What is cholestyramine?

Cholestyramine for Oral Suspension, USP powder, the chloride salt of a basic anion exchange resin, a cholesterol lowering agent, is intended for oral administration. Cholestyramine resin is quite hydrophilic, but insoluble in water. Cholestyramine resin is not absorbed from the digestive tract. Each Nine grams of Cholestyramine for Oral Suspension, USP powder contain 4 grams of cholestyramine resin. It is represented by the following structural formula: Representation of structure of main polymeric groups Inactive ingredients: citric acid anhydrous, fructose, mono ammonium glycyrrhizinate, pectin, propylene glycol alginate, sorbitol, sucrose, xanthan gum, natural and artificial orange flavor, D&C yellow No. 10 aluminum lake, FD&C yellow No. 6 aluminum lake. structure-formula.jpg

What kind of drug is cholestyramine?

The FDA classifies cholestyramine as a bile acid sequestrant. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.

Can you take cholestyramine with other medicines?

It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run cholestyramine against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.

What brand names is cholestyramine sold under?

We track 3 cholestyramine-containing products in the U.S.: Cholestyramine, Cholestyramine Light and Questran Light. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.

What forms does cholestyramine come in?

Across the brands we track, cholestyramine is currently marketed as powder, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.

Is there a generic cholestyramine?

Yes. Our catalog lists 2 generic cholestyramine products alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.

Cholestyramine: uses, dosing, side effects & brands

Cholestyramine is a bile acid sequestrant sold in the U.S. under 3 brand and generic names. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.

By the pharmaranks editorial teamReviewed against the FDA (openFDA label, NDC Directory & Enforcement) sourcesHow we research

Key facts

Drug class: Bile Acid Sequestrant
Available as: Powder
Sold as: 3 products — Cholestyramine, Cholestyramine Light and Questran Light
Prescription?: Prescription only
Generic available?: Yes
Typical price: about $21 for a 30-count supply

How cholestyramine is dosed

From the FDA label for Cholestyramine (application ANDA074557). Other cholestyramine products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.

The recommended starting adult dose for Cholestyramine for Oral Suspension, USP powder is 1 pouch or 1 level scoopful (9 grams of Cholestyramine for Oral Suspension, USP powder contains 4 grams of anhydrous cholestyramine resin) once or twice a day. The recommended maintenance dose for Cholestyramine for Oral Suspension, USP powder is 2 to 4 pouches or scoopfuls daily (8 to 16 grams anhydrous cholestyramine resin) divided into two doses. It is recommended that increases in dose be gradual with periodic assessment of lipid/lipoprotein levels at intervals of not less than 4 weeks. The maximum recommended daily dose is 6 pouches or scoopfuls of Cholestyramine for Oral Suspension, USP powder (24 grams of anhydrous cholestyramine resin). The suggested time of administration is at mealtime but may be modified to avoid interference with absorption of other medications. Although the recommended dosing schedule is twice daily, Cholestyramine for Oral Suspension, USP powder may be administered in 1 to 6 doses per day. Cholestyramine for Oral Suspension, USP powder should not be taken in its dry form. Always mix the dry powder with water or other fluids before ingesting. See Preparation Instructions. Concomitant Therapy Preliminary evidence suggests that the lipid-lowering effects of cholestyramine on total and LDL-cholesterol are enhanced when combined with a HMG-COA reductase…

Cholestyramine side effects

The most common adverse reaction is constipation. When used as a cholesterol-lowering agent predisposing factors for most complaints of constipation are high dose and increased age (more than 60 years old). Most instances of constipation are mild, transient and controlled with conventional therapy. Some patients require a temporary decrease in dosage or discontinuation of therapy. Less Frequent Adverse Reactions - Abdominal discomfort and/or pain, flatulence, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, eructation, anorexia, steatorrhea, bleeding tendencies due to hypoprothrombinemia (Vitamin K deficiency) as well as Vitamin A (one case of night blindness reported) and D deficiencies, hyperchloremic acidosis in children, osteoporosis, rash and irritation of the skin, tongue and perianal area. Rare reports of intestinal obstruction, including two deaths, have been reported in pediatric patients. Occasional calcified material has been observed in the biliary tree, including calcification of the gallbladder, in patients to whom cholestyramine resin has been given. However, this may be a manifestation of the liver disease and not drug related. One patient experienced biliary colic on each of three occasions on which he took a cholestyramine for oral suspension product. One patient diagnosed as acute abdominal symptom complex was found to have a “pasty mass” in the transverse colon on x-ray. Other…

Every cholestyramine product we track (3)

Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.

Cholestyramine products
#	Drug	Rating	Type	Form	Generic?	Typical price
1	Cholestyramine	70/100	Prescription	Suspension	Generic	$21	View →
2	Cholestyramine Light	46/100	Prescription	Suspension	Generic

Frequently asked questions

What is cholestyramine?: Cholestyramine for Oral Suspension, USP powder, the chloride salt of a basic anion exchange resin, a cholesterol lowering agent, is intended for oral administration. Cholestyramine resin is quite hydrophilic, but insoluble in water. Cholestyramine resin is not absorbed from the digestive tract. Each Nine grams of Cholestyramine for Oral Suspension, USP powder contain 4 grams of cholestyramine resin. It is represented by the following structural formula: Representation of structure of main polymeric groups Inactive ingredients: citric acid anhydrous, fructose, mono ammonium glycyrrhizinate, pectin, propylene glycol alginate, sorbitol, sucrose, xanthan gum, natural and artificial orange flavor, D&C yellow No. 10 aluminum lake, FD&C yellow No. 6 aluminum lake. structure-formula.jpg
What kind of drug is cholestyramine?: The FDA classifies cholestyramine as a bile acid sequestrant. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
Can you take cholestyramine with other medicines?: It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run cholestyramine against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is cholestyramine sold under?: We track 3 cholestyramine-containing products in the U.S.: Cholestyramine, Cholestyramine Light and Questran Light. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does cholestyramine come in?: Across the brands we track, cholestyramine is currently marketed as powder, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.

Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.

Cholestyramine drug interactions

Cholestyramine resin may delay or reduce the absorption of concomitant oral medication such as phenylbutazone, warfarin, thiazide diuretics (acidic) or propranolol (basic), as well as tetracycline, penicillin G, phenobarbital, thyroid and thyroxine preparations, estrogens and progestins and digitalis. Interference with the absorption of oral phosphate supplements has been observed with another positivelycharged bile acid sequestrant. Cholestyramine resin may interfere with the pharmacokinetics of drugs that undergo enterohepatic circulation. The discontinuance of cholestyramine resin could pose a hazard to health if a potentially toxic drug such as digitalis has been titrated to a maintenance level while the patient was taking cholestyramine resin. Because cholestyramine binds bile acids, cholestyramine resin may interfere with normal fat digestion and absorption and thus may prevent absorption of fat soluble vitamins such as A, D, E and K. When cholestyramine resin is given for long periods of time, concomitant supplementation with water-miscible (or parenteral) forms of fat soluble vitamins should be considered. SINCE CHOLESTYRAMINE RESIN MAY BIND OTHER DRUGS GIVEN CONCURRENTLY, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT PATIENTS TAKE OTHER DRUGS AT LEAST 1 HOUR BEFORE OR 4 TO 6 HOURS AFTER CHOLESTYRAMINE RESIN (OR AT AS GREAT AN INTERVAL AS POSSIBLE) TO AVOID IMPEDING THEIR…