colestipol
Brand names: Colestid
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Storage
Store at room temperature, away from moisture, in a tightly closed container.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 1,828 FDA adverse event reports.
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
Death-Related Reports
106
Hospitalization Reports
635
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DIARRHOEA | 358 |
| 2 | OFF LABEL USE | 269 |
| 3 | NAUSEA | 221 |
| 4 | FATIGUE | 210 |
| 5 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 169 |
| 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 |
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 Age...
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 obser...
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.
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.
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
Nexlizet is a combination medicine that helps lower cholesterol.
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 →
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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 1,828 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.
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