Taking Colestipol for Diarrhea? Best Time of Day to Take It + More
speciality medications
Taking colestipol for diarrhea can provide patients with a lot of relief, but, unlike many other medications, taking colestipol (or brand Colestid) correctly isn’t as simple as taking a pill once per day.
For example, there is a best time to take colestipol for diarrhea—and if you’re taking colestipol for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), there are other considerations you’ll need to know about to reduce side effects and have the best possible experience.
Your Guide to Colestipol: Side Effects, Indications, Pricing, and More
In need of a comprehensive guide to understanding the correct usage and timing of colestipol?
You’re in the right place. Here’s everything you need to know.
What is Colestipol?
Colestipol (cholestyramine) is a drug that was initially created and approved for use as a cholesterol-lowering treatment. It’s particularly effective at reducing the “bad” version of cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and providing the associated reduction in risks to heart health.
As colestipol became more and more common as a drug for lowering LDL, doctors and patients discovered that the cholesterol med was also helpful for treating diarrhea (a condition that comes with frequent, loose, or watery bowel movements) and bile acid diarrhea (diarrhea that happens because of excessive bile acids in the colon).
Because of this, doctors often prescribe colestipol off-label to help reduce the symptoms associated with bile acid diarrhea.
How Does Colestipol Work for Diarrhea?
Colestipol works by binding to bile acids in the GI tract.
Since excessive amounts of bile acids in the gastrointestinal system can lead to increased diarrhea, taking colestipol should help reduce the number of incidents of diarrhea linked to bile acid production.
How Much Does Colestipol Cost?
Prices for colestipol vary widely, depending on precisely what you’re looking for—and where you’re looking for it.
Colestipol, the generic form of the drug, is relatively hard to find. The brand medication, Colestid, tends to cost around $280.00 for a pack of 120 pills, though this may change if you check out a few different pharmacies near you.
That price will change even more, however, if you look outside United States borders for lower costs.
Through NorthWestPharmacy.com, you can buy 120 pills of brand-name Colestid for about $70.00—a savings of about 75% with our Canadian medication and international pharmacy offering.
That level of savings is extremely helpful regardless, but when you consider that some people need to take Colestid or Colestipol multiple times a day, it’s clear that 75% can make a huge difference so its worth considering Canada’s drugs and internationally-sourced medications.
What Time of Day Should I Take Colestipol?
…and do you have to take colestipol more than once per day?
Your doctor is the best source for information about the way you take colestipol. As your specific healthcare provider, they’ll have access to your bloodwork, your history of treatment, other medications you’re taking, and other vital data that may influence the way you should take Colestipol.
That said, if you’re interested in knowing general best practices so you can be an informed patient, read on. Let’s start with the basics.
The Best Time to Take Colestipol for Diarrhea
The best time to take colestipol for diarrhea is before your meals and right before bed.
If you take other drugs, you should take them either one hour before colestipol, or at least four to six hours after to ensure that they don’t interact and interfere with either medication’s efficacy.
Personalizing Your Dosage Schedule
Wondering if you can pull together a more itemized schedule for when you should take colestipol?
To a certain extent, you and your doctor are going to have to put on your detective hats, watch your symptoms closely, and figure out what works best for you and your body.
As you work through this process, your doctor will likely want you to keep a close eye on:
- Your lifestyle: After you start taking colestipol, does your daily routine change? Do you feel more energy? Do you have a specific time you wake up every morning, and does that work with your required colestipol dosage?
- Your severity of symptoms: How intense are your diarrhea symptoms? If you still experience severe bouts of diarrhea even after taking colestipol, your doctor may want you to start dosing more frequently, or want you to consider a higher dose.
- Your doctor’s custom-to-you advice: If you don’t follow your doctor’s recommendations, you may not have a good experience with colestipol—and your doctor may not know how to help you have a better experience!
If it works for you, it may help to note your symptoms, approximate dosing times, approximate meal times, and any changes you see in a notebook or an app on your phone.
This can help you see patterns clearly, which can help you troubleshoot any issues you may have with colestipol or even help you determine a helpful dosing schedule to stick to.
Other Tips for Taking Colestipol Properly
In addition to getting the timing right, you’ll need to remember the following:
- Dosage variability. The initial dosage for colestipol is usually about one or two 1-gram pills, once or twice per day. Your doctor may start you with that relatively low dose before increasing your dose over time. Don’t take more than the recommended amount, even if you skip a dose—that will not end with you feeling comfortable!
- Administer the dose appropriately. If you take Colestipol tablets, swallow them whole with plenty of water. If you take loose granules, sold in packet form, you need to mix them with at least three ounces of water or another liquid before taking them.
Managing Colestipol Intake and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
The way you take colestipol will depend on your other symptoms, and if you’re managing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), your use of colestipol may be very specific to you and your lifestyle.
IBS can be a frustrating disorder, but with the right meds and the proper dosing schedule, you may be able to enjoy more regularity and heightened quality of life.
Colestipol’s Role in Managing IBS
IBS can present with a wide range of frustrating symptoms, including constipation, abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea.
