Colestipol

[tex]

That sounds good. Thanks for the update.

Tex

[HockeyMom]

This has nothing to do with the current conversation here but as I started a thread about bile acid binder pills- I figured that I would update to say that my yearly visit to the Dr's in January-where I wanted to talk about doing a trial of Welchol-ended up with the PA shooting that down until I completely retire since I was so well controlled on cholestyramine!!! Oh well, I get it-

I'm still very interested in experiences on any type of bile acid binder PILLS! Again, it would make my life easier. I returned 2 weeks ago from an overseas vacation with friends...and the amount of cholestyramine packets (plus a little cushion in case things went bad travel wise) I had to CARRY ON with me was ridiculous! So for me, popping a pill/pills would just be logistically easier. And by logistically I also mean knowing that you will need to find a bathroom to PEE from that 12 ounces of cholestyramine drink in like an hour! And oh great...that hour will put us somewhere in Stockholm where I have NO idea where a public bathroom is!!! Ya, that kind of stuff.... logistics.

I'm also acutely aware than I'm probably the best "guinea pig" here in this group to experiment with different bile acid binders. I've been using it for years, I'm ok with experimenting on myself, I don't really get "constipated" (in the classical sense) with it and I'm stable weight wise/food wise. I have no issues with ramping this stuff up quickly. When I retire I will start experimenting on myself people!!! I'm also aware that my effective dosage of cholestyramine is WAY WAY higher than anyone else around here! When I pick up my 3 month prescription of it at Walgreens, I have to get one of the cheesy little shopping carts they have there to carry the BOX plus some more in a bag..back to the car. Ya, I'm a freak show. (Just did this yesterday-).

Anyway-keep on putting one foot in front of the other people..you are the CAVALRY and you most likely will need to save yourself! With the help of The Potty People of course!

Laine

[Cat Granny]

Hi Laine

When I decided to go to four pills a night, I said to myself "that lady on the boards takes 8 freakin' packets a day! I can do four pills".

And so far it seems to work pretty well.

I am curious - does one of your packets equal one tablet of colestipol (1 gram)?

The pills are big, and I have to psych myself up to take them. One night I got the third pill down, and I knew there was no way I was going to try a fourth. My throat felt like it was trying to push the third pill up! I walked around a bit, sipped water, and everything calmed down. Now I take more time with them and it helps. I think I was just rushing through it too much.

Nan

[HockeyMom]

Hey Nan-

Actually right now it's 9 packets a day split up to 4 1/2 packets am and pm! I have no idea why I swing from 8-9 packets...like I said-maybe just going on vacation with crazy stress/travel/time zone changes/foods, etc is enough to change things! I just go with the flow-

So you only take those 4 pills at night then? My packets say "each 9 g pouch contains: 4 gr cholestyramine resin, USP". So basically I'm taking (currently) 36 grams of cholestyramine powder a day broken into 18 gr am and 18 gr pm. I wish I knew how that works as a conversion to any of the pills. From what I've read the newer bile acid binders were/are supposed to be more effective than cholestyramine... are your pills solid? or capsules with powder in them?

If your pills work for you, I would encourage you to start getting your levels checked for all the fat soluble vitamins-that includes D3. I only got checked for D for years and recently had I think A and E done? I'd have to look. I'd been low level supplementing with them all (well, BIG time supplementing the D3 according to my levels) for years and needed to increase most all of them. Just my experience since I take so much of it-

Thanks for your input!

Laine

[Cat Granny]

Hello Laine

I actually got a refill this past week, and opened the bottle yesterday. These pills are shorter in length but thicker. They seemed easier to take last night. My prescription is for one bottle with 120 pills, and my insurance does pay for part of it. My cost is about 65 a bottle. At least for now.

The pills are solid. I have read these pills should not be cut in half as they are a delayed release. When I was first prescribed these by my GI's office, they said nothing about when and how to take them. So like a dummy I listened to the pharmacist. She said to take them before meals. That did nothing for me at all. This was last year.

So I wrote my PA, and she said oh sorry yes take them before bed on an empty stomach. I also found a FB group devoted to BAM, and there is a lot of good information there. The most important thing I've learned is NOT to eat a lot of fat. You will pay for it later. I don't think I have BAM, and my PA agrees with me. But these pills work and do bind my stool, so that helps.

I see my doctor in September for my annual appointment. I can ask him about testing for the vitamins.

I hope you can try the pills soon! Good luck!

Nan

[Mhdbeachgirl]

Funny that you mention the pills in your Colestipol refill being shorter and thicker than previously.
I got my first bottle at the beginning of July and the were longer but thinner and a blue or green color. These are like swallowing beach rocks— thicker and shorter. I’m wondering if the distributor has a new supplier. My pharmacist is researching. Meanwhile, these, like Cholestyramine require any other meds be taken an hour or two before the Colestipol or 4 hours after as the effectiveness of the other meds would be compromised.

[Cat Granny]

I forgot to mention that my new pills are yellow! I have also changed my dosage to 3 a night, dropping down from 4 a night. I was feeling a little backed up, and decided to drop one pill. The colestipol continues to work very well for me. I am probably jinxing myself, but I feel like I won the colon lottery! I have some impressive gas from time to time, but that is about it. Normans nearly every day. I am grateful.

I hope everyone finds what works for them!

Nan

[HockeyMom]

I typically get what I can get checked for fat soluble vitamins yearly thru the dr's office. But here in Arizona I can get some things checked just self pay at like Quest or LabCorp-I tend to pay for that on my own once a year just to see where my D3 levels are-

Laine