Colestipol oral tablet interactions: A detailed guide

Key takeaways

• Colestipol can interact with other drugs, such as some antibiotics or diuretics, potentially altering their effects on the body, so it’s important to be aware of these interactions.
•  Certain health conditions, such as a fast heartbeat, can make colestipol unsafe to use, so discussing your health history with your doctor is crucial before starting treatment.
• To prevent interactions with herbs and fat-soluble vitamins, take them either one hour before or four hours after taking colestipol.

Overview

This article describes possible interactions with colestipol oral tablet. Interactions can cause a drug to have a different effect on the body than expected. Interactions can occur due to medications, alcohol, or certain health conditions.

To find coupon options for colestipol and to learn more about the drug, including its uses, see this article.

Colestipol comes as tablets that you’ll swallow. It’s also available as granules, which are mixed with liquid and swallowed.

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Other drugs and colestipol

Drugs that may interact with colestipol oral tablet are listed below. This article doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with colestipol.

Drugs that may interact with colestipol oral tablet include:

• drugs taken by mouth:
  • drug examples: diclofenac (Cataflam), furosemide (Lasix)
  • what might happen: may decrease the effectiveness of drugs taken by mouth
• thiazide diuretics:
  • drug examples: hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide), chlorthalidone (Thalitone)
  • what might happen: may make thiazide diuretics less effective
• tetracycline antibiotics:
  • drug examples: doxycycline (Acticlate, others), minocycline (Minocin, others)
  • what might happen: may make tetracycline antibiotics less effective
• propranolol (Inderal LA, others):
  • what might happen: may make propranolol less effective
• mycophenolate (Cellcept) and mycophenolic sodium (Myfortic):
  • what might happen: may make mycophenolate or mycophenolic sodium less effective
• pravastatin:
  • what might happen: may make pravastatin less effective
• oral vancomycin (Vancocin, Firvanq):
  • what might happen: may make oral vancomycin less effective
• warfarin (Jantoven):
  • what might happen: may make warfarin less effective and may increase the risk of side effects with warfarin
• digoxin (Lanoxin):
  • what might happen: may make digoxin less effective
• carbamazepine (Tegretol, others):
  • what might happen: may make carbamazepine less effective

When to avoid colestipol

Certain health conditions or other factors could increase some risks with colestipol oral tablet. Because of this, doctors may not prescribe colestipol in these cases. These health conditions or other factors are called contraindications.

Here’s a contraindication for colestipol oral tablet:

• Past allergic reaction to colestipol. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to colestipol oral tablet in the past, taking colestipol oral tablet may cause another allergic reaction.

Before starting treatment with colestipol, tell your doctor if anything listed above relates to you. They can recommend whether you should take colestipol based on these warnings.

Alcohol and colestipol

Colestipol oral tablet is not known to interact with alcohol.

That said, if you have certain side effects from taking colestipol, drinking alcohol could worsen them. These side effects include diarrhea, abdominal pain or cramps, nausea, and vomiting.

If you drink alcohol and have questions about consuming it during colestipol oral tablet treatment, talk with your doctor.

Other interactions and colestipol

Interactions can occur with foods, supplements, vaccines, and some lab tests. Below you can learn whether colestipol oral tablet has these interactions.

The information below doesn’t include all other possible interactions with colestipol.

Colestipol and food

Colestipol oral tablet isn’t known to interact with foods. But this doesn’t mean interactions with foods can’t happen or won’t be identified later.

Because of this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about what foods you should avoid during treatment with colestipol oral tablet. They can also answer other questions you may have about colestipol and food, such as how soon you can eat after taking colestipol.

Colestipol and supplements

Before taking colestipol oral tablet, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any herbs you take, as well as vitamins and supplements. Doing so may help you avoid possible interactions.

If you have questions about interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Colestipol interactions with herbs

Colestipol can interact with any medication taken by mouth. This includes any herbal supplement you take by mouth. Taking colestipol and an oral herb could prevent your body from absorbing the herb. This means the herbal supplement may not have the desired effect.

To help avoid this interaction, you can take oral herbal supplements at least one hour before taking a dose of colestipol. Or you can take it four hours after taking a dose of the drug.

Because of this, ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products during treatment with colestipol oral tablet.

Colestipol interactions with vitamins

Colestipol oral tablet may interact with fat-soluble vitamins. These are vitamins A, D, E, and K.

Taking colestipol and fat-soluble vitamins may prevent your body from absorbing the vitamins. To help avoid this interaction, you can take fat-soluble vitamins at least one hour before taking a dose of colestipol. Or you can take it four hours after taking a dose.

Because of this, ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products during treatment with colestipol oral tablet.

Colestipol and vaccines

Colestipol oral tablet isn’t known to interact with any vaccines. But this doesn’t mean interactions with vaccines can’t happen or won’t be identified later.

Because of this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before receiving any vaccines during treatment with colestipol oral tablet.

Colestipol and lab tests

Colestipol oral tablet isn’t known to interact with lab tests. But this doesn’t mean interactions with lab tests can’t happen or won’t be identified later.

Because of this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before having any tests during treatment with colestipol oral tablet.

Colestipol and cannabis or CBD

Colestipol oral tablet isn’t known to interact with cannabis (commonly called marijuana) or cannabis products such as cannabidiol (CBD). But this doesn’t mean interactions can’t happen or won’t be identified later.

As with any drug or supplement, tell your doctor before taking cannabis with colestipol.

Note: Cannabis is illegal at the federal level, but is legal in many states to varying degrees.

Health factors and colestipol

Certain medical conditions or other health factors may increase the risk of interactions with colestipol oral tablet. Before taking colestipol, tell your doctor about your health history. They’ll determine whether colestipol is right for you.

Here’s a list of health conditions or other factors that might interact with colestipol oral tablet:

• fast heartbeat
• long-term constipation
• low thyroid activity
• migraine
• mineral or vitamin deficiency, such as low vitamin D
• pregnancy or breastfeeding
• past allergic reaction to colestipol

Preventing colestipol interactions

You may be able to help avoid certain interactions with colestipol oral tablet. Before taking this drug, you may want to discuss possible interactions with your doctor and pharmacist.

Things to consider include:

• Whether you drink alcohol or use cannabis.
• Other medications you take, as well as any vitamins, supplements, and herbs. Your doctor or pharmacist can help you fill out a medication list.
• What to do if you’re prescribed a new drug during your colestipol oral tablet treatment.

Taking colestipol exactly as prescribed can also help prevent interactions.

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Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.