Colesevelam: a review of its use in hypercholesterolemia.
Colesevelam hydrochloride (Cholestagel, WelChol is an orally administered, non-absorbable, polymeric, bile-acid-binding agent with a higher affinity for glycocholic acid in vitro and greater capacity for binding bile acids in vivo than other bile-acid-binding agents. In randomized controlled trials in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia, colesevelam monotherapy reduced mean serum low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels by 9-19%. In combination with an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) or fenofibrate, colesevelam induced additive reductions in LDL-C 10-16% greater than those achieved by monotherapy with a statin (in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia) or fenofibrate (in patients with mixed hyperlipidemia). Colesevelam was generally well tolerated, with a relatively low incidence of gastrointestinal adverse events and a high compliance rate. Thus, colesevelam provides a useful addition to primary therapy with statins in the treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia, or fenofibrate in the treatment of mixed hyperlipidemia.
Robinson
Dean M
DM
Wolters Kluwer Health | Adis, Auckland, New Zealand, an editorial office of Wolters Kluwer Health, Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, USA. demail@adis.co.nz
Keating
Gillian M
GM
D000499:Allylamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D000069472:Colesevelam Hydrochloride; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D011345:Fenofibrate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D000499:Allylamine; D000069472:Colesevelam Hydrochloride; D011345:Fenofibrate