Colestipol

Last Reviewed: Nov 12, 2024

Warnings

Colestipol (Colestid) Risks, Warnings, and Complications

Colestipol can cause or worsen health problems in certain people. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other treatment options for high cholesterol if you are at increased risk of adverse reactions from this drug. Some of the risks of taking colestipol include:

VITAMIN ABSORPTION DURING PREGNANCY: Colestipol can interfere with normal fat absorption in the gut and lower the levels of folic acid and fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E, and K). Vitamin deficiencies can be especially harmful during pregnancy and are linked to a significantly increased risk of birth defects in the unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant, might be pregnant, or are planning a pregnancy soon. Also, tell your provider if you are breastfeeding while taking this medication.
RISK OF BLEEDING: Long-term use of colestipol can increase the risk of bleeding due to vitamin K deficiency. The risk is higher in people who are on certain medications, such as blood thinners.
Tell your doctor immediately if you develop any bleeding problems, such as unexplained bruising, cuts taking a long time to stop bleeding, bleeding gums, nosebleeds, coughing up blood, blood in stool, black tarry stools, or blood in the urine. Seek emergency medical care if you have uncontrolled bleeding.
CONSTIPATION: Colestipol can affect normal gut motility and cause constipation. Drink plenty of fluids, add fiber to your diet, and get regular exercise while taking this medication to lower the risk of constipation. Talk to your doctor about taking a stool softener or laxative.
ABSORPTION OF OTHER MEDICATIONS: Colestipol works by binding bile acids in the gut. It can also affect the absorption of other medications. For this reason, you should take other medications at least 1 hour before or 4 hours after taking colestipol.
CHOKING HAZARD: Colestid Granules and Colestid Flavored Granules should not be swallowed in dry form. This can lead to difficulty swallowing or choking. Make sure you mix the granules with at least 90 mL of liquid before ingesting them.
PHENYLKETONURIA (PKU): Colestid Flavored Granules contain phenylalanine and are not safe for people with a rare disorder called phenylketonuria (PKU).

Precautions Before Starting Colestipol (Colestid)

Tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to colestipol, any of the active or inactive ingredients in colestipol formulations, other cholesterol-lowering drugs, or any other medications. Your pharmacy can give you a list of ingredients.

Give your doctor and pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbal products. This can help avoid possible interactions between your medications.

Give your doctor a complete medical history. Colestipol may not be safe for people with certain medical conditions such as bleeding disorders, hemorrhoids, intestinal diseases, recent abdominal surgery, hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), or heart disease. Taking colestipol is contraindicated during drug therapy with mycophenolic acid because it reduces mycophenolic acid exposure.

Precautions During Use of Colestipol (Colestid)

Keep all your medical and lab appointments while on colestipol. Your doctor will order blood tests to check serum cholesterol levels periodically and adjust your colestipol dose based on the results. They will also examine dietary compliance while you are taking this medication.

Eat a low-cholesterol, low-fat diet while on colestipol. Intensive dietary therapy can help you get the best results from this medication with multiple risk factor interventions.

Tell all your healthcare providers you are on colestipol, including before dental treatments.

Call your doctor if you become pregnant while taking this medication.

Colestipol (Colestid) Drug Interactions

Certain other drugs can affect how colestipol works. Possible interactions between colestipol and other medicines can increase the risk of severe side effects. Your doctor may change your dose, switch you to a different medication, or monitor you closely for adverse effects if there are known interactions between colestipol and your other medications. Some of the medicines that can interact with colestipol include:

Medications used to treat heart rhythm abnormalities, such as amiodarone (Pacerone)
Certain antibiotics
Blood thinners (anticoagulants) such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)
Heart medications such as digitoxin and digoxin (Lanoxin)
Water pills (diuretics)
Anti-diarrheal medications such as loperamide (Imodium)
Oral diabetes medications
Thyroid medications
Medications prescribed to transplant patients, such as mycophenolate (Cellcept)
Anti-seizure drugs such as phenobarbital
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as phenylbutazone
Beta-blockers such as propranolol (Inderal, Innopran)
Iron supplements

The above list does not include all the possible interactions of colestipol. Give your healthcare professional a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies. Also, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use recreational drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with prescription medications.

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