Welchol
(colesevelam)
Lowers cholesterol and helps lower blood sugars.
Our bottom line
Can be taken as a tablet or as a sprinkled packet that's mixed with water, juice, or diet soft drinks.|Welchol (colesevelam) may be a good option for people who have high cholesterol and diabetes.|Welchol (colesevelam) is another option for people that can't tolerate statin medications.|It's able to be used in children over the age of 10.
- Price before coupon$203.32
- Lowest price with coupon$27.5486% savings
- Drug class: Cardiovascular
- Rx status: Prescription only
- Generic status: No lower cost generic available
Upsides
- Can be taken as a tablet or a sprinkled packet that's mixed with water, juice, or diet soft drinks.
- Welchol (colesevelam) may be good for people with high cholesterol and diabetes since it can help with both conditions.
- Welchol (colesevelam) is a good option for people that can't tolerate statins.
What to expect from Welchol, on one page
Downsides
- Welchol (colesevelam) can make you feel really constipated.
- Welchol (colesevelam) doesn't lower cholesterol as well as other drugs.
- It interacts with many other medications by reducing their absorption in the body.
- Welchol (colesevelam) can increase the amount of triglycerides (fats) in some people, so your doctor may perform blood work to check your triglyceride levels.
- It's not recommended for use in children under 10 years of age.
What to expect from Welchol, on one page
Welchol (colesevelam) is a bile acid sequestrant that reduces the amount of cholesterol your body absorbs from food.
- Drug class: Cardiovascular
- Rx status: Prescription only
- Generic status: No lower cost generic available
Used for
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Hereditary high cholesterol (Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia)
Dosage forms
- Pill
- Powder
Prices and coupons
Skip prices section. Skip to what to expect section.- Pay as low as$54.89Retail priceRetail priceLearn more
- Get free coupon$27.54
- AlbertsonsGet free coupon$27.54
- Kroger PharmacyGet free coupon$30.32
What to expect when you take Welchol (colesevelam) for High cholesterol
Skip what to expect section. Skip to side effects section.- First few hoursHoursFirst few daysDaysFirst few weeksWeeksFirst few monthsMonths
- Effectiveness
- Starts to kick inFull effects
- First few hoursHoursFirst few daysDaysFirst few weeksWeeksFirst few monthsMonths
- Possible side effects
- Constipation
- Upset stomach
- Nausea
- Reduced vitamin absorption
It can take time for a drug to start working, or for some side effects to go away.
Source: FDA product label and Iodine pharmacistsSide effect rates for Welchol (colesevelam)
- Constipation7%7%2%2%
- Low blood sugar3%3%3%3%
- Indigestion3%3%1%1%
- Nausea3%3%2%2%
- High blood pressure3%3%2%2%
- Back pain2%2%1%1%
The placebo bar shows how common a side effect was for people taking a sugar pill instead of Welchol.
People taking Welchol felt side effect more
People taking Welchol felt side effect less
Risks and Warnings for Welchol (colesevelam)
Skip risks section. Skip to common concerns section.- Higher risk if:
- › Gastrointestinal tract surgery
- › Gastroparesis
- › Gastric motility disorders
Welchol (colesevelam) can lead to constipation, so in people with gastrointestinal issues (such as gastroparesis/GI motility disorders), this can lead to problems like bowel obstruction. Therefore, it's important that your doctor knows about these problems before they prescribe Welchol (colesevelam).
Pharmacist Q&A
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this drug for?
This medication treats hyperlipidemia (high lipid levels) in adults.Common concerns from people taking Welchol (colesevelam)
Final section. Do you want to return to drug navigation?Research studies with animals haven’t found a risk to unborn babies, but it hasn’t been properly studied in humans.
Tip: Always talk with your doctor before you take any medication while pregnant.- Many medications interact with Welchol (colesevelam), so check with your doctor or pharmacist which ones need to be taken at different times of the day.
- It interacts with many other medications by reducing their absorption in the body.