Colestid (Colestipol)

Colestid Information

Colestid is a cholesterol and fat lowering drug. Its generic name is Colestipol.

Colestid Indications

Colestid is recommended for patients with high levels of cholesterol in the blood. It is good at lowering (LDL) Low-Density Lipoprotein (bad cholesterol) and can also lower levels of triglycerides – a type of fat in the body.

Colestid Warnings

Colestid should not be taken unless you have consulted your doctor if you have any of the following medical conditions:

underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism)
diabetes
Kidney disease
liver disease
suffering from constipation or Hemorrhoids

Do not take in this medicine if you have complete blockage of your billiary or gastrointestinal (stomach) tract. You may not be able to take Colestid if you have the problems listed above or may be prescribed special monitoring/dosage adjustment while undergoing the treatment.

Colestid Flavored brand of Colestipol granules contain phenylalanine. If you have phenylketonuria, inform your doctor in advance before taking Colestid.

It has not been established yet if Colestid can harm pregnant women but it is still best that you inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.

Breast-feeding women should not take Colestid without first consulting a doctor. Colestid tends to decrease the absorption of vitamins in infants.

Colestid Intake Guidelines

Colestid should be taken exactly how the doctor has prescribed. If instructions are unclear, ask your nurse/pharmacist/doctor.

Each dose of Colestid should be taken with a full glass of water (8 ounces).

The tablet should not be crushed, chewed or broken. It should be swallowed whole.

The granules of the tablet can be mixed with beverage/soup/cereal/pulpy fruit (i.e. applesauce/crushed pineapple.) The mixture should be stirred well for the granules are not easily dissolved. It should be taken in right away with a small amount of fluid to follow it up to be sure that there are no medicines left inside.

A diet should be followed or exercise plan outlined by your doctor after you undergo the treatment. These are very important factors in controlling cholesterol.

Fluid intake should be increased to prevent constipation. The ideal water intake is around six to eight glasses of water (8 ounces) daily. Call your doctor if constipation occurs.

Colestid is taken once or twice a day, depending on your doctor’s instruction.

If you are taking in another medication, wait at least one hour before or 4 hours after taking Colestipol. Colestipol can tend to decrease the effectiveness of other drugs if they are taken consecutively without time intervals.

Colestid should be stored at room temperature away from heat and moisture.

Colestid Dosage

The effective dosage of Colestid can only be determined by your doctor. Stick with your doctor’s instructions regarding the dosage.

Colestid Overdose

Symptoms of Colestid Overdose include:

Abdominal pain
Constipation
Flatulence
Intestinal Blockage.

If overdose is suspected and if any of the symptoms mentioned above is present, seek medical attention immediately.

Colestid Missed Dose

If your regular dosage has been missed, take it as soon as you remember. However, if the next scheduled dosage is almost time, skip the missed dosage and continue with the next one. Do not double dose this medication unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

Colestid Side Effects

Serious Side Effects of Colestid include:

Allergic Reaction (i.e. Difficulty in breathing; Closing of throat; Swelling of lips, tongue, face; Hives)
Increased heart rate/chest pain
Black/bloody/tarry stools
Unusual bleeding/bruising

Other Less Serious Side Effect of taking Colestid include:

Constipation
Abdominal pain, cramps, bloating, flatulence
Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea/indigestion/heartburn/decreased appetite
Hiccups/sour taste in your mouth
headache; Dizziness/Drowsiness

Other side effects aside from the ones listed above may also be likely to occur. If you experience anything out of the ordinary while taking Colestid, talk to your doctor immediately.

Colestid Drug Reactions

Colestid tend to decrease other drugs effectiveness. Drugs other than Colestid should be taken one hour before or four hours later. Here are the drugs that have decreased effects when taken with Colestid:

pain, fever, and inflammation drugs( Aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), Indomethacin (Indocin), Ketoprofen (Orudis, Orudis KT, Oruvail), Naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprosyn))
Antibiotics (i.e. Penicillins (Amoxil, Augmentin, Pen VK, Veetids), Tetracyclines (Sumycin, Achromycin, Minocin, Doryx, Doxy, Vibramycin), Clindamycin (Cleocin))
Heart medicines (i.e. Digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps), Propranolol (Inderal), Methyldopa (Aldomet), Furosemide (Lasix), Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril), Chlorothiazide (Diuril), Metolazone (Mykrox, Zaroxolyn), Indapamide (Lozol))
Diabetes medications (i.e. glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase))
Anticoagulants (blood thinners) (i.e. Warfarin (Coumadin))
Other cholesterol treatments (i.e. Gemfibrozil (Lopid), Clofibrate (Atromid-S); Nicotinic Acid (Niacin))
Thyroid hormones (i.e. Levothyroxine (Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid))
Medicines used to treat depression (i.e. Imipramine (Tofranil)
Gallstone medications (i.e. Ursodiol (Actigall)
Seizure medicines (i.e. Phenytoin (Dilantin))
Fat-soluble Vitamins (i.e. Vitamins A, D, E, and K)
Steroid drugs (i.e. hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocortone)).