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 →
NADAC price trail: COLESTIPOL HCL 1 GM TABLET
Same CMS presentation as the headline generic unit price above (2 effective dates). Adjacent % compares consecutive NADAC releases for this description only, not a patient out-of-pocket quote. Latest step: -13.9% vs prior release.
| Effective | NADAC / unit | vs prior | NDCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 18, 2024 | $0.7495/EA | - | 1 |
| December 18, 2024 | $0.6451/EA | -13.9% | 6 |
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.
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
- Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea
358 reports
- Nausea
Nausea
221 reports
- Fatigue
Fatigue
210 reports
- Headache 136
Headache
136 reports
- Vomiting 125
Vomiting
125 reports
- Pain 118
Pain
118 reports
- Weight Decreased 112
Weight Decreased
112 reports
- Asthenia 111
Asthenia
111 reports
- Dizziness 109
Dizziness
109 reports
- Arthralgia 106
Arthralgia
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) 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
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?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for colestipol?
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.
Compare with colestipol →
atorvastatin
Lipitor
Atorvastatin is a drug that lowers cholesterol and reduces the risk of heart problems and stroke.
Compare with colestipol →
bempedoic acid
Nexletol
Compare with colestipol →
bempedoic acid/ezetimibe
Nexlizet
Nexlizet is a combination medicine that helps lower cholesterol.
Compare with colestipol →
cholestyramine
Questran
Cholestyramine is a medicine that helps lower high cholesterol levels in your blood.
Compare with colestipol →
Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for colestipol: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 2,477.
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 4.28%.
- iloperidone Δ 0.03 pts · 1,388 reports · Atypical Antipsychotic 4.25%death share
- loratadine Δ 0.07 pts · 104,378 reports · Second-Generation Antihistamine 4.35%death share
- naltrexone Δ 0.08 pts · 29,813 reports · Opioid Antagonist 4.36%death share
- adalimumab Δ 0.12 pts · 695,825 reports · TNF-Alpha Inhibitor (Biologic) 4.16%death share
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
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Save on colestipol
Compare prices and find discounts at pharmacies near you. Free coupons can save up to 80% on prescriptions.
Disclosure: This link may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. See our terms.
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 are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
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. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: May 27, 2025
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
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 from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
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