If you’re struggling with diarrhea as part of your slate of IBS symptoms, colestipol may provide some relief. (It may not be the only thing you take to keep your IBS in check, but it can help!) In the context of IBS, colestipol works by slowing down the rate at which your food moves through your body, which can alleviate diarrhea.
This can also have a beneficial effect on bloating and abdominal pain, but that’s highly personal and will depend on your unique experience.
Importantly, colestipol doesn’t usually cause drowsiness or dizziness, unlike other IBS or diarrhea medications. This means you may be able to take it and maintain your regular daily routine (e.g., driving, working, or doing other activities that require alertness).
Side Effects of Colestipol (And Other Considerations)
If you do decide to start taking colestipol, you need to be prepared for possible side effects.
Common Side Effects of Colestipol
Colestipol can cause several frustrating side effects, including:
- Constipation
- Hemorrhoids
- Trouble swallowing
- Stomach pains
- Bloody stools
- Belching
- Bloating
- Headaches
While severe side effects are rare, you should look for anything odd that pertains to your gastrointestinal system, including abdominal distention, bleeding hemorrhoids, or even ulcers.
If anything does happen, even if it’s a less severe side effect, let your doctor know. They may be able to help you change your dose or even select a different course of treatment to help you feel better.
Can You Buy Colestipol Through an Online Canadian Pharmacy?
Knowing what times are best to take colestipol throughout the day is one thing; finding and affording your required diarrhea or IBS medication is another. In America, it can be either difficult to locate the medication you need, impossible to afford it without making tough decisions, or, frequently, both.
If you find that scenario all too familiar, know that buying colestipol through an international or Canadian prescription internet pharmacy can be convenient and cost-effective. Of course, you’ll need to ensure you’re working with a safe and reputable Canadian drugstore or international medication supplier to benefit.
Here’s what we’d recommend looking for:
A requirement for prescriptions. While it can seem like a nice step to skip if a pharmacy doesn’t require prescriptions, this isn’t a good sign.
Prescriptions are important for a reason; they allow your doctor to ensure you’re taking the right thing and provide a way for your pharmacy to double-check your medication for your safety. If a pharmacy does not ask you for a prescription when you’re buying a medication that usually requires one, they’re not acting in your best interest.
Relevant, proven certifications. It can seem challenging to determine which online pharmacy websites are worth trusting, and which are not. Luckily, you don’t have to do this on your own.
There are reputable third-party associations, such as CIPA—the Canadian International Pharmacy Association—that invest considerable time and expertise into recommending safe, high-quality pharmacy websites. Not many websites make it onto CIPA’s approval list! Keeping an eye out for CIPA’s seal of approval on a website can streamline your search considerably.
Availability of licensed pharmacists. The pharmacy website you’re considering should have licensed pharmacists on hand to answer your questions and help oversee proper pharmaceutical care. When you’re selecting an online pharmacy, see if you can determine whether such a pharmacist is available.
Secure payment portals. When you’re ordering medications online, you’re hoping for at least a few things to happen: You want to end up with authentic medication that will help support your care, of course, but you also don’t want to get scammed or end up with your private payment details leaked on the internet!
The most reliable online pharmacy websites invest heavily in consumer safety. A quick way to tell at a glance whether you’ll have a secure payment experience on a website is to look for the Norton Shopping Guarantee and TrustGuard business verification.
Easy-to-find contact information! Even though you’re buying medication from a remote pharmacy online, you should feel like you can talk to a human if you have any questions. Your online pharmacy of choice should make it very simple to call or email a friendly, knowledgeable customer service representative or even chat with a pharmacist during business hours.
Feel like you’ve found a pharmacy you can trust?
If so, you can proceed with buying your colestipol for less through an international pharmacy. International and Canadian online pharmacies can often take advantage of international prices much lower than those you’ll find in America. International prices are often lower because outside of the United States, it is quite common for governments to step in and cap the amount that pharmaceutical companies can profit from popular medications.
As a result, if you’re an American patient facing a steep premium for brand-name medication in the States, you can save considerably by buying medication from across your country’s Northern border.
Even better: Buying medication from an online international and Canadian pharmacy can be very simple. Here’s what to focus on:
- Get an updated, valid prescription from your doctor for the medication you need.
- Go to the online Canadian pharmacy website of your choice.
- Browse through the website’s organized “aisles” of medications until you find what you need—for example, brand-name Colestid (or colestipol).
- Select the dosage you need, and click “add to cart.”
- Go through the prompts on the screen to enter your payment details and submit a copy of your prescription.
- After you’ve checked out, all you need to do is wait: Before you know it, your order of Colestid or colestipol will be delivered to your front door—no need for you to get in your car or speak with anyone, if you don’t want to do so!
Interested in learning more about how our team can support you? Our team of knowledgeable customer service representatives is more than happy to walk you through the ordering process, take your order over the phone, or answer any questions you may have. Call 1.866.539.5330 or contact us online to get started! The team at NorthWestPharmacy.com looks forward to supporting you and your healthcare journey.
