Cholestyramine used, Side, Doses, mechanism of action & more

 Cholestyramine

Brand name:- Choltran , Clostran. 

Cholestyramine is a bile acid binding agent. It removes bile acids from the body. The liver then produce more bile acids using cholesterol, as a result, the levels of cholesterol in the body is lowered.

Pharmacodynamic:- 

Cholesterol is probably the sole precursor of bile acids. During normal digestion, bile acids are secreted into the intestines. A major portion of the bile acids is absorbed from the intestinal tract and returned to the liver via the enterohepatic circulation. Only very small amounts of bile acids are found in normal serum. Cholestyramine resin adsorbs and combines with the bile acids in the intestine to form an insoluble complex which is excreted in the feces. This results in a partial removal of bile acids from the enterohepatic circulation by preventing their absorption.

Mechanism of action:-

Cholestyramine forms a resin that acts as a bile acid sequestrant to limit the reabsorption of bile acids in the gastrointestinal tract. Cholestyramine resin is a strong anion exchange resin, allowing it to exchange its chloride anions with anionic bile acids present in the gastrointestinal tract and form a strong resin matrix. Cholestyramine consists of a functional group, which is a quaternary ammonium group attached to an inert styrene- divinylbenzene copolymer, in the anion exchange resin.

 Used:-

Used in the treatment of high cholesterol.

 Side Effects:- 

Constipation, stomach/abdominal pain, gas, nausea, and vomiting may occur.

Dose:-  As directed by your doctor.