Prevalite Uses

Several conditions can be treated with Prevalite. Uses include the treatment of high LDL cholesterol and the relief of itching caused by certain types of liver disease. Prevalite has been approved for use in children to control itching caused by a partial biliary obstruction, but not to lower cholesterol. Off-label Prevalite uses include the treatment of severe diarrhea in people who have had their gallbladder removed.

 

An Overview of Prevalite Uses

 Prevalite® (cholestyramine) is a medication that has been licensed to treat several conditions. These Prevalite uses include:
 
  • Treatment of high LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) levels in patients with high total cholesterol
  • Relief of itching caused by partial biliary obstruction.
     
High Cholesterol
High levels of cholesterol in the blood can accumulate on the walls of arteries (known as atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries), leading to decreased blood flow and oxygen supply to the heart, brain, and other areas of the body. This can greatly increase a person's risk for developing conditions such as:
 
 
Prevalite has been licensed for the treatment of high cholesterol, and should be used in combination with a low cholesterol diet and exercise. It works by lowering total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Prevalite can be used alone or in combination with an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (known more commonly as statins) to lower cholesterol.
 
In general, cholesterol treatment is aimed at lowering LDL cholesterol levels enough to reduce the risk of developing complications associated with high cholesterol (see Effects of High Cholesterol). If you are at a higher risk, you will have a lower LDL goal.
 
(Click High Cholesterol Risk to see a list of risk factors that may affect your cholesterol level and a general guideline of ideal LDL cholesterol levels.)
 
(Prevalite Uses Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;