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Welchol is the brand name for colesevelam and is available as an oral tablet and suspension.

Welchol is available as a 625 mg oral tablet and a 1.875 g and 3.75 g oral suspension.

Welchol is a bile acid sequestrant that is used as an add-on to diet and exercise for the treatment of:

• High cholesterol in adults
• High cholesterol in certain children 10 to 17 years with genetic cholesterol problems
• Type 2 diabetes in adults

Welchol is a bile acid sequestrant. It works by attaching to bile acid in your intestines to prevent it from being absorbed into your body. This causes your liver to turn the cholesterol in your body into bile acid to replace what couldn’t get absorbed. As a result, the amount of cholesterol in your body drops.
Welchol can also help lower blood sugar in adults with Type 2 diabetes. It’s not exactly known how it works. But it’s thought to work by raising the levels of a protein called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) that releases insulin.

Welchol is typically dosed as follows:

• Tablets: The typical dose is 3.75 grams by mouth per day.
• This dose is given as either six 625 mg tablets once a day or three 625 mg tablets twice a day
• Powder for oral suspension: The typical dose is 3.75 grams by mouth per day. This dose is given as either one 3.75-gram packet once a day or two 1.875-gram packets twice per day
• Welchol should be taken with food

Welchol is a safe and effective treatment when used for FDA licensed indications. However, like all medications, they may give you unwanted side effects. You should always discuss potential side effects with your physician to ensure the medication is suitable and right for you. You should not use this medication if you have any of the following:

• Blood triglyceride levels that are greater than 500 mg/dL
• History of pancreatitis due to high triglycerides
• History of stomach or intestinal blockage

Common side effects of Welchol:

• Constipation
• Indigestion
• Nausea
• Weakness

Serious side effects are rare with Welchol. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.

• Swelling of the pancreas (pancreatitis): nausea, vomiting, severe stomach pain that spreads to your back
• Stomach or intestine problems: severe constipation, severe stomach pain, blood in your stool

The following medications may interact with Welchol:

• In drug interaction studies, Welchol reduced levels of cyclosporine glyburide, levothyroxine, and oral contraceptives containing ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone
• There have been post marketing reports of decreases in phenytoin levels in patients receiving phenytoin concomitantly with Welchol and decreases in INR in patients receiving warfarin concomitantly with WELCHO

Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.

There are no adequate and well-controlled studies of the teratogenic potential of Welchol in pregnant women. Welchol should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

• Colesevelam