How Long Does Cholestyramine Powder For Diarrhea Last On The Shelf?

Cholestyramine is a bile acid sequestrant approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating hypercholesterolemia and pruritus caused by cholestasis. It is recommended to take 4 to 16 grams of cholestyramine per day, divided into three doses, before each meal. While taking CSM can cause constipation, bloating, or bowel discomfort, many CIRS patients experience diarrhea or soft stools, and CSM can provide a welcome benefit.

If there are GI side effects, supplementing with high-dose cholestyramine may be beneficial. A doctor has provided one answer for those taking cholestyramine powder daily for almost 14 years now for collagenous colitis. However, if a dose is missed, severe cramps and watery diarrhea may occur. Common side effects include mild constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain, nausea, and loss.

The recommended maintenance dose for Prevalite® (cholestyramine for oral suspension, USP) powder is 2 to 4 packets or scoopfuls daily (8 to 16 grams anhydrous cholestyramine resin) divided into two doses. Questran Light, a Canadian brand name, is used to lower high cholesterol levels in the blood and may help prevent exudative or bloody diarrhea.

Cholestyramine typically comes in powder form and is taken before meals or bedtime. Side effects include constipation, gas, and stomach upset. It is used for lowering plasma cholesterol, pruritis associated with elevated bile acids, and chronic diarrhea associated with Crohn’s disease, ileal.

Store the dry powder at room temperature between 68°F and 77°F (20°C and 25°C), away from high temperatures. Mix the dose with the liquid a day and dispose of any unused medication after the expiration date.

Does cholestyramine powder expire?

Store at room temperature between 20 and 25 degrees C (68 and 77 degrees F). Get rid of any unused medication after the expiration date.

To get rid of mediations that are no longer needed or have expired:

• Take the medication to a medication take-back program. Check with your pharmacy or law enforcement to find a location.
• If you cannot return the medication, check the label or package insert to see if the medication should be thrown out in the garbage or flushed down the toilet. If you are not sure, ask your care team. If it is safe to put it in the trash, take the medication out of the container. Mix the medication with cat litter, dirt, coffee grounds, or other unwanted substance. Seal the mixture in the bag or container. Put it in the trash.

What is the half life of cholestyramine?

ColestyramineClinical dataElimination half-life1 hourExcretionFaecalIdentifiersCAS Number11041-12-6.

Colestyramine ( INN ) or cholestyramine ( USAN ) (trade names Questran, Questran Light, Cholybar, Olestyr ) is a bile acid sequestrant, which binds bile in the gastrointestinal tract to prevent its reabsorption. It is a strong ion exchange resin, which means it can exchange its chloride anions with anionic bile acids in the gastrointestinal tract and bind them strongly in the resin matrix. The functional group of the anion exchange resin is a quaternary ammonium group attached to an inert styrene – divinylbenzene copolymer.

Colestyramine removes bile acids from the body by forming insoluble complexes with bile acids in the intestine, which are then excreted in the feces. As a result of this loss of bile acids, more plasma cholesterol is converted to bile acids in the liver to normalise levels. This conversion of cholesterol into bile acids lowers plasma cholesterol levels.

Bile acid sequestrants such as colestyramine were first used to treat hypercholesterolemia, but since the introduction of statins, now have only a minor role for this indication. They can also be used to treat the pruritus, or itching, that often occurs during liver failure and other types of cholestasis where the ability to eliminate bile acids is reduced. ( citation needed )

How long can you use medicine after the expiration date?

Once the expiration date has passed there is no guarantee that the medicine will be safe and effective. If your medicine has expired, do not use it.

How much is 1 scoop of cholestyramine?

The recommended starting adult dose for Cholestyramine for Oral Suspension, USP powder is 1 pouch or 1 level scoopful (9 grams of Cholestyramine for Oral Suspension, USP powder contains 4 grams of anhydrous cholestyramine resin) once or twice a day. The recommended maintenance dose for Cholestyramine for Oral Suspension, USP powder is 2 to 4 pouches or scoopfuls daily (8 to 16 grams anhydrous cholestyramine resin) divided into two doses. It is recommended that increases in dose be gradual with periodic assessment of lipid/lipoprotein levels at intervals of not less than 4 weeks. The maximum recommended daily dose is 6 pouches or scoopfuls of Cholestyramine for Oral Suspension, USP powder (24 grams of anhydrous cholestyramine resin). The suggested time of administration is at mealtime but may be modified to avoid interference with absorption of other medications. Although the recommended dosing schedule is twice daily, Cholestyramine for Oral Suspension, USP powder may be administered in 1 to 6 doses per day.

Cholestyramine for Oral Suspension, USP powder should not be taken in its dry form. Always mix the dry powder with water or other fluids before ingesting. See Preparation Instructions.

Concomitant Therapy. Preliminary evidence suggests that the lipid-lowering effects of cholestyramine on total and LDL-cholesterol are enhanced when combined with a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, e. g., pravastatin, lovastatin, simvastatin and fluvastatin. Additive effects on LDL-cholesterol are also seen with combined nicotinic acid/cholestyramine therapy. See PRECAUTIONS, Drug Interactions for recommendations on administering concomitant therapy.

Is cholestyramine for life?

Cholestyramine is used for long-term treatment. It comes with risks if you don’t take it as prescribed.

If you stop taking the drug or don’t take it at all: If you don’t take this drug, your cholesterol may not improve. This could increase your risk of heart attack or stroke. If you take this drug for itching due to partial bile obstruction, your itching may not get better.

If you miss doses or don’t take the drug on schedule: Your medication may not work as well or may stop working completely. If this drug doesn’t work as well, your cholesterol or itching may not improve.

If you take too much: This drug doesn’t get taken up into your body, so taking too much likely won’t cause major problems. Taking too much may cause worse constipation or your digestive tract may become blocked. Call your doctor right away if you think you’ve taken too much of this drug.

Is cholestyramine hard on the liver?

Mechanism of Injury. The mechanism by which cholestyramine causes serum aminotransferase elevations is not known. Because cholestyramine is not absorbed, it is surprising that it might cause liver injury, even mild and asymptomatic serum enzyme elevations. There is also little evidence that the contraction of the bile acid pool caused by its use harms the liver. Because cholestyramine can interfere with the absorption of other medications or vitamins, it may affect the levels of medications used for liver disease. These effects are particularly important for vitamins A, D, E, K, hormones such as estrogens, corticosteroids, and thyroid hormone, and medications such as thiazide diuretics, acetaminophen and digoxin.

References on the safety and hepatotoxicity of cholestyramine are given with those for colesevelam and colestipol in the Overview section on Bile Acid Resins/Sequestrants.

Drug Class: Antilipemic Agents, Bile Acid Resins/Sequestrants.

Can cholestyramine cause liver damage?

Mechanism of Injury. The mechanism by which cholestyramine causes serum aminotransferase elevations is not known. Because cholestyramine is not absorbed, it is surprising that it might cause liver injury, even mild and asymptomatic serum enzyme elevations. There is also little evidence that the contraction of the bile acid pool caused by its use harms the liver. Because cholestyramine can interfere with the absorption of other medications or vitamins, it may affect the levels of medications used for liver disease. These effects are particularly important for vitamins A, D, E, K, hormones such as estrogens, corticosteroids, and thyroid hormone, and medications such as thiazide diuretics, acetaminophen and digoxin.

References on the safety and hepatotoxicity of cholestyramine are given with those for colesevelam and colestipol in the Overview section on Bile Acid Resins/Sequestrants.

Drug Class: Antilipemic Agents, Bile Acid Resins/Sequestrants.

When is the best time to take cholestyramine powder?

Cholestyramine comes in a chewable bar and in a powder that must be mixed with fluids or food. It usually is taken two to four times a day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take cholestyramine exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Take this medication before a meal and/or at bedtime, and try to take any other medications at least 1 hour before or 4 hours after you take cholestyramine because cholestyramine can interfere with their absorption.

Continue to take cholestyramine even if you feel well. Do not stop taking cholestyramine without talking to your doctor. This precaution is especially important if you also take other drugs; changing your cholestyramine dose may change their effects.

• Do not take the powder alone. To take the powder, follow these steps:. Stir the powder into a glass of water, milk, heavy or pulpy fruit juices such as orange juice, or other beverage. If you use a carbonated beverage, mix the powder slowly in a large glass to avoid excessive foaming.
• Drink the mixture slowly.
• Rinse the drinking glass with more of the beverage and drink it to be sure that you get all of the powder.

How much water do you add to cholestyramine powder?

Take this medication by mouth as directed by your doctor, usually 1 to 2 times a day. This medication comes as a powder with doses measured by the scoopful (using the provided scoop) or in individual dose packets. Do not take your dose in the dry powder form. Mix the medication in at least 2 to 6 ounces (60 to 180 milliliters) of liquid (such as water, milk, fruit juice), stir completely, and drink right away. Rinse your glass with more liquid and drink the rinse liquid to be sure that you have taken the entire dose. You may also mix this medication with watery soups, applesauce, or a pulpy fruit which has a lot of juice (such as crushed pineapple, peaches).

Do not hold the mixture in your mouth for long since doing so can damage your teeth. Practice good dental habits (such as brushing and flossing your teeth regularly).

The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. To reduce your risk of side effects, your doctor may direct you to start this medication at a low dose and gradually increase your dose. Follow your doctor’s instructions carefully. It may take several weeks before you get the full benefit of this drug.

Is cholestyramine powder used for diarrhea?

Continuing Education Activity. Cholestyramine is used for the treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia. The reduction in LDL cholesterol by the resin is dose-dependent. A dose of 8 to 12 grams of cholestyramine is associated with a 12% to 18% reduction in LDL cholesterol. It also reduces the risk of coronary artery disease. Cholestyramine can be used in patients with bile-acid diarrhea or choleretic enteropathy due to limited ileal disease or resection. This activity reviews the mechanism of action, adverse event profile, toxicity, dosing, pharmacodynamics, and monitoring of cholestyramine that is pertinent information for interprofessional team members when lipid-lowering therapy is indicated.

Identify the mechanism of action of cholestyramine.

Outline the approved and potential indications of cholestyramine.

How long does it take cholestyramine to stop diarrhea?

The response in all patients occurred within two days of the start of treatment. Cholestyramine is considered to act by abolishing bile acid-induced secretion of water and electrolytes in the colon.