Two medicines, side by side
Colesevelam vs colestipol
Colesevelam and colestipol are both labeled for high cholesterol. Drugs@FDA records approvals of colesevelam since 2000 and of colestipol since 1977. Pharmacies paid $0.262 per colesevelam 625 mg tablet and $0.658 per colestipol HCl 1 g tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the colesevelam FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 28, 2023); the colestipol FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 19, 2024).
Highlights of the colesevelam record
Colesevelam (Welchol) · label of December 28, 2023
Used for
From the label: indicationsColesevelam hydrochloride is a bile acid sequestrant indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to: reduce elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in adults with primary hyperlipidemia ( 1.1 ). reduce LDL-C levels in boys and postmenarchal girls, 10 to 17 years of age, with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH), unable to reach LDL-C target levels despite an adequate trial of diet and lifestyle modification ( 1.1 ). improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus ( 1.2 ). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- May 26, 2000
- Generic labelers
- 15 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.262 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 1
Highlights of the colestipol record
Colestipol (Colestid) · label of February 19, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsSince no drug is innocuous, strict attention should be paid to the indications and contraindications, particularly when selecting drugs for chronic long-term use. Colestipol hydrochloride tablets are indicated as adjunctive therapy to diet for the reduction of elevated serum total and LDL-C in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia (elevated LDL-C) who do not respond adequately to diet. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- April 4, 1977
- Generic labelers
- 8 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.658 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Colesevelam label of December 28, 2023, Colestipol label of February 19, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do colesevelam and colestipol differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class bile acid sequestrants.
Generics: colesevelam since 2018; colestipol since 2006 (Drugs@FDA).
| Colesevelam | Colestipol | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes | High cholesterol |
| Pharmacologic class | Bile Acid Sequestrant | Bile Acid Sequestrant |
| How it works (label) | Primary Hyperlipidemia: Colesevelam hydrochloride, the active pharmaceutical ingredient, is a non-absorbed, lipid-lowering polymer that binds bile acids in the intestine, impeding their reabsorption. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | May 26, 2000 | April 4, 1977 |
| First generic approved | May 16, 2018 | May 2, 2006 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 15 labelers | 8 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.262 per tablet (Colesevelam 625 mg tablet) | $0.658 per tablet (Colestipol HCl 1 g tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -2% | -0.7% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 1 | 0 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 2,013 | 2,599 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to colesevelam
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions