Reducing high cholesterol levels. It is used along with diet and exercise. It may be used alone or with other medicines. It is also used along with diet and exercise to control blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes. It should not be used to treat type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. Welchol is a bile acid sequestrant. It works in the bowel to help remove bile acids from the body. The body then uses cholesterol to make more bile acids, which causes blood cholesterol levels to decrease. Exactly how Welchol works to treat type 2 diabetes is not known.
Important safety information:
Follow the diet and exercise program given to you by your health care provider.
It may take several weeks for Welchol to begin working. Do NOT take more than the recommended dose or use for longer than prescribed without checking with your doctor.
Welchol may cause constipation. To prevent constipation, it is important to maintain a diet adequate in fiber, drink plenty of water, and exercise. If Welchol causes constipation, check with your doctor or pharmacist for ways to lessen this effect.
Welchol may decrease the absorption of certain other medicines into your body. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to see how you should take your other medicines with Welchol.
Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Welchol before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
Diabetes patients - Carry an ID card at all times that says you have diabetes. Check your blood sugar levels as directed by your doctor. If they are often higher or lower than they should be and you take Welchol exactly as prescribed, tell your doctor.
Diabetes patients - Welchol may lower your blood sugar levels. Low blood sugar may make you anxious, sweaty, weak, dizzy, drowsy, or faint. It may also make your heart beat faster; make your vision change; give you a headache, chills, or tremors; or make you more hungry. It is a good idea to carry a reliable source of glucose (eg, tablets or gel) to treat low blood sugar. If this is not available, you should eat or drink a quick source of sugar like table sugar, honey, candy, orange juice, or nondiet soda. This will raise your blood sugar level quickly. Tell your doctor right away if this happens. To prevent low blood sugar, eat meals at the same time each day and do not skip meals.
Lab tests, including cholesterol, triglyceride, and blood glucose levels, may be performed while you use Welchol. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
Welchol should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 10 years old or in girls who have not had their first menstrual period; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Welchol while you are pregnant. It is not known if Welchol is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Welchol, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.
advertisement
Welchol side effects
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Back pain; constipation; headache; indigestion; mild stomach pain; muscle aches or pain; nausea; sore throat; stomach upset; stuffy or runny nose; tiredness; weakness.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions ; choking; difficulty swallowing; severe or persistent constipation, diarrhea, or stomach pain; severe or persistent dizziness or headache; symptoms of pancreas inflammation (eg, severe stomach or back pain with or without nausea or vomiting, stomach tenderness or swelling); throat pain or irritation.
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.
Can Welchol be stopped immediately or do I have to stop the consumption gradually to ween off?
In some cases, it always advisable to stop the intake of some medicines gradually because of the rebound effect of the medicine.
It's wise to get in touch with your doctor as a professional advice is needed in this case regarding your health, medications and further recommendation to give you a stable health condition.
How should I take Welchol?
Use Welchol as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
Take Welchol by mouth with plenty of fluids and a meal.
If you also take birth control pills, cyclosporine, glimepiride, glipizide, glyburide, hydantoins, olmesartan, thyroid hormones (eg, levothyroxine), or vitamins, take them at least 4 hours before you take Welchol.
Continue to take Welchol even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses.
If you miss a dose of Welchol, take it with a liquid at your next meal. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Welchol.
Who should not take Welchol?
Some medical conditions may interact with Welchol. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
if you have trouble swallowing, esophagus problems (eg, inflammation, narrowing), hemorrhoids, low levels of certain vitamins (A, D, E, or K), or nutrient absorption problems
if you have a history of high triglyceride levels, pancreatitis, or stomach or bowel problems
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Welchol. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
Insulin or sulfonylureas (eg, glipizide) because the risk of high triglyceride levels may be increased
Metformin because the risk of its side effects may be increased by Welchol
Cyclosporine, hydantoins (eg, phenytoin), thyroid hormones (eg, levothyroxine), or warfarin because their effectiveness may be decreased by Welchol
Ask your health care provider if Welchol may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
Can Welchol be taken or consumed while pregnant?
Please visit your doctor for a recommendation as such case requires special attention.
Can Welchol be taken for nursing mothers or during breastfeeding?
Kindly explain your state and condition to your doctor and seek medical advice from an expert.
advertisement
Reviews
Following the study conducted by gmedication.com on Welchol, the result is highlighted below. However, it must be clearly stated that the survey and result is based solely on the perception and impression of visitors and users of the website as well as consumers of Welchol. We, therefore, urge readers not to base their medical judgment strictly on the result of this study but on test/diagnosis duly conducted by a certified medical practitioners or physician.
Patient reports
Patient reported useful
No survey data has been collected yet
Patient reported side effects
No survey data has been collected yet
Patient reported price estimates
No survey data has been collected yet
Patient reported frequency of use
No survey data has been collected yet
One patient reported doses
What is the specific doses you have used? Welchol May come in various doses. In most cases, antibiotics, antihypertensive, pain killers and anti-diabetic drugs available in different doses. Your doctor may prescribe any of the doses based on the severity of the patient's condition. According to our reports, users of gmedication.com used the drugs in the following dosage percentage (Provide dosage percentage). Only a handful of drugs are made in a single or fixed dose. Regular health conditions like fever have similar doses. For instance [acetaminophen, 500mg] was used by the patients surveyed although it comes in different doses.
Patients
%
501mg-1g
1
100.0%
Patient reported time for results
No survey data has been collected yet
Patient reported administration
No survey data has been collected yet
Patient reported age
No survey data has been collected yet
Patient reviews
There are no reviews yet. Be the first to write one!