Colesevelam for Diarrhea, Chronic User Reviews (Page 3)

• MsL...
• April 24, 2017

"I had my gallbladder removed in 2004, resulting in always needing to know where a potty was at all times. After several Dr. & 12 years of getting sick, I had a colonoscopy & endoscopy done where it came back normal to the naked eye, but the biopsy didn't. It showed mastocytosis (mast cell disease). Was put on Welchol before my procedure, and it was like a miracle pill. After finding out what I had, they changed me to Zyrtec & Zantac. Within three days, I was back to getting sick. So back to Welchol I go, and probably will never try anything else again. Happy to finally not worry about when to eat & where the bathrooms are. Life is going to get better!"

• Fir...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 15, 2019

"I take a lower dose than prescribed for high cholesterol. I also have had problems with diarrhea since the gallbladder and Nissan procedure. This has given me my life back, taking two tablets once a day in the morning has solved my post-gallbladder removal diarrhea."

• Cac...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 31, 2021

"I had chronic diarrhea starting unexpectedly over 2 years ago. GI and internists said, “live with it!” Finally went to my hometown doc who ordered every test known, with nothing found (thank you, Lord!). Took trial doses of Zen Pep and Endocort with no stopping diarrhea. Finally, he ordered Welchol, 6 a day, helped some. Ran into my retired druggist and shared all this with him. He said, “Try taking Metamucil - it builds bulk in your stool.” HALLELUJAH!!!! This works. Regular every day unless I eat something greasy. I’m taking Metamucil capsules, 5 each time I take 3 generic Welchol. Generic Metamucil ok too. It’s been a miracle for me! Druggists are encyclopedias of info. I share the frustration of all posts. Try this combo. Hope it works as well for you."

• Rab...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 13, 2020

"I was diagnosed with bile acid malabsorption following non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and subsequent chemo. Loperamide and careful diet made a difference, but colesevelam solved the diarrhea straight away. Side effects included lower bowel pains, fatigue, sore throat, and runny nose. I still had to avoid certain foodstuffs. I may switch between the two medications when I need to avoid fatigue."

• Bir...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 4, 2022

"I have been taking Welchol for bile acid diarrhea for almost 15 months. My BAD is due to a long-term blood cancer drug treatment (Revlimid), which affects the intestinal lining. At first, it worked amazingly, then, after about 4 months, I started having trouble again. Reading reports on Drugs.com helped me to adjust my diet and increase my dosage, which almost solved my problem. I now take two 625 mg pills twice daily, and it seems to mostly work. I still have loose stools about once a week, but it is easily handled. When that happens, I also take Imodium with my doctor's OK. I have had no other side effects from the Welchol. Smaller meals, rather than larger meals, seem to help me. After some online research, I also found that keeping my daily fat intake to less than 40 grams is key to success. I cook mostly with whole, unprocessed foods, so it is easy to focus on lower fat ingredients. I also rarely eat red meat, mostly chicken and fish. No fried foods! Thank you, Drugs.com."

• One...
• June 22, 2016

"Thank God I came across this website, and many thanks to all the others who went through what I did. For 3 years following my gallbladder removal, I have IBS-D. I tried to modify my diet, limit portions, herbal medications, remove certain foods from my diet, exercise more, ox bile, digestive enzymes, etc. You name it, I tried it! The final straw was living on Imodium. While Imodium helped, I realized it was not going to be a long-term solution, so I began searching for another answer and thankfully came across this website. High cholesterol was not a problem according to my recent blood work, so I would have never thought Welchol would be a solution. Wow, was I wrong. As soon as I took a printout of this paperwork to my PCP, they said."

