Questran

 
Generic Name: cholestyramine

Brands: Cholestyramine Light, Locholest, Locholest Light, Prevalite, Questran, Questran Light

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What is the most important information I should know about Questran?

· Follow any diet or exercise plan outlined by your doctor. Diet and exercise are very important factors in controlling cholesterol.

· Avoid ingesting or breathing in the dry powder. Taken dry, the powder can cause a severe adverse reaction.

· Increase the amount of fluid in your diet to prevent constipation. Drink at least six to eight full glasses (8 ounces) of fluid daily. Talk to your doctor if constipation becomes a problem.

· Take other medications at least 1 hour before or 4 to 6 hours after taking a dose of Questran. Questran can decrease the effectiveness of many other drugs if they are taken too close to one another.

 

What is Questran?

· Questran is a drug that lowers cholesterol (a type of fat).

· Questran is used to lower high levels of cholesterol in the blood. Questran is especially good at lowering levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) ("bad" cholesterol). A rise in triglycerides (another type of fat) may occur.

· Lowering high cholesterol levels is an important part of preventing heart disease and arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).

· Questran has also been used to treat the itching that is associated with a blockage of the biliary tract.

· Questran may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

 

Who should not take Questran?

· Do not take Questran if you have a complete blockage of your biliary or gastrointestinal (stomach) tract.

· Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you     ·have an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism),     ·have diabetes,     ·have kidney disease,     ·have liver disease, or     ·suffer from constipation or hemorrhoids.

· You may not be able to take Questran, or you may require a lower dose or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

· Before taking any "light" formulation of Questran (Questran Light, Prevalite, Locholest Light, Questran Light), tell your doctor if you have phenylketonuria. These products contain phenylalanine.

· Questran is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether Questran will harm an unborn baby. Since the medication is not absorbed through the stomach, it is not believed to be dangerous during pregnancy. Do not take Questran without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.

· Questran decreases the absorption of certain vitamins. This could become a problem during breast-feeding. Do not take Questran without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

 

How should I take Questran?

· Take Questran exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

· Mix the powder with a noncarbonated beverage, soup, cereal, or pulpy fruit such as applesauce or crushed pineapple.

· Questran may be taken one to six times a day. It is usually taken before a meal. Follow your doctor's instructions.

· Avoid ingesting or breathing in the dry powder. Consuming the dry powder could cause a severe adverse reaction.

· Increase the amount of fluid in your diet to prevent constipation. Drink at least six to eight full glasses (8 ounces) of fluid daily.

· Take other medications at least 1 hour before or 4 to 6 hours after taking a dose of Questran. Questran can decrease the effectiveness of many other drugs.

· Store Questran at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

 

What happens if I miss a dose?

· Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take only your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

 

What happens if I overdose?

· Seek emergency medical attention.

· Symptoms of a Questran overdose are unknown, but an intestinal blockage leading to abdominal pain might be expected.

 

What should I avoid while taking Questran?

· Avoid ingesting or breathing in the dry powder. Doing so could cause a severe adverse reaction.

· Take other medications at least 1 hour before or 4 to 6 hours after taking a dose of Questran. Questran can decrease the effectiveness of many other drugs.

 

What are the possible side effects of Questran?

· If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking Questran and seek emergency medical attention:     ·an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);     ·an increased heart rate or chest pain;     ·black, bloody, or tarry stools; or     ·unusual bleeding or bruising.

· Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take Questran and talk to your doctor if you experience     ·constipation;     ·abdominal pain, cramps, bloating, or flatulence;     ·nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, indigestion, heartburn, or decreased appetite;     ·hiccups or a sour taste in your mouth;     ·headache; or     ·dizziness or drowsiness.

· Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

 

What other drugs will affect Questran?

· The absorption of many drugs may be decreased when they are taken with Questran. Take all other medications at least 1 hour before or 4 to 6 hours after taking a dose of Questran. The following list includes some, but not all, of the drugs that may have decreased effects when taken with Questran:     ·pain, fever, and inflammation reducers such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis, Orudis KT, Oruvail), naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprosyn), and others;     ·antibiotics such as penicillins (Amoxil, Augmentin, Pen VK, Veetids, others), tetracyclines (Sumycin, Achromycin, Minocin, Doryx, Doxy, Vibramycin, others), and clindamycin (Cleocin);     ·heart medicines such as digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps), propranolol (Inderal), methyldopa (Aldomet), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril), chlorothiazide (Diuril), metolazone (Mykrox, Zaroxolyn), indapamide (Lozol), and others;     ·diabetes medications such as glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others;     ·anticoagulants (blood thinners) such as warfarin (Coumadin);     ·other cholesterol treatments such as gemfibrozil (Lopid), clofibrate (Atromid-S), and nicotinic acid (niacin);     ·thyroid hormones such as levothyroxine (Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid);     ·medicines used to treat depression, such as imipramine (Tofranil);     ·gallstone medications such as ursodiol (Actigall);     ·seizure medicines such as phenytoin (Dilantin) and phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton);     ·estrogen and progesterone hormones such as Premarin, Premphase, Prempro, Estraderm, Ogen, Menest, Estratest, Estratab, Provera, and others;     ·fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamins A, D, E, and K (you may require vitamin supplements); and     ·steroid drugs such as hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocortone).

· Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Questran. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

 

Where can I get more information?

· Your pharmacist has more information about Questran written for health professionals that you may read.

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