| name: | Bile Acid Binding Resins |
| also known as: | Bile Acid Sequestrants; Cholestyramine (Questran); Colestipol (Colestid); Antilipemic Agents |
| also see: | Coronary Artery Disease; Heart Attack; Angina; High Cholesterol; Hyperlipidemia; Atherosclerosis; Stroke; Fibric Acid Derivatives; HMG CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Niacin (Nicotinic Acid) |
| description: | The major fats or lipoproteins in the blood are: chylomicrons, high density lipoproteins (HDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL), intermediate density lipoproteins (IDL), very low density lipoproteins (VLDL). HDLs are good lipoproteins (good cholesterol), they remove fat from cells. LDLs are bad (bad cholesterol), they deposit fat into the cells. The ratio of HDL to LDL is more important then the actual amounts of each. A person suffering from hyperlipidemia and high cholesterol is at an increased risk of angina, coronary artery disease, heart attack and stroke. Options to lower the lipids and cholesterol include: diet, exercise, bile acid binding resins, fibric acid derivatives, HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, and niacin. Bile acid binding resins include cholestyramine (questran) and colestipol (colestid). The work by binding bile in the intestines preventing the bile from being reabsorbed further down the line. The liver responds to the loss of bile by using cholesterol to make more bile. Over time, this results in a decrease in serum cholesterol and in LDL (bad cholesterol). |
| signs & symptoms: | Side effects include intestinal bloating, constipation, and vitamin deficiency as dietary vitamins also bind to the resin. |
| treatment: | Usually given orally. Also see Rx colestipol (colestid) Also see Rx cholestyramine (questran) |
skynetMD suggests the following:
| if: | If you have questions, problems, or concerns regarding any medication |
| go to: | Go to the phone and ask your pharmacist or your doctor, or go to the doctor. |
Last updated 12/28/2009