Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For cholestyramine, the following should be considered:

Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to cholestyramine. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy—Cholestyramine is not absorbed into the body and is not likely to cause problems. However, it may reduce absorption of vitamins into the body. Ask your doctor whether you need to take extra vitamins.

Breast-feeding—Cholestyramine is not absorbed into the body and is not likely to cause problems. However, the reduced absorption of vitamins by the mother may affect the nursing infant.

Children—This medicine has been tested in a limited number of children. In effective doses, the medicine has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems than it does in adults.

Older adults—Side effects may be more likely to occur in patients over 60 years of age, who are usually more sensitive to the effects of cholestyramine.

Other medicines—Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking cholestyramine it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Anticoagulants (blood thinners)—The effects of the anticoagulant may be changed and this may increase the chance of bleeding.

• Digitalis glycosides (heart medicine) or
• Diuretics (water pills) or
• Penicillin G, taken by mouth or
• Phenylbutazone or
• Propranolol (e.g., Inderal) or
• Tetracyclines, taken by mouth (medicine for infection) or
• Thyroid hormones or
• Vancomycin, taken by mouth—Cholestyramine may prevent these medicines from working properly

Other medical problems—The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of cholestyramine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Bleeding problems or
• Constipation or
• Gallstones or
• Heart or blood vessel disease or
• Hemorrhoids or
• Stomach ulcer or other stomach problems or
• Underactive thyroid—Cholestyramine may make these conditions worse

• Kidney disease—There is an increased risk of developing electrolyte problems (problems in the blood)

• Phenylketonuria—Phenylalanine in aspartame is included in the sugar-free brand of cholestyramine and should be avoided. Aspartame can cause problems in people with phenylketonuria. Therefore, it is best if you avoid using the sugar-free product.