Product Details

What you need to know before you take Colesevelam

Do not take Colesevelam: – if you are allergic to colesevelam or to any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6) – if you have a blockage in your intestines or bile ducts (tubes that carry bile) If you are prescribed Colesevelam and any other medicine together you must also read the patient information leaflet that comes with that particular medicine before you start to take your medicine. 2 Warnings and precautions Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Colesevelam – if your triglyceride levels (a blood fat) are greater than 3.4 mmol/L – if you have difficulty in swallowing, or have a major stomach or intestinal disorder – if you suffer from constipation, as Colesevelam may induce or worsen this condition. This is especially important for patients with coronary heart disease and angina pectoris. If you think any of these apply to you, you should inform your doctor or pharmacist before taking Colesevelam. Before starting therapy with Colesevelam, your physician should make sure that certain conditions do not contribute to your elevated cholesterol levels. These could include poorly controlled diabetes, untreated hypothyroidism (low levels of thyroid hormone for which no treatment is being given currently), proteins in urine (nephrotic syndrome), altered protein levels in the blood (dysproteinaemias), and blockage of the bile transport to your gall bladder (obstructive liver disease). Children and adolescents The safety and efficacy in children (below the age of 18 years) has not been studied. Therefore, Colesevelam is not recommended for use in this population. Other medicines and Colesevelam Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. If your doctor suspects that Colesevelam may have an effect on the absorption of the other medication, you may be advised to take Colesevelam at least 4 hours before or at least 4 hours after taking the other medication. If you need to take other medicines more than once a day, remember that your Colesevelam tablets can be taken once a day. Colesevelam may affect the way in which the following medicines work: • Anticoagulant therapy (medicines, such as warfarin, used to thin blood). If you are taking anticoagulant therapy you should consult with your physician to closely monitor anticoagulation levels, as Colesevelam may affect the absorption of vitamin K and therefore interfere with the activity of warfarin. • Thyroid replacement therapy (medicines, such as thyroxine or levothyroxine, used to treat low thyroid hormone levels) • Oral contraceptives (medicines to prevent pregnancy) It is important you take Colesevelam at least 4 hours after you take the oral contraceptive to ensure that the effectiveness of the contraceptive is not affected. • Verapamil or olmesartan (medicines used to treat high blood pressure). It is important that you take olmesartan at least 4 hours before you take Colesevelam. • Antidiabetic medications (medicines used to treat diabetes, such as metformin extended-release (ER) tablets, glimepiride, glipizide, pioglitazone, repaglinide or glyburide). If you are taking medicines for diabetes, you should consult with your physician so that you can be closely monitored. It is important that you take glimepiride and glipizide at least 4 hours before you take Colesevelam. • Anti-epileptic medicines (medicines, such as phenytoin, used to treat epilepsy). • Ciclosporin (a medicine used to suppress the immune system). • Ursodeoxycholic acid (a medicine used to dissolve gallstones or treat specific chronic liver diseases). If you are going to take Colesevelam and one of these medicines, your doctor may want to do tests to make sure that Colesevelam does not interfere with these medicines. Additionally, if you have any condition that could cause you to have a deficiency of vitamins A, D, E or K, your doctor may want to check your vitamin levels periodically while you are taking Colesevelam. If necessary, your doctor may advise you to take vitamin supplements. 3 Pregnancy and breast-feeding If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. If you are prescribed Colesevelam and a statin together it is important that you tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you are planning to become pregnant because statins must not be used during pregnancy; the patient information leaflet that comes with that particular statin should be consulted. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. Your doctor may stop your medicine. Driving and using machines Your ability to drive or operate machines is not affected by taking Colesevelam tablets.