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• Interactions

Taking colestipol can make it harder for your body to absorb many other medications. Below is just a partial list of these medications. Tell your doctor if you are using:

• steroid drugs such as hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocortone);

• heart medication such as digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps), propranolol (Inderal), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril), chlorothiazide (Diuril);

• a diuretic (water pill) such as furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril), or chlorothiazide (Diuril);

• an antibiotic such as demeclocycline (Declomycin), doxycycline (Adoxa, Doryx, Oracea, Vibramycin), minocycline (Dynacin, Minocin, Solodyn, Vectrin), or tetracycline (Brodspec, Panmycin, Sumycin, Tetracap); or

• other cholesterol-lowering medications such as atorvastatin (Caduet, Lipitor), lovastatin (Altocor, Mevacor, Advicor), ezetimibe (Zetia, Vytorin), fenofibrate (Antara, Lipofen, Lofibra, TriCor, Triglide), gemfibrozil (Lopid), clofibrate (Atromid-S), nicotinic acid (niacin), or ursodiol (Actigall, Urso, Urso Forte).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with colestipol. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• trouble swallowing;

• severe constipation or stomach pain;

• black, bloody, or tarry stools; or

• easy bruising or bleeding, muscle or joint pain, loss of appetite.

Less serious side effects may include:

• mild or occasional constipation;

• gas, indigestion, heartburn;

• diarrhea; or

• hemorrhoids or rectal irritation.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.