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Cholestyramine (Oral Route)
Drug Information provided by: MicromedexUS Brand Names
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Canadian Brand Names
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Description
Cholestyramine is used to lower high cholesterol levels in the blood. This may help prevent medical problems caused by cholesterol clogging the blood vessels. Cholestyramine is also used to remove substances called bile acids from your body. With some liver problems, there is too much bile acid in your body and this can cause severe itching.
Cholestyramine works by attaching to certain substances in the intestine. Since cholestyramine is not absorbed into the body, these substances also pass out of the body without being absorbed.
Cholestyramine may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Cholestyramine is available only with your doctor's prescription.
Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although these uses are not included in product labeling, cholestyramine is used in certain patients with the following medical conditions:
- Digitalis glycoside overdose
- Excess oxalate in the urine
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