What is Pharmacology - Colestyramine

​Colestyramine


Colestyramine will be given orally with no systemic absorption. Colestyramine will be used in treating patient with hypercholesterolemia. Colestyramine will reduce the absorption of the cholesterol from the gastrointestinal tract.  Colestyramine will act as bile acid binding resin. Colestyramine which is a positively charged drugs will bind to bile acid which is negatively charged particles which lead to an inhibition of bile acid absorption. 

The hepatic stores of cholesterol will be reduced due to reduction in the pools of bile acid in the liver. As a result there will be an increase in the synthesis of LDL receptors which lead to an increase in uptake of the LDL / low density lipoprotein into hepatic cells. 

The common side effects of colestyramine may include diarrhea, constipation or bloating which are the common gastrointestinal discomfort.