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| Welchol™ |
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Review
Summary |
 Medical experts agree for the most part that high cholesterol levels increase our risk for heart disease and stroke, as do other factors, such as stress, high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, diabetes and a family history of heart disease. For this reason, many of us, when we realize that we have this issue, start the lifestyle changes that our doctor suggests, such as a diet low in fat and an exercise plan.
However, there are times when a health care provider will also suggest using a pharmaceutical-grade medication to lower cholesterol. While some of us turn to holistic supplements, such as Plant Sterols, instead to avoid the side effects associated with these medications, many individuals also opt to use drugs, such as Colesevelam, which is often known as Welchol™. This drug belongs to a generation of pharmaceutical-grade cholesterol-lowering drugs, called Bile Acid Sequestrants.
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| Medication at a Glance |
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Colesevelam is usually used in conjunction with exercise and a diet low in cholesterol and saturated fat. It is used to lower an individual’s overall blood cholesterol levels. Colesevelam is often used alone, but it may also be used with other lipid-lowering medications, such as Statins, which also have many potential side effects associated with their use.
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| Medication in Focus |
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As noted above, Colesevelam is a Bile Acid Sequestrant, a medication which affects cholesterol in the intestines, by promoting the increased disposal of cholesterol by the body. In general, cholesterol is used in the human body to create cells and hormones. However, when there is too much cholesterol because either the liver is overproducing it, or because we are eating too many fat laden foods, the cholesterol is dumped in our arteries, thereby increasing our risk for cardiovascular occurrences.
The body also uses cholesterol to make bile, an acid that plays an integral role in the digestive process. Bile Acid Sequestrants actually bind to the bile, thereby instigating a situation in which it can’t be used during the digestive process. This prompts the liver to generate more bile, which forces the liver to use more cholesterol, effectively devouring the “bad” cholesterol, so that there is less of it left to circulate through the bloodstream.
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| Lifestyle |
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The good news about Colesevelam is that like all Bile Acid Sequestrants, it was designed to say in the gut, so that the side effects are usually localized to this area; unlike Statins, which often have far-reaching and system-wide side effects. The side effects associated with Colesevelam usually develop in the gastrointestinal tract, including issues such as constipation, diarrhea and flatulence. Also, some individuals have reported having a continuous bad taste in their mouth. Other reported side effects include muscle aches, weakness and sore throat.
This drug is frequently used with Statins or other medications, so it is important to note that it is suggested that these medications be spaced out, because Bile Acid Sequestrants may bind to these medications, rendering them inactive.
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| Positives |
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• May lower cholesterol
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| Negatives |
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• May cause gastrointestinal problems
• Other possible side effects include muscle aches, weakness and sore throat
• Often used with other medications
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| Final Thoughts |
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The good news about Colesevelam and most other Bile Acid Sequestrants is that they may enable people to lower their levels of “bad” cholesterol, while being safer than many other cholesterol-lowering medications. However, they may have no real ability to increase the body’s level of “good” cholesterol, which means they are often teamed up with other more powerful medications, such as Statins.
Some people wish to avoid these medications, and seek out holistic alternatives, such as Plant Sterols. This extract has been shown to be highly effective in lowering cholesterol levels by 20-40% in some individuals who exhibited high levels of “bad” cholesterol. Interestingly, it has also been shown to lower cholesterol levels in individuals who have normal cholesterol levels. For instance, in a study conducted at the Center for Human Nutrition in France, healthy individuals were given Plant Sterols, and they exhibited lower levels of bad cholesterol. For many of these individuals, these results were accomplished with no dietary changes. This is probably a better option than medications that usually come with many negative side effects.
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| Our
Editors Top Choice: |
Week
of: Tue Aug 31st, 2010 |
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CholesterClear®:
CholesterClear® -
Imagine lowering your Cholesterol levels while still being able to eat the foods you love. CholesterClear® is an awesome product which literally blocks the bad cholesterol from being absorbed by the body. It does this naturally and safely because it contains certified organic highly concentrated plant sterols which have been clinically proven to effectively block 42% of the cholesterol in your food from being digested. This substance has been approved by the FDA and American Medical Association as being effective in lowering and preventing high Cholesterol, LDL and HDL levels. With over 1200 published studies declaring it works, how can you go wrong with this? Prescriptions that fight Cholesterol levels also have some ugly negative side effects associated with them – so we recommend checking this product out because it has no side effects what-so-ever. Click Here to read our full review. |
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