The bile acid sequestrants are a group of medications used for binding certain components of bile in the gastrointestinal tract. They are used for the treatment of hypercholesterolaemia and dyslipdaemia, and for the prevention of pruritus (itch) in patients with chronic liver disease or diarrhea.

Two drugs are members of this class; both are synthetic resins:

• Cholestyramine (Questran®)
• Colestipol (Colestid®)

Use of these agents has decreased markedly since the introduction of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors or statins. They are occasionally used as an adjunct to the statins; this is because the fibrates (another major group of cholesterol-lowering drugs) are thought to increase the risk of rhabdomyolysis when used with statins, and so this otherwise expectable combination is frequently avoided.

Hypolipidemic agents | Hepatology

Sequestrador de ácidos biliares | ไบล์แอซิดซีเควสแตนต์