Cholestyramine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cholestyramine (Questran®, Questran Light®, Cholybar®) is a bile acid sequestrant, which binds bile in the gastrointestinal tract to prevent its reabsorption. It increases removal of bile acids from body by forming insoluble complexes in intestine, which are then excreted in feces. When bile acids are excreted, plasma cholesterol is converted to bile acid to normalize bile acid levels. The conversion of cholesterol lowers plasma cholesterol concentrations. Bile acid sequestrants are primarily used to treat hypercholesterolemia, but can also be used to treat the pruritus, or itching, that often occurs during liver failure due to the liver's inability to eliminate bile.
[edit] Available forms
Cholestyramine is available as powder form, in 4 gram packets. In the United States, it can be purchased either as a generic medicine, or as Questran® or Questran Light® (Bristol-Myers Squibb).
[edit] Dosage
4 to 8 grams once or twice daily, maximum dose 24 grams a day.
