colestipol vs digoxin

PlainMeds reviewed this comparison against our methodology in August 2026. It places FDA and CMS record fields side by side, without recommending either medication.

Side-by-side comparison of colestipol and digoxin. 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

Digoxin concentrations decreased Acarbose, activated charcoal, albuterol, antacids, certain cancer chemotherapy or radiation therapy, cholestyramine, colestipol, extenatide, kaolin-pectin, meals high in bran, metoclopramide, miglitol, neomycin, penicillamine, phenytoin, rifampin, St.

Drug Class
colestipol Bile Acid Sequestrant
digoxin Cardiac Glycoside
Type
colestipol Prescription
digoxin Prescription
Summary
colestipol

Colestipol is a drug that helps lower cholesterol levels in your blood. It works by binding to bile acids in your intestine, which helps your body get rid of cholesterol.

digoxin

Digoxin (Lanoxin) is a medicine that helps your heart pump better. It is used to treat heart failure and control irregular heartbeats.

What It Treats
colestipol

Colestipol is used along with a healthy diet to lower high cholesterol levels, specifically LDL-C ('bad' cholesterol). It is for people who haven't been able to lower their cholesterol enough with diet alone. Lowering cholesterol can help prevent heart disease and stroke.

digoxin

Digoxin is used to treat mild to moderate heart failure in adults. It helps the heart pump more blood with each beat. Digoxin is also used in children with heart failure to help their heart work better. In adults, it can control a fast and irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation.

How It Works
colestipol

Colestipol is a bile acid sequestrant. It binds to bile acids in your intestines. This helps your body get rid of cholesterol, which lowers the amount of cholesterol in your blood.

digoxin

Digoxin belongs to a class of drugs called cardiac glycosides. It works by making the heart muscle contract more strongly. It also slows down the electrical signals in the heart, which can help control irregular heartbeats.

Common Side Effects
colestipol
  • Constipation
  • Abdominal discomfort (pain and cramping)
  • Intestinal gas (bloating and flatulence)
  • Indigestion and heartburn
  • Diarrhea and loose stools
digoxin
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
FAERS Reports
colestipol
  • Diarrhoea 358
  • Nausea 221
  • Fatigue 210
  • Headache 136
  • Vomiting 125
digoxin
  • Dyspnoea 6,065
  • Nausea 4,754
  • Dizziness 4,439
  • Fatigue 4,175
  • Atrial Fibrillation 3,974
Serious Warnings
colestipol

None

digoxin

Digoxin can cause serious side effects, including dangerous heart rhythms. You are at higher risk if you have certain heart conditions or kidney problems. Tell your doctor right away if you have nausea, vomiting, vision changes, or an irregular heartbeat.

Pregnancy
colestipol

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if colestipol can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking this medicine while pregnant or breastfeeding.

digoxin

It is not known if digoxin can harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. The medicine passes into breast milk, but it is unlikely to harm the baby.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

Compare colestipol with

How to Read This colestipol vs digoxin Comparison

colestipol is classified in the Bile Acid Sequestrant drug class, while digoxin sits within the Cardiac Glycoside 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, colestipol has 1,050 submissions while digoxin has 23,407. 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 colestipol traps digoxin in your digestive tract so it cannot be absorbed into your body.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for colestipol or digoxin.

Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.