Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Olestyr
What is OLESTYR used for?
OLESTYR is used in adults to lower high cholesterol (a type of fat). It may also be used to help stop some types of diarrhea or skin itching.
For the treatment of high cholesterol, OLESTYR is to be used together with changes to your diet under the supervision of your healthcare professional. Your healthcare professional may also recommend an exercise and weight control program. OLESTYR is not a substitute for these lifestyle changes.
How does OLESTYR work?
OLESTYR works in the digestive system. It absorbs the cholesterol-containing bile acids, which then pass out through the body in the stool.
What are the ingredients in OLESTYR?
Medicinal ingredients: cholestyramine resin
Non-medicinal ingredients:
Light Powder (Orange Flavour): Aspartame (each 5g contains 50 mg phenylalanine), Citric Acid Anhydrous, Colloidal Silicon Dioxide, FD&C Yellow #6, Natural Orange Flavour, Propylene Glycol Alginate
Serious Warnings and Precautions
- Do not take OLESTYR in its dry form as it may cause you to choke. Always mix OLESTYR with a liquid or highly liquid food before taking it.
- If you are taking any other medicines, it is important to take them at least 1 hour before you take OLESTYR or 4-6 hours after you have taken OLESTYR. This is because OLESTYR may change the effects of other medicines by stopping them from being absorbed by your body.
Light Powder (Lemon-Lime Flavour): Aspartame (each 5g contains 50 mg phenylalanine), Citric Acid Anhydrous, Colloidal Silicon Dioxide, D&C Yellow #10, Natural Lemon-Lime Flavour, Propylene Glycol Alginate
Regular Powder (Orange Flavour): Citric Acid Anhydrous, Colloidal Silicon Dioxide, D&C Yellow #10, D&C Yellow #10 Aluminum Lake, FD&C Yellow #6, Orange Flavour, Propylene Glycol Alginate, Sucrose.
OLESTYR comes in the following dosage forms:
- Light Powder: Each one-dose sachet contains 4 grams of cholestyramine (sugar-free orange or lemon-lime flavor).
- Regular Powder: Each one-dose sachet contains 4 grams of cholestyramine (orange flavor).
Do not use OLESTYR if:
- you are allergic (hypersensitive) to cholestyramine or any of the ingredients of OLESTYR (see What are the ingredients in OLESTYR?).
- you have an illness which results in your bile duct being completely blocked. Check with your healthcare professional if you are not sure.
To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take OLESTYR. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:
- have diabetes
- have kidney or liver problems
- are constipated or have had problems with constipation in the past
- have hemorrhoids
- have steatorrhea, a condition where there is too much fat in your stool
are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
- are breastfeeding
Other warnings you should know about:
- OLESTYR Light Powder contains aspartame in each sachet. Aspartame is a source of phenylalanine. It may be harmful if you have phenylketonuria (PKU).
- OLESTYR may affect how your body digests fat. This can prevent vitamins A, D and K from being absorbed. OLESTYR can also affect your folic acid levels. Talk to your healthcare professional about the need to supplement with these vitamins if you are taking OLESTRY for a long period of time.
- If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, OLESTYR may harm your baby because it interferes with the absorption of vitamins and nutrients.
Monitoring and blood tests: Your healthcare professional will do blood tests to monitor your cholesterol levels while you are taking OLESTYR. They will also check for vitamin deficiencies. Your healthcare professional will decide when to perform blood tests and will interpret the results.
Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.
The following may interact with OLESTYR:
- medicines used to treat thyroid problems
- warfarin, used to thin the blood and prevent blood clots
- chlorothiazide, a diuretic or “water pill” used to lower high blood pressure and treat fluid retention (edema)
- phenylbutazone
- phenobarbital, used to prevent seizures
- antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections, such as tetracycline, penicillin G
- digoxin, a medicine used to treat heart problems
- estrogen derivatives, oral birth control medicines (“The Pill”)
How to take OLESTYR:
- Take OLESTYR exactly as directed by your healthcare professional. If you do not understand the directions, ask your healthcare professional to explain them to you.
Always mix OLESTYR with a liquid or highly liquid food before taking it.
- With liquids (such as water or a non-carbonated beverage like milk or orange juice): add 120 – 180 mL of liquid to a glass. Place the powder on the surface of the liquid. After 1-2 minutes mix thoroughly by stirring vigorously or using a shaker. OLESTYR is then ready to drink.
With highly liquid food (such as soup, applesauce, yogurt, pudding): pour the powder into a bowl. Add 120 – 180 mL of your chosen food and mix well before eating.
- The colour of OLESTYR may vary somewhat from batch to batch, but this does not affect the quality of the medicine.
- Keep taking OLESTYR until your healthcare professional tells you to stop.
Usual dose:
Adults:
- The recommended dose is 4 grams (one sachet) of OLESTYR each day. This can be taken as a single dose or divided into up to 6 doses throughout the day.
Overdose:
| If you think you, or a person you are caring for, have taken too much OLESTYR, contact a healthcare professional, hospital emergency department, or regional poison control centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms. |
Missed Dose:
If you miss a dose, take another as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Then go on as before. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.
What are possible side effects from using OLESTYR?
These are not all the possible side effects you may have when taking OLESTYR. If you experience any side effects not listed here, tell your healthcare professional.
Side effects may include:
- constipation
- bloating
- flatulence
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- loss of appetite
- abdominal discomfort
- heartburn
- indigestion
- rash
- irritation of skin, tongue or around the anus
Serious side effects and what to do about them
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| UNCOMMON | |||
| Steatorrhea (fatty stool): grey, bulky or smelly stools | ✓ | ||
| Vitamin A, D or K deficiency: increased tendency to bleed, night blindness | ✓ | ||
| Thin or brittle bones (osteoporosis): In situations where healthy people would not normally break a bone you may have sudden pain in any location and especially in the wrist, spine or hip. This may be a broken bone. | ✓ | ||
| RARE | |||
| Intestinal obstruction: inability to pass stool or gas, severe abdominal pain and cramping, vomiting | ✓ | ||
If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, tell your healthcare professional.
Reporting Side Effects
You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:
NOTE: Contact your health professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice. |
Storage:
Store at room temperature (15°-30°C). Protect from moisture.
Keep out of reach and sight of children.
If you want more information about OLESTYR:
- Talk to your healthcare professional
- Find the full product monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes this Patient Medication Information by visiting the Health Canada website: (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/drug-product-database.html; or by calling the manufacturer’s phone number, 1-888-550-6060.
Pharmascience Inc.
Montréal, QC, Canada
H4P 2T4
www.pharmascience.com