colesevelam

Do not take this medication if you are allergic to colesevelam, or if you have a bowel obstruction.

Before taking colesevelam, tell your doctor if you have trouble swallowing, or if you have a stomach or intestinal disorder, a history of major stomach or bowel surgery, or a vitamin A, D, E, or K deficiency.

Avoid eating foods that are high in fat or cholesterol. Colesevelam will not be as effective in lowering your cholesterol if you do not follow a cholesterol-lowering diet plan.

Colesevelam is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, and weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely.

Colesevelam is a cholesterol-lowering drug.

Colesevelam lowers "bad" cholesterol in the blood, which is also called LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol. Lowering your LDL cholesterol may reduce your risk of hardened arteries, which can lead to heart attacks, stroke, and circulation problems.

Colesevelam is sometimes used together with another cholesterol-lowering medication such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin (Crestor), or simvastatin (Zocor).

Colesevelam may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Do not take this medication if you are allergic to colesevelam, or if you have a bowel obstruction.

Before taking colesevelam, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• trouble swallowing;
• a stomach, intestinal, or digestive disorder;
• a history of major stomach or bowel surgery; or
• if you have a vitamin A, D, E, or K deficiency.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take colesevelam.

FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Taking colesevelam can make it harder for your body to absorb certain vitamins. These vitamins are important if you are nursing a baby. Do not take colesevelam without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Take this medicine with a meal and a full glass of water or other liquid.

You may have to take up to 7 tablets at a time each time you take colesevelam. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Colesevelam is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, and weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely.

To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

Store colesevelam at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

If you take colesevelam once per day and you miss a dose:

• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember.
• If you don't remember until the next day, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time.
• Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

If you take colesevelam twice per day and you miss a dose:

• If you missed the first dose of the day, take it as soon as you remember. You may also take the missed dose together with your second dose at the regularly scheduled time.
• If you missed the second dose of the day, take it as soon as you remember.
• If you don't remember until the next day, skip the missed dose and do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Because colesevelam is not absorbed into the bloodstream, an overdose of this medication is not expected to produce life-threatening symptoms.

Avoid eating foods that are high in fat or cholesterol. Colesevelam will not be as effective in lowering your cholesterol if you do not follow a cholesterol-lowering diet plan.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using colesevelam and call your doctor at once if you have fever, chills, body aches, or flu symptoms.

Less serious side effects may include:

• headache, general pain;
• constipation or diarrhea;
• stomach pain, gas, indigestion; or
• stuffy nose.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

Before taking colesevelam, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

• acetaminophen (Tylenol);
• digoxin (Lanoxicaps, Lanoxin);
• lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid);
• theophylline (Elixophyllin, Respbid, Theo-Dur, Uniphyl);
• verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Covera, Verelan);
• an antibiotic such as amphotericin B (Fungizone, AmBisome, Abcelet, Amphotec), gentamicin (Garamycin), or vancomycin (Vancocin); or
• thyroid hormone replacement.

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with colesevelam. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Your pharmacist can provide more information about colesevelam.