HealthWise KnowledgeBase
Bile Acid Sequestrants for High Cholesterol
Why It Is Used
These medicines may be prescribed, along with dietary therapy, to lower LDL cholesterol in people who have high cholesterol and known heart disease or in people who are at high risk for heart disease.
For people who have very high cholesterol levels (over 240 mg/dL or 6.21 mmol/L), these drugs also may be prescribed in combination with medicines called Reference statins Opens New Window.
People who have the following conditions should not take sequestrants:
- High Reference triglycerides Opens New Window
- Familial dysbetalipoproteinemia (a rare form of Reference lipid disorder Opens New Window)
- Severe constipation (sequestrants make constipation worse)
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: June 29, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Reference Robert A. Kloner, MD, PhD - Cardiology Reference Rakesh K. Pai, MD, FACC - Cardiology, Electrophysiology |
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