Cholestyramine

Cholestyramine is a generic drug that is approved to treat high cholesterol and relieve itching that is caused by a partial biliary obstruction. It has also proven effective in lowering total and LDL cholesterol levels. Cholestyramine comes in powder form and should be mixed with liquids before being consumed. Common side effects of this medication include gas, constipation, and nausea.

Cholestyramine Medicine

What Is Cholestyramine?

Cholestyramine is a prescription medication that is used to lower cholesterol levels in the body or control itching with certain types of liver disease. It is sold under several brand names, including:

Questran^®
Questran^® Light
Prevalite^®
LoCholest^®.

There is also a generic cholestyramine available by prescription. It is sold as Cholestyramine powder or Cholestyramine Light powder.

This article will discuss the generic form of cholestyramine (hereafter known as "Cholestyramine"). For information on the specific brands, click Questran or Prevalite.

Side Effects of Cholestyramine

As with any medicine, there are possible side effects with Cholestyramine, but not everyone who takes the medicine will experience problems.

In fact, most people tolerate it well. When people do develop side effects, in most cases, they are minor, meaning they require no treatment or are easily treated by you or a healthcare provider. If side effects do occur, most people do not need to stop the medicine.

The most common side effects of Cholestyramine include:

Constipation
Stomach discomfort or pain
Gas
Nausea or vomiting
Burping
Decrease or loss of appetite
Indigestion or heartburn
Diarrhea
Osteoporosis
Unexplained rash
Unexplained bleeding.

(Click Side Effects of Cholestyramine to learn more, including possible serious side effects to look out for.)

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