Cholestyramine

Drug Class:	Commonly Known As:	Category:
Bile Acid	Cholestyramine

Cholestyramine - Side Effects, Precautions, and Contraindications

What side effects can Cholestyramine cause?

Some common side effects of cholestyramine include:

Constipation
Diarrhoea
Nausea, vomiting

Speak to your doctor if these side effects are serious or happen for a long time.

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:

Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
Difficulty in breathing
Itchy skin rashes over your whole body

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.

Before taking Cholestyramine , what precautions must I follow?

Inform your healthcare professional if:

You have allergies to fat binding agents or any other medications
You have kidney disease
You are pregnant or breast-feeding
You are diagnosed to have complete blockage of the bile duct system

Please also inform your doctor about all other medications that you usually take. This is important as certain medications (e.g. warfarin) may interact with cholestyramine and may affect their effectiveness or increase the risk of side effects.

What food or medicine must I avoid when I take Cholestyramine ?

Cholestyramine may affect the absorption of other medications. Take other medications at least 1 hour before or 4 to 6 hours after taking cholestyramine.