Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Colestipol

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Trade names
  
Colestid, Cholestabyl

MedlinePlus
  
a682157

AHFS/Drugs.com
  
Monograph

ATC code
  
C10AC02 (WHO)

Colestipol

Pregnancycategory
  
US: B (No risk in non-human studies)

Routes ofadministration
  
Oral (suspension or tablets)

Colestipol (trade names Colestid, Cholestabyl) is a bile acid sequestrant used to lower blood cholesterol, specifically low-density lipoprotein (LDL). It is also used to reduce stool volume and frequency, and in the treatment of chronic diarrhea.

Contents

Like cholestyramine, colestipol works in the gut by trapping bile acids and preventing them from being reabsorbed. This leads to decreased enterohepatic recirculation of bile acids, increased synthesis of new bile acids by the liver from cholesterol, decreased liver cholesterol, increased LDL receptor expression, and decreasing LDL in blood.

Side effects

The following notable side effects may occur:

  • gastrointestinal tract disturbances, especially (mild, occasionally severe) constipation
  • sometimes increase in VLDL and triglyceride synthesis
  • Interactions

    Colestipol can bind to a number of drugs and nutrients in the gut and inhibit or delay their absorption. Such substances include:

  • thiazide diuretics, furosemide
  • gemfibrozil
  • benzylpenicillin, tetracycline
  • digoxin
  • lipid-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K)
  • Contraindications

    Colestipol is contraindicated in hypertriglyceridemia (high level of triglycerides in the blood).

    Chemistry

    Colestipol is a copolymer of diethylenetriamine (DETA) —or tetraethylenepentamine according to some sources— and epichlorohydrin. The structure drawing (top right) shows the DETA moieties in blue and the epichlorohydrin moieties in red.

    References

    Colestipol Wikipedia


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