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Bile Acid Sequestrants

Wed, 2010-06-23 20:57 — Thiruvelan

Liver uses cholesterol to make bile acids needed for digestion. Bile acid sequestrant binds to pile acid and eliminated in the stool. Therefore, liver uses more cholesterol to make bile acid, instead of re-circulating the available pile acid. Bile acid sequestrants can decrease LDL.

Bile acid sequestrants medication drugs

  • Cholestyramine (Questran®, Questran® Light, Prevalite®, Locholest®,  Locholest® Light)
  • Colestipol (Colestid®)
  • Colesevelam Hcl (WelChol®

Whom Bile acid sequestrant drugs can benefit?

Bile acid sequestrant is suitable for those who:

  • Has elevated cholesterol (particularly total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol),
  • If you are unable to tolerate other cholesterol medications, because of the side effects of liver or muscle.

How do you take Sequestrants drug?

  • Bile acid sequestrant medication drugs are available as powders or tablets.
  • Sequestrants indicate that their long-term use is safe.
  • Bile acid sequestrant powders must be mixed with water or fruit juice and taken once, twice, or rarely three times daily with meals.
  • You must take these tablets with a large amount of fluids just to avoid gastrointestinal symptoms.
  • Sequestrants may interfere with the absorption of other drugs. Therefore, should take other medication drugs at least one hour before or four to six-hours after.

Expected benefits of Sequestrants medication drug

  • Lower LDL cholesterol by about 15 - 30 percent. Even small doses of sequestrants can produce reductions in LDL cholesterol.
  • Sometimes, prescribe bile acid sequestrants along with a statin for patients with heart disease to increase cholesterol reduction. When combine these two drugs, their effects are added to lower LDL cholesterol by over 40 %.

Possible side effects of bile acid sequestrants drug

  • Stomach irritation, constipation, or diarrhea

These symptoms will be likely to disappear after a week or so. If problems with constipation develop and last more than one week, add stewed prunes, prune juice, bran, and more water to the diet. Increase in physical activity may also help this problem.