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|Colesevelam

Colesevelam

Colesevelam is used for:

Reducing high cholesterol levels. It may be used alone or with other medications, in addition to diet and exercise.

Colesevelam is a bile acid sequestrant. It works by increasing the removal of bile acids from the body. As the body loses bile acids, it replaces them by converting cholesterol from the blood to bile acids. This causes the blood level of cholesterol to decrease.

Do NOT use Colesevelam if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Colesevelam
• you have bowel blockage

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Colesevelam :

Some medical conditions may interact with Colesevelam . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have a history of trouble swallowing or other intestinal disorders (eg, motility disorders, major intestinal surgery)
• if you have a vitamin K deficiency

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Colesevelam . However, no specific interactions with Colesevelam are known at this time.

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Colesevelam may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Colesevelam :

Use this medicine as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Colesevelam should be taken with plenty of liquid and a meal.
• Continue to use Colesevelam even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses.
• If you miss a dose of Colesevelam , take it with a liquid at your next meal. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Colesevelam .

Important safety information:

• Be sure to follow the diet and exercise program prescribed by your doctor.
• It may take several weeks for Colesevelam to begin working.
• If Colesevelam causes constipation, check with your doctor or pharmacist for ways to lessen this effect.
• LAB TESTS, including a lipid profile, may be performed to monitor your progress. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Use Colesevelam with extreme caution in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you plan on becoming pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Colesevelam during pregnancy. It is unknown if Colesevelam is excreted in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you are using Colesevelam , check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby.

Possible side effects of Colesevelam :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Accidental injury; back pain; constipation; diarrhea; flu-like symptoms; gas; headache; indigestion; infection; muscle aches; nausea; pain; runny nose; sore throat; stomach pain or discomfort; weakness.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue).

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately.

Store Colesevelam at room temperature between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C) in a tightly closed container, away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Colesevelam out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Colesevelam , please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Colesevelam is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Colesevelam . If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.