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Colesevelam
Colesevelam is a drug commonly used to lower cholesterol. It has also been licensed to treat type 2 diabetes. The prescription medication comes in tablet form and is taken by mouth once or twice a day with meals. While most people tolerate the drug well, possible side effects can include heartburn, constipation, and nausea.
What Is Colesevelam?
Colesevelam hydrochloride (WelChol®) is a prescription medication used to lower cholesterol levels in the body. Lowering the amount of cholesterol and fats may help prevent conditions such as:
- Heart disease
- Angina (chest pain)
- Stroke
- Heart attack.
This medicine should be used in combination with diet and exercise. It has also been approved to help improve blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes.
As with any medicine, side effects are possible with colesevelam. However, not everyone who takes the drug will experience problems. Most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can be treated easily by you or your healthcare provider. Serious reactions are less common.
Common side effects of colesevelam include but are not limited to:
- Constipation
- Indigestion or heartburn
- Nausea.
(Click Side Effects of Colesevelam to learn more, including potentially serious side effects you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD