Colesevelam, sold as Welchol, is prescribed in the treatment of both high cholesterol and type II diabetes. It functions by combining with particles of food in the intestines. Since it can't be absorbed by your intestines, the food and the colesevelam are expelled from your body. Aside from lowering the bad low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, it also can help reduce high levels of glucose in your body. This is part of the treatment for diabetes.
Less Common Serious Side Effects
Your doctor should be consulted if you get any serious side effects from taking colesevelam. Call him immediately if you experience anxiety, nervousness, nausea, blurry vision, pain in your muscles, dizziness, mental confusion, depression or diarrhea. Other serious side effects include chills, seizures, shakiness, headaches, rapid heartbeat (tachycardia), appetite decreases or loss, nightmares, fever slowed heartbeat (bradycardia), insomnia, changes in your voice, vomiting or speech slurring. Colesevelam also may cause the very serious side effect of a coma.
Other Serious Side Effects
According to the Mayo Clinic, there have been reports of other serious side effects from colesevelam. While these have been reported, the incidence of them is not known because they were not reported as part of clinical trials of the medication. Consult your physician immediately if you experience skin or eye yellowing, rectal bleeding following defecation, anal swelling that is uncomfortable or urine discoloration. Others may include the inability to swallow saliva or other swallowing difficulties, abdominal swelling, indigestion, stomach pain that is severe, pain in the chest, stomach pressure or pain that radiates out toward your back from the stomach, abdomen or side.
Temporary Side Effects
Other side effects from the use of colesevelam should be temporary and are not that serious because they will go away. This will happen as you continue to use Welchol. Temporary side effects include nasal congestion, acidic stomach, sneezing, discomfort in the stomach or stomach pain, belching, abdominal cramps or pain, bloating, heartburn or constipation. Consult your doctor if they do not go away on their own. It also is possible, according to the Mayo Clinic, that you may experience side effects from Welchol that have not been reported previously. If you do, call your physician.
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