Prescription medication · Bile Acid Sequestrant
colestipol
Also sold as Colestid. Colestipol is used along with a healthy diet to lower high cholesterol levels, specifically LDL-C ('bad' cholesterol).
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 2,477
- FDA reportsLightly reported
- 24
- InteractionsSeveral interactions
- 70% less
- Generic vs brandBig savings
- $2.15
- Brand price (NADAC)
What the data shows
colestipol (Colestid) is a prescription Bile Acid Sequestrant, among the least-reported drugs the FDA tracks (2,477 FDA reports), whose generic runs roughly half the brand price or less (70% less).
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
colestipol (Colestid) is a prescription Bile Acid Sequestrant. Colestipol is used along with a healthy diet to lower high cholesterol levels, specifically LDL-C ('bad' cholesterol).
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.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$2.15/unit
Generic Price
$0.65/unit
Generic Savings
70%
Generic Available
Yes (6 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Colestipol is used along with a healthy diet to lower high cholesterol levels, specifically LDL-C ('bad' cholesterol).
Common side effects
Constipation, Abdominal discomfort (pain and cramping), Intestinal gas (bloating and flatulence)
Key warnings
None
The sections below are summarized in plain English from colestipol's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
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.
How to Take It
Take colestipol tablets as directed by your doctor. The usual starting dose is 2 grams, once or twice a day. Your doctor may increase the dose every 1 to 2 months, up to 16 grams per day. Swallow the tablets whole with plenty of water, and take other medications 1 hour before or 4 hours after taking colestipol.
This is a plain-language summary of colestipol's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
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.
This is a plain-language summary of colestipol's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
This is a plain-language summary of colestipol's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
Store at room temperature, away from moisture, in a tightly closed container.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 2,477 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for colestipol, by number of reports
- Diarrhea
Diarrhea
358 reports
- Feeling sick to your stomach
Feeling sick to your stomach
221 reports
- Feeling tired
Feeling tired
210 reports
- Headache 136
Headache
136 reports
- Throwing up 125
Throwing up
125 reports
- Pain 118
Pain
118 reports
- Weight loss 112
Weight loss
112 reports
- Weakness 111
Weakness
111 reports
- Feeling dizzy 109
Feeling dizzy
109 reports
- Joint pain 106
Joint pain
106 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for colestipol each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where colestipol sits
colestipol has more FDA adverse-event reports than 16% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is colestipol; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 2,477 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
2,477
Reports Mentioning Death
106
4.3% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
635
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DIARRHOEA | 358 |
| 3 | NAUSEA | 221 |
| 4 | FATIGUE | 210 |
| 6 | HEADACHE | 136 |
| 7 | VOMITING | 125 |
| 8 | PAIN | 118 |
| 9 | WEIGHT DECREASED | 112 |
| 10 | ASTHENIA | 111 |
| 11 | DIZZINESS | 109 |
| 12 | ARTHRALGIA | 106 |
| 13 | DYSPNOEA | 101 |
| 14 | CROHN^S DISEASE | 96 |
| 15 | MALAISE | 94 |
| 16 | PRODUCT PHYSICAL ISSUE | 89 |
| 17 | ABDOMINAL PAIN | 87 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
None
Known Drug Interactions
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Lithium: Risk of lithium toxicity ( 7.2 ) Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs): Reduced diuretic, natriuretic and antihypotensive effects; increased risk of renal toxicity ( 7.3 ) Dual inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system: Increased risk of renal impairment, hypotension, and hyperkalemia ( 7.4 ) Colesevelam hydrochloride: Consider administering olmesartan at least 4 hours before colesevelam hydrochloride dose ( 7.5 ) Antidiabetic drugs: Dosage adjustment may be required ( 7.6 ) Cholestyramine and colestipol: Reduced absorption of thiazides ( 7.6 ) 7.1...
Mechanism: Colestipol can bind to other drugs in your stomach and stop them from getting into your blood. This means you might not get the full benefit of your blood pressure treatment.
What to do: Your doctor may advise you to take your blood pressure medication several hours before your dose of colestipol.
The absorption of tetracycline, furosemide, penicillin G, hydrochlorothiazide, and gemfibrozil was significantly decreased when given simultaneously with colestipol hydrochloride; these drugs were not tested to determine the effect of administration one hour before colestipol hydrochloride.
Mechanism: Colestipol can trap furosemide in the gut, which stops the medicine from getting into your blood.
What to do: Do not take these two medicines at the exact same time. Ask your doctor about spacing the doses out by at least one hour.
No depressant effect on blood levels in humans was noted when colestipol hydrochloride was administered with any of the following drugs: aspirin, clindamycin, clofibrate, methyldopa, nicotinic acid (niacin), tolbutamide, phenytoin or warfarin.
Mechanism: Colestipol does not seem to lower the levels of aspirin in your blood or stop it from being absorbed.
What to do: You can take these medicines together as directed by your doctor. No special dose changes are typically required.
Repeated doses of colestipol hydrochloride given prior to a single dose of propranolol in human trials have been reported to decrease propranolol absorption. However, in a follow-up study in normal subjects, single-dose administration of colestipol hydrochloride and propranolol and twice-a-day administration for 5 days of both agents did not affect the extent of propranolol absorption, but had a small yet statistically significant effect on its rate of absorption; the time to reach maximum concentration was delayed approximately 30 minutes. Therefore, patients on propranolol should be...
Mechanism: Colestipol can slow down how fast propranolol gets into your system, which might delay how quickly it starts working.
What to do: Your doctor should watch you closely to make sure your heart medicine is still working as it should.
No depressant effect on blood levels in humans was noted when colestipol hydrochloride was administered with any of the following drugs: aspirin, clindamycin, clofibrate, methyldopa, nicotinic acid (niacin), tolbutamide, phenytoin or warfarin.
Mechanism: Colestipol does not seem to lower the levels of warfarin in your blood or stop it from being absorbed.
What to do: You can take these medicines together as directed by your doctor. No special dose changes are typically required.
This is a plain-language summary of interactions documented in FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining medications.
Common Questions
What should I do if I get constipated?
Can I crush or chew the tablets?
How long will I need to take this medication?
Will this medication interact with other drugs I am taking?
How often should I have my cholesterol checked?
What if I still can't swallow the tablets?
Can I stop taking this medication if my cholesterol is better?
Does this medication affect my liver?
Can I drink alcohol while taking colestipol?
What if I experience severe stomach pain?
What are the common side effects of colestipol?
Does colestipol interact with other medications?
What drug class is colestipol?
Is there a generic version of colestipol?
Is colestipol safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Bile Acid Sequestrant
Other drugs grouped near colestipol - same-class peers and common alternatives.
alirocumab
Praluent
Praluent is a medicine that can lower cholesterol.
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atorvastatin
Lipitor
Atorvastatin is a drug that lowers cholesterol and reduces the risk of heart problems and stroke.
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bempedoic acid
Nexletol
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bempedoic acid/ezetimibe
Nexlizet
Nexlizet is a combination medicine that helps lower cholesterol.
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cholestyramine
Questran
Cholestyramine is a medicine that helps lower high cholesterol levels in your blood.
Compare with colestipol →
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for colestipol
The FDA label for colestipol (sold under brand names such as Colestid) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Bile Acid Sequestrant class. Colestipol is used along with a healthy diet to lower high cholesterol levels, specifically LDL-C ('bad' cholesterol). Official labeling lists 6 commonly reported side effects, including Constipation, Abdominal discomfort (pain and cramping), Intestinal gas (bloating and flatulence).
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 2,477 voluntary reports. The database also lists 24 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.65 versus $2.15 for the brand - a 70% generic savings.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: May 27, 2025
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages