User:Mr. Ibrahem/Colestyramine

Colestyramine, sold under the brand name Questran among others, is a medication used to treat biliary obstruction, liver disease, high lipids, and certain types of chronic diarrhea. For high lipids it is a second line treatment to statins. In biliary obstruction it is used to improve itching. It is taken by mouth.

Side effects may include abdominal discomfort, heart burn, nausea, excessive intestinal gas, and constipation. Other side effects may include fat soluble vitamin deficiency, osteoporosis, and hyperchloremic acidosis. Safety in pregnancy is unclear. It is a bile acid sequestrant, which binds bile in the gastrointestinal tract to prevent its reabsorption. Low bile acid results in the liver producing less cholesterol.

Cholestyramine was approved for medical use in the United States in 1973. It is available as a generic medication. In the United Kingdom 50 doses of 4 grams costs the NHS about £11 as of 2021. In the United States this amount costs about 20 USD.