Colestipol

Administration

• Type: Bile Acid Binder
• Dosage Forms: 1 g tab; 5 g/scoop granules; 5 g granule packet
• Routes of Administration: Oral
• Common Trade Names: N/A

Adult Dosing

• Digoxin toxicity, adjunct tx
  • Granules: 5 g PO q6-8h
    • Start: 10 g PO x1 within 1-3h after last oral digoxin ingestion
    • Max: 30 g/day
• Gallbladder surgery-associated diarrhea, adjunct tx
  • Tabs: 2-16 g/day PO divided qd-qid
    • Start: 2 g PO qd-bid
    • Max: 16 g/day.
    • Do not crush/cut/chew
  • Granules:5-30 g/day PO divided qd-qid
    • Start: 5 g PO qd-bid
    • Max: 30 g/day
• Hypercholesterolemia
  • Tabs: 2-16 g/day PO divided qd-qid
    • Start: 2 g PO qd-bid
    • Max: 16 g/day.
    • Do not crush/cut/chew
  • Granules:5-30 g/day PO divided qd-qid
    • Start: 5 g PO qd-bid
    • Max: 30 g/day
• Pruritus secondary to biliary obstruction
  • Tabs: 2-16 g/day PO divided qd-qid
    • Start: 2 g PO qd-bid
    • Max: 16 g/day.
    • Do not crush/cut/chew
  • Granules:5-30 g/day PO divided qd-qid
    • Start: 5 g PO qd-bid
    • Max: 30 g/day

Pediatric Dosing

Pediatric dosing currently unavailable.

Special Populations

• Pregnancy Rating: C; Inadequate data to assess risk
• Lactation risk: L3; Safety unknown

Renal Dosing

• Adult: No adjustment
• Pediatric: N/A

Hepatic Dosing

• Adult: Not defined.
• Pediatric: N/A

Contraindications

• Allergy to class/drug
• Caution if constipation
• Caution if prolonged use

Adverse Reactions

Serious

• Fecal impaction
• PUD
• Cholecystitis
• Cholelithiasis
• Esophageal obstruction

Common

• Constipation
• Abdominal pain
• Abdominal cramps
• Abdominal distention
• Flatulence
• Dyspepsia
• Loose stool/Diarrhea
• Nausea/Vomiting
• ALT, AST elevation
• Alk Phos. elevation
• Bleeding hemorrhoids

Pharmacology

• Half-life: Unknown
• Metabolism: N/A
• Excretion: Feces

Mechanism of Action

Binds intestinal bile acids for excretion.

See Also

Digoxin toxicity

References

Authors

Jonathan Warren