Cholestyramine, cholestipol, and colesevlam

Question 1

What are cholestyramine, cholestipol, and colesevlam?

Answer 1

• Bile-acid binding resins? prevent bile acid reabsorption at intestine🡪so liver uses cholesterol to make more bile acids
• Bile acids normally secreted in bile from gallbladder into duodenum and then they are reabsorbed in intestinal lumen (enterohepatic circulation of bile acids)
• Major effect: decrease LDL Minor effect: slight increase in trigycerides and VLDL secretion (bad); slight increase in HDL (*good)
• Risk of GI upset and decreased intestinal absorption of drugs and fat-soluble vitamins
• No increased risk of cholesterol gallstones