Colestipol (Oral)

Brand Names : Colestid

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 colestipol, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to colestipol. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any 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 a low-sodium, low-sugar, or any other special diet.

Pregnancy - Colestipol 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 - Colestipol is not absorbed into the body and is not likely to cause problems.

Children - There is no specific information comparing use of colestipol in children with use in other age groups. However, use is not recommended in children under 2 years of age since cholesterol is needed for normal development.

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 colestipol.

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 colestipol it is especially important that your health care professional knows if you are taking any of the following:

• Anticoagulants (blood thinners) - The effects of the anticoagulant may be altered

• Digitalis glycosides (heart medicine) or
• Diuretics (water pills) or
• Penicillin G, taken by mouth, or
• Propranolol, taken by mouth, or
• Tetracyclines (medicine for infection), taken by mouth, or
• Thyroid hormones or
• Vancomycin, taken by mouth - Colestipol may cause these medicines to be less effective; these medicines should be taken 4 to 5 hours apart from colestipol

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of colestipol. 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 - Colestipol may make these conditions worse

• Kidney disease - There is an increased risk of developing electrolyte problems

• Liver disease - Cholesterol levels may be raised