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. As body loses bile acids, it converts cholesterol from blood to bile acid, thus lowering serum cholesterol. It is primarily used to treat hypercholesterolemia, but can also used to treat the pruritus, or itching, that often occurs during liver failure due to the liver's inability to eliminate bile.

Available forms

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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).

Dosage

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4 to 8 grams once or twice daily, maximum dose 24 grams a day.

Hypolipidemic agents | Hepatology