Colesevelam Hydrochloride(koe leh seve’ eh lam)
WelChol
PREGNANCY CATEGORY B
Drug Classes
Antihyperlipidemic
Bile acid sequestrant
Therapeutic Actions
Binds bile acids in the intestine allowing excretion in the feces; as a result, cholesterol is oxidized in the liver to replace the bile acids lost; serum cholesterol and LDLs are lowered.
Indications
Reduction of elevated LDLs as adjunct to diet and exercise in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia; used alone or in conjunction with an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor
As adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes
Adjunct to diet and exercise to reduce LDL in boys and postmenarchal girls ages 10–17 yr with familial hypercholesterolemia not responsive to diet alone
Contraindications and Cautions
Contraindicated with allergy to bile acid sequestrants; complete biliary obstruction; intestinal obstruction; lactation.
Use cautiously with difficulty swallowing; GI motility disorders; major GI tract surgery; patients susceptible to fat-soluble vitamin deficiency, pregnancy.
Available Forms
Tablets—625 mg; oral powder packets—3.75-g packets
Dosages
Adults
Monotherapy for hyperlipidemia: 3 tablets bid PO with meals or 6 tablets daily PO with a meal. Can also give 3.75 g/day of powder.
Combination therapy with an HMG-CoA inhibitor: 3 tablets PO bid with meals or 6 tablets once a day PO with a meal. Can also give 3.75 g/day of powder.
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