Questran and Pregnancy: An Overview
Questran® (
cholestyramine) is considered a pregnancy Category C medicine by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which means that it has not been studied in pregnant women. However, when studied in pregnant animals, Questran could potentially cause harm to the unborn child. It is important to note that animals do not always respond to medicines the same way that humans do.
Also, with respect to Questran, although it is not absorbed into the body, it does affect the absorption of certain types of vitamins, which can possibly affect the fetus. In pregnant women taking Questran, regular
prenatal vitamins may not be adequate.
Questran and Pregnancy Category C
The FDA uses a category system to classify the possible risks to a fetus when a specific medicine is taken during pregnancy. Pregnancy Category C is given to medicines that show side effects to the fetus in animal studies but no human studies in pregnant women have been conducted. A pregnancy C Category medicine may still be given to pregnant women if the healthcare provider believes that the benefits to the mother outweigh the possible risks to the unborn child.
If you are pregnant or are thinking of becoming pregnant while taking Questran, let your healthcare provider know. He or she will consider both the benefits and risks of Questran during pregnancy before making a recommendation for your particular situation.
