What Is The Drug Colestipol Used For?
As you all know that cholesterol is a type of fatty molecule found in the blood. When cholesterol exceeds its limit, it deposits various parts of your body and leads to several complications. High cholesterol is a chronic disease that occurs when your body develops fatty deposits in the blood vessels.
High-density lipoprotein, which is bad cholesterol, can build plaque in the arteries and leads to cardiovascular diseases. High cholesterol is manageable with the help of medicines and lifestyles.
When it comes to medications, you might have heard of colestipol. Do you know how to use Colestipol and its purpose in the body? The article deal with colestipol and the things you should know before it consumes. Read on to learn more about colestipol and its usage.
Contents
What is Colestipol?
Colestipol is a drug used to lower bad cholesterol, which is also known as LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol in the blood. The medicine is used along with you to decrease the number of fatty substances in the blood and prevent you from cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attack, stroke, atherosclerosis, etc. the medicine belongs to the category of bile acid sequestrants and used since the 1970s.
When it comes to the working mechanism of colestipol, it works by binding bile acids in the intestines to form a substance, and it helps to pass the lipids out of the body without being absorbed. You can buy this medicine from the local pharmacy with your doctor’s prescription.
How to use Colestipol?
Colestipol is available in the form of tablets or granules that is easy to swallow. People usually consume tablets twice a day, preferably in the morning and night. The tablet can swallow with a glass of water or any liquid. When it comes to granules, it is normally taken one to six times daily. Doctors also recommend mixing granules with a glass of water instead of chewing or crushing them. Consuming the granules dry could cause you to choke on them.
The tablet can be mixed with regular breakfast cereals, milk, thin soups, etc. The prescription label gives the correct dosage of colestipol tablets. The dosage depends on the medical condition and biological status of the individual. Overdosage of colestipol may cause side effects.
Usually, doctors recommend that people with other chronic conditions take their medications at least 1 hour before or 4 hours after taking colestipol. The medicine can interact with other medicines and may affect side effects.
It is preferred that taking colestipol at a low dosage gives desired results as fast as possible. Starting from low dosage doctors usually increase the dosage at one to two-month intervals. The medicine is recommended for people with allergies.
Things you should remember before you consider Colestipol
The most important thing you should remember before taking any medicine is to consult your doctor and know whether it is safe for your health or not. If you are allergic to any compound in the medicine, avoid it. Make a good chat with your doctor about all the medical history you have. It is not a harmful drug when you take it at a recommended dose.
However, to make sure colestipol is safe for you, you should talk with your doctor if you have any disorder such as thyroid, digestive disorder, or vitamin deficiency. Colestipol is a medicine that is formulated for adult usage only.
If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or breastfeeding yous should tell your doctor about the medicines that you take. People who take gemfibrozil should take them 2 hr before or 2 hours after consuming colestipol.
What are the side effects of Colestipol tablets?
Most of the medicines have mild to moderate level side effects. It is an unwanted response to the medication that you take. Here are the common side effects of colestipol tablets.
- Weakness
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Heartburn
- Fatigue
- Drowsiness
- Constipation
- Stomach pain
- Nausea
In some people, the side effects of the medicine become worse and turned into serious problems, such as
- Rapid heartbeat
- Difficulty in breathing
- Back pain
- Joint pain
- Chest pain
- Increasing heart rate
If you feel any of the side effects mentioned above should stop taking the medication and seek help from the healthcare provider.
Storage and disposal of Colestipol
You can keep the medicine at room temperature in the container it came in. The medicine can be used only for adults so it should keep from children. Most of the containers are not child-resistant and young children can easily open the containers.
Unneeded medications can be disposed of in several ways. Many people flush their unneeded medications in the toilet.
One of the best ways to dispose of colestipol is to return the medicine through a take-back program.
If you think the medicine is not useful for you, you can contact the local pharmacist or recycling department to learn about the take-back community and the disposal procedures.
