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Home > Drug Category > Cholesterol Medications > Welchol and Equivalent

Welchol Information

Welchol (Colesevelam) is a prescription medicine used with a proper diet and exercise to lower cholesterol in people with high levels of bad cholesterol in their blood. Lowering cholesterol decreases the risk of heart disease and helps prevent strokes and heart attacks. It has also been found to lower high blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. Controlling high blood sugar helps prevent kidney damage, blindness, nerve problems, loss of limbs, and sexual function problems. The active ingredient in Welchol is Colesevelam. Bile acids are needed to help digest fat from the foods we eat. Bile acid-binding resins such as Colesevelam remove bile acid from the body. This causes the liver to make more bile acid by using cholesterol, which reduces cholesterol levels in the blood. It is not known how Welchol helps in lowering blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes.

Welchol Side Effects

The most common side effects of Welchol may include headache, nausea, vomiting, hypoglycemia, constipation, and abdominal aches. Call your doctor right away if you have any of the serious side effects, such as:
• Recurrent feeling of dizziness;
• Severe abdominal pain;
• Sudden drop in blood sugar;
• Trouble swallowing

Welchol Precautions

Do not use Welchol if you are allergic to it or other ingredients in this medication. You should know that Welchol is not for everyone. Speak to your doctor before taking Welchol. Before you start using this medication, tell your doctor about your medical history, including if you have chronic liver disease, kidney problems, problems with digestion, intestinal obstruction, type 1 diabetes, history of pancreatitis, low level of certain vitamins (A, D, E, K), and glyceride levels of greater than 500 mg/dL. Tell your doctor about all your medications, including prescription, OTC, herbal supplements, and vitamins. There may be a drug interaction between Welchol and other medications, such as raloxifene, and warfarin, and eye drops, such as timolol and propranolol. Welchol is available as a tablet and should be taken by mouth with a cup of water, usually 1-2 times daily. Your dosage depends on the level of cholesterol in your blood. Follow your prescription label carefully, and do not use more than your prescribed dosage. Do not use Welchol if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant without informing your doctor. This drug may harm an unborn baby, especially if used during the second or third trimester. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy when using this medication. Do not use Welchol while breastfeeding without talking to your doctor. This medication passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing infant. Do not give this drug to children younger than ten years old or girls who have not started menstruating. Welchol may increase your risk of dizziness due to its blood sugar-lowering effect. Get up slowly from a sitting or lying position to reduce the risk of dizziness. Your doctor may prescribe Welchol as part of a comprehensive treatment that includes lifestyle changes like exercising, losing weight, eating a low-fat diet, and stopping smoking. Your doctor may request that your cholesterol level be checked regularly. Do not miss your clinic appointment, and inform your doctor if there is no improvement after four weeks of regular use. Store this medication at room temperature, away from moisture and heat. Keep it out of the reach of children.

Do I need a prescription to order Welchol?

Yes, a prescription is required from your physician to order Welchol.