Diabetes Clinic


Colesevelam is used along with diet, weight loss, and exercise to reduce the amount of cholesterol and certain fatty substances in the blood. Colesevelam may be used alone or in combination with other cholesterol-lowering medications known as statins. It is also used to control blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. Colesevelam is in a class of medications called bile acid sequestrants and works by inactivating bile salts in the gut and causes them to be removed from the body in the stools. Bile salts are made from cholesterol in the liver and are normally reused by the body. Because Colesevelam stops them from being reused the liver needs to remake more bile salts. To do this, the liver takes some of the cholesterol from the blood and this is what lowers the amount of cholesterol in the blood. Bile acids are made when cholesterol is broken down in your body. Removing these bile acids helps to lower your blood cholesterol. Accumulation of cholesterol and fats along the walls of your arteries (a process known as atherosclerosis) decreases blood flow and, therefore, the oxygen supply to your heart, brain, and other parts of your body. Lowering your blood level of cholesterol and fats may help prevent heart disease, angina (chest pain), strokes, and heart attack. Before taking Colesevelam tell your doctor if you are allergic to colesevelam or any other medications. tell your doctor what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: anticoagulants such as warfarin, insulin, and and verapamil. if you are taking phenytoin (Dilantin), glyburide, levothyroxine, oral contraceptives (birth control pills), or vitamins, take them at least 4 hours before colesevelam. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had blocked intestines, gastrointestinal surgery, triglyceride (fatty substance) levels greater than 500 mg/dL, or swelling of the pancreas caused by high levels of triglycerides in the blood. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take colesevelam. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had gastrointestinal problems, difficulty swallowing foods, triglyceride levels greater than 300 mg/dl, bleeding problems, and low amounts of fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E, and K) in your body. tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking colesevelam, call your doctor. What are some side-effects that may occur: Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away: gas constipation nausea diarrhea abdominal pain weakness muscle pain Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately: severe abdominal pain with or without nausea and vomiting How should I store this medication Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed.