Colestipol Suspension Treatment Report

Precautions

Instructions

Side Effects

Interactions

You should not take this medication if you are allergic to colestipol, or if you have a blockage in your intestines.

Before taking colestipol, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• trouble swallowing;
• constipation or hemorrhoids;
• a stomach, intestinal, or digestive disorder;
• liver disease;
• a thyroid disorder;
• a bleeding disorder;
• a history of major stomach or bowel surgery; or
• if you have a vitamin A, D, E, or K deficiency.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take colestipol.

This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Taking colestipol can make it harder for your body to absorb certain vitamins. These vitamins are important if you are nursing a baby. Do not take colestipol without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Some forms of this medication may contain phenylalanine. Talk to your doctor before using colestipol if you have phenylketonuria (PKU).

Avoid taking other medications at the same time you take colestipol. Taking colestipol can make it harder for your body to absorb certain drugs, making them less effective. Take your other medications at least 1 hour before or 4 hours after you take colestipol.

Avoid constipation by drinking 8 to 12 full glasses (8 ounces each) every day while taking this medication. Ask your doctor before using a laxative or stool softener.

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Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

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Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• trouble swallowing;
• severe constipation or stomach pain;
• black, bloody, or tarry stools; or
• easy bruising or bleeding, muscle or joint pain, loss of appetite.

Less serious side effects may include:

• mild or occasional constipation;
• gas, indigestion, heartburn;
• diarrhea; or
• hemorrhoids or rectal irritation.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

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Taking colestipol can make it harder for your body to absorb many other medications. Below is just a partial list of these medications. Tell your doctor if you are using:

• steroid drugs such as hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocortone);
• heart medication such as digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps), propranolol (Inderal), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril), chlorothiazide (Diuril);
• a diuretic (water pill) such as furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril), or chlorothiazide (Diuril);
• an antibiotic such as demeclocycline (Declomycin), doxycycline (Adoxa, Doryx, Oracea, Vibramycin), minocycline (Dynacin, Minocin, Solodyn, Vectrin), or tetracycline (Brodspec, Panmycin, Sumycin, Tetracap); or
• other cholesterol-lowering medications such as atorvastatin (Caduet, Lipitor), lovastatin (Altocor, Mevacor, Advicor), ezetimibe (Zetia, Vytorin), fenofibrate (Antara, Lipofen, Lofibra, TriCor, Triglide), gemfibrozil (Lopid), clofibrate (Atromid-S), nicotinic acid (niacin), or ursodiol (Actigall, Urso, Urso Forte).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with colestipol. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Colestid, Colestid Flavored, and colestipol

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