestive tract), severe stomach or bowel movement disorder
- history of major surgery in the stomach or bowel
- prone to have a blocked bowel
- difficulty swallowing or swallowing disorder
- coronary heart disease (narrowing of the blood vessels of the heart) or angina pectoris (chest pain which occurs when the heart does not receive enough blood supply)
- liver failure (loss of liver function)
Let your doctor know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
For as long as you are taking Colesevelam, you may need to have regular blood tests to check your body's response to the medicine. Your doctor will advise you about how often you need to have blood tests.
Colesevelam may cause any of the following side effects: headache, constipation, nausea, vomiting, stomach wind or pain, feeling bloated, difficulty swallowing, diarrhoea, muscle or back pain, stuffy or runny nose, and throat irritation.
Some side effects may need immediate medical help. Alert your doctor quickly if you experience any of the following:
- signs and symptoms of pancreatitis e.g. severe abdominal pain with or without nausea and vomiting, severe back pain, fever, fast heartbeat
- signs and symptoms of severe bowel problem e.g. severe constipation or stomach pain
Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.
Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any of these medicines:
- medicines for diabetes e.g. glimepiride, insulin, pioglitazone, metformin
- birth control pills containing norethindrone and ethinylestradiol
- ciclosporin (medicine used in organ transplants or certain immune disorders)
- olmesartan (medicine for high blood pressure)
- phenytoin (medicine for epilepsy [fits or seizures])
- levothyroxine (medicine for thyroid disease)
- warfarin (blood-thinning medicine)
- supplements containing fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, or K
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Colesevelam.
Colesevelam may influence the absorption of other medicines, your doctor may advise you to take this medicine at least 4 hours before or at least 4 hours after taking other medicines.
Always notify your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicines, supplements, and medicines that you buy without a prescription.
Avoid alcohol.
Store in a cool, dry place away from the reach of children.
Protect from moisture.
Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.
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