colesevelam vs warfarin
Side-by-side comparison of colesevelam and warfarin. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Concomitant use with colesevelam hydrochloride may decrease the exposure of the following drugs: Drugs with a narrow therapeutic index (e.g., cyclosporine), phenytoin, thyroid hormone replacement therapy, warfarin, oral contraceptives containing ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone, olmesartan medoxomil, and sulfonylureas (glimepiride, glipizide, glyburide). For patients on warfarin, monitor International Normalized Ratio (INR) frequently during initiation then periodically ( 7.1 ). Warfarin Clinical Impact: There have been postmarketing reports of reduced INR in...
Recommendation: Your doctor should check your blood clotting levels (INR) frequently when you start or stop this medication. They may need to adjust your warfarin dose.
Welchol
Coumadin, Jantoven
Colesevelam is a medicine that helps lower bad cholesterol (LDL-C) and control blood sugar in adults. It can also lower LDL-C in children ages 10-17 with certain cholesterol problems.
Warfarin is a medicine that helps prevent blood clots. It is used to treat and prevent dangerous clots from forming in your body.
This medicine can help lower high LDL cholesterol in adults and children (10-17 years old) who have primary hyperlipidemia or heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. These conditions mean you have high levels of bad cholesterol in your blood. Colesevelam can also help improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Warfarin is used to prevent and treat blood clots in your veins and lungs. It can also prevent clots if you have atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) or a replacement heart valve. After a heart attack, it can lower the risk of death, another heart attack, or a stroke.
Colesevelam is a bile acid sequestrant. It works by binding to bile acids in your gut. This helps your body get rid of cholesterol and can also lower blood sugar levels.
Warfarin works by blocking your body's use of vitamin K. Vitamin K is needed to make blood clotting factors. By blocking vitamin K, warfarin makes your blood less likely to clot.
- • Constipation
- • Upset stomach
- • Nausea
- • Accidental injury
- • Weakness
- • Bleeding from any tissue or organ
- Diarrhea 121
- Shortness of breath 72
- Cough 64
- Muscle cramps 61
- Tiredness 59
- INR increased 10,275
- Shortness of breath 8,408
- Interaction with another medicine 6,289
- Tiredness 6,141
- Feeling sick to your stomach 5,921
Colesevelam can raise your triglyceride levels, which could cause pancreatitis. Tell your doctor right away if you have severe stomach pain. This medicine may also cause bowel obstruction, especially if you have stomach problems or have had major surgery on your stomach or intestines. Colesevelam can also lower the amount of fat-soluble vitamins your body absorbs.
Warfarin can cause major or fatal bleeding. You must have your blood tested regularly (INR) while taking warfarin. Many things, like other medicines and diet changes, can affect your INR. Tell your doctor about any bleeding and follow their instructions to prevent bleeding.
This medicine is not absorbed into your body, so it is not expected to harm your baby during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. This medicine is also not expected to pass into breast milk.
Warfarin can harm your unborn baby, especially during the first three months of pregnancy. Do not take warfarin if you are pregnant, unless you have a mechanical heart valve and your doctor says the benefits outweigh the risks. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding, and watch your baby for bruising or bleeding.
How to Read This colesevelam vs warfarin Comparison
colesevelam is classified in the Bile Acid Sequestrant (Diabetes) drug class, while warfarin sits within the Vitamin K Antagonist (Anticoagulant) class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, colesevelam has 377 submissions while warfarin has 37,034. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to colesevelam can lower the amount of warfarin that gets into your blood by binding to the medicine in your stomach. this prevents the warfarin from being absorbed properly into your system.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between colesevelam and warfarin - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.