Colesevelam (Oral-Local)
Brand Names : Welchol
Before Using This MedicineIn 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
colesevelam, the following should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual
or allergic reaction to colesevelam. Also, tell your doctor and pharmacist
if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives,
or dyes.
Diet - Before prescribing medicine for your condition,
your doctor will probably try to control your condition by prescribing a personal
diet for you. Such a diet may be low in fats, sugars, and/or cholesterol.
Many people are able to control their condition by carefully following their
doctor's orders for proper diet and exercise. Medicine
is prescribed only when additional help is needed
and is effective
only when a schedule of diet and exercise is properly followed. Also, this medicine is less effective if you are greatly overweight. It
may be very important for you to go on a reducing diet. However, check with
your doctor before going on any diet.
Make certain your health care professional knows if you are on any special
diet, such as a low-sodium or low-sugar diet. Most medicines contain more
than their active ingredient.
Pregnancy - Colesevelam has not been studied in pregnant women.
However, colesevelam has not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems
in animal studies.
Breast-feeding - It is not known whether colesevelam passes into
breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts,
many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are taking
this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.
Children - Studies on this medicine have been done only in
adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of colesevelam
in children with use in other age groups.
Older adults - This medicine has not been shown to cause different
side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.
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. Tell your health care
professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter
[OTC]) medicine.
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of colesevelam. Make sure you tell your doctor
if you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
Bowel obstruction or
-
Difficulty swallowing or
-
Major gastrointestinal surgery (recent) or
-
Severe gastrointestinal motility disorders - Colesevelam may
make these conditions worse
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