Colestid is a brand-name medicine that is commonly prescribed for treating high cholesterol. This page of the eMedTV library offers a more in-depth look at how the drug works and also discusses potential side effects and dosing information.
Colestid side effects may include constipation, vomiting, and gas. As this eMedTV page explains, there are also more serious side effects that require prompt medical attention, such as unexplained bleeding, difficulty swallowing, or bloody stools.
Colestid uses include the treatment of high LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol. This section of the eMedTV site discusses the effects of the medicine and also explains how Colestid should be used in combination with lifestyle modifications.
The suggested Colestid dosage is 2 to 16 grams (tablets) or 5 to 30 grams (granules) per day. This segment of the eMedTV archives contains precautions and tips for Colestid dosing and explains when a doctor may choose to alter your drug dosage.
This eMedTV segment provides a list of medicines, such as tetracycline, furosemide, and gemfibrozil, that may interact negatively with Colestid. Drug interactions may cause the medicines to bind in the intestines and not fully absorb into the body.
People who are allergic to Colestid or any of its components should not take this cholesterol drug. This eMedTV page contains more Colestid precautions and warnings, including possible side effects, such as constipation and increase in triglycerides.
This eMedTV resource provides a list of Colestid alternatives, which include other cholesterol drugs, such as niacin, fibrates, or statins. Other bile acid sequestrants are also available, including colesevelam and cholestyramine.
