What does cholestyramine treat?
Cholestyramine is used to lower high cholesterol levels in the blood. This may help prevent medical problems caused by cholesterol clogging the blood vessels. Cholestyramine is also used to remove substances called bile acids from your body.
Is cholestyramine a bile acid binder?
Cholestyramine is a bile acid sequestrant, like colestipol and colesevelam. These molecules are positively charged non-digestible resins that bind to bile acids in the intestine to form an insoluble complex, which is excreted in the feces.
Does questran affect liver?
Questran binds to bile acids in the intestine. This prevents their absorption, and the cholestyramine/bile acid complexes are eliminated in the stool. As a result, the body loses bile acids. To compensate for this loss, the liver increases the conversion of cholesterol to bile acids.
What medications cause high bilirubin?
Drugs that can increase bilirubin measurements include allopurinol, anabolic steroids, some antibiotics, antimalarials, azathioprine, chlorpropamide, cholinergics, codeine, diuretics, epinephrine, meperidine, methotrexate, methyldopa, MAO inhibitors, morphine, nicotinic acid, oral contraceptives, phenothiazines.
Can cholestyramine cause bleeding?
Tell your doctor if you experience rare but serious side effects of Questran (cholestyramine) including: severe stomach/abdominal pain, unusual bleeding/bruising, rapid breathing, or.
What are the side effects of cholestyramine?
Cholestyramine may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- constipation.
- bloating.
- stomach pain.
- gas.
- upset stomach.
- vomiting.
- diarrhea.
- loss of appetite.
Does cholestyramine cause bleeding?
Does cholestyramine lower triglycerides?
Bile acid sequestrants (cholestyramine or colestipol) raise triglyceride levels and are not appropriate therapy for hypertriglyceridemia. However, in patients with a mixed hyperlipidemia, resins may be combined with niacin or a fibrate.
What causes high bilirubin levels?
A condition called cholestasis — with decreased bile flow caused by a blockage of the bile duct or reduced secretion of bile from the liver — can lead to high bilirubin levels. Tumors of the gallbladder, liver, bile duct or pancreas can also cause high bilirubin levels by blocking the ducts used to excrete bilirubin.
How to treat and control elevated bilirubin levels in adults?
Elevated Bilirubin Levels Treatment. Below are some of the widely used methods in managing elevated bilirubin levels. Surgery and liver transplant are needed when the liver is severely affected and to remove gall stones in the gall bladder. Drinking barley water many times in a day can also help.
What is cholestyramine prescribed for?
Cholestyramine is used to lower high levels of cholesterol in the blood, especially low-density lipoprotein ( LDL ) (“bad” cholesterol). Cholestyramine powder is also used to treat itching caused by a blockage in the bile ducts of the gallbladder.
How does cholestyramine actually help chronic diarrhea?
The Cholestyramine is used to form stools in people with chronic diarrhea. It is used to bind bile acids so you can have normal bowel movements. You can use it up to 6 times a day if your doctor says it is necessary according to my PDR book. You should also have your cholesterol and triglycerides checked periodically while on this medicine.