• mik...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 5, 2019

"I have had IBS my whole life with hemorrhoids. I had prostate radiation proton three years ago and bleed all the time, only a small amount at a time. I have had 7 bandings for hemorrhoids. I have been taking Welchol for diarrhea once twice daily, and it is working well for one year. My normal pattern is two days of no BMs and then the third day I have three normal BMs and then 2 BMs of diarrhea. Don't know what to do. Any help. Is this normal with Welchol?"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 10, 2017

"I have Crohn's disease and had my second bowel resection over a year ago. Experienced severe diarrhea and gas after every meal, no matter what I ate. Was prescribed Welchol -- 2 per day. I take it mid-day right before lunch, and it gets rid of all of the symptoms until the next day. If I ever miss a day, I'm back to square one. Nothing else seems to work for me, but this is a godsend."

• ste...
• August 26, 2014

"I had my appendix removed, along with some bowel, some large and small intestines, and an ovary (due to infection... I was full of it... another story). After 2 months of explosive diarrhea, I too was given LODALIS (the Canadian version of Colesevelam). I only take 1 a day, but 2 if I go on road trips, and I really don't eat because I'm afraid I will have to go. But after reading these stories, I will eat again. Thanks."

• fox...
• May 25, 2015

"I have bile salt malabsorption colitis due to a right hemicolectomy years ago, and after several more operations, I have only been given codeine to help slow things down. I have tried Questran and Colestid but found they gave me sickness. My new consultant recommended these but warned that they were hard to find. But they have completely given me my life back. I never thought that I would be pain-free and diarrhea-free. My only problem is my chemist finds it hard to get them for me, and the two other chemists do not keep them on their list. They are my lifesaver, and I can now finally eat a whole meal!!!"

• Tom...
• May 20, 2016

"This was a life changer for me. I was suffering with diarrhea over 10 times a day, and since starting on this, I have finally got my life back and can do most of the things I did before! I am not 100% back to how I was, but I have not been on them for too long (about 8 weeks), but I can actually live again!"

• Bea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 27, 2020

"To retired grandma.. I started chronic diarrhea after gallbladder removal. Doc said I must have had IBS. Emotional stress really kicks it in. Things were finally starting to get better.. or at least livable. Then I had a colonoscopy and the “prep” did me in. Started it at 4 pm per instructions and was still in the bathroom at 4:30 am! After all my hard work on my gut, the prep wiped it all out. That was in June 2020, and I was worse than ever. And instead of just diarrhea in the morning, it could be all day long. After a bit of trial and error, I found 2 probiotics that were helping a lot- Jarro-Dophilus EPS 8 strains 25 billion per cap and Saccharomyces Boulardii + MOS. I also eat the highest fiber cereal I can find. Just started Colesevelam a few days ago, and it seems to be helping. I’m still taking the probiotics and eating Kashi cereal. Hope this helps. My rating is a 7 only because it’s too soon to tell how it’s actually doing."

• Mag...
• March 31, 2021

"Been on Colesevelam for over a year. Was helping diarrhea, but recently I increased from 2 tablets to 3 since I am getting bouts of diarrhea again. I am not sure why this is happening. I need to see my doctor and hope he has an answer for me."

• Cma...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 3, 2023

"Chemo and radiation damage caused my problem. Had gallbladder removed in '92, no problems. Occasionally, spells of constipation were my problem. In 2010, I was diagnosed with anal cancer and during treatment, "Hell" began. Taking a sip of water caused instant diarrhea. Nothing helped to stop it. Things did improve, but like the others, I was always running to the bathroom. I felt housebound. I always had to make up excuses not to go out. Not until July 2023 did my GI doctor prescribe 625 mg of generic Welchol after I had researched my symptoms and came across bile malabsorption. (I can only afford the generic) Bingo, I finally can feel confident to socialize. I take 1-2 pills a day and that works for me. I know coffee and high-fat foods are triggers, so if I need to increase the dosage, I will. I will follow up with my doctor this week to discuss the best dosage. This medication has worked a miracle for me. I can't believe I suffered with it for 13 years. Much luck to all!"

• Tis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 29, 2019

"I wanted to reply to GFgal. I have gone through a lot as well. It was bad for about 10 years (I am so sorry you’re going through this at only 21, I can’t even imagine). Then I got my gallbladder out. After that, I couldn’t really leave the house. But then I found my doctor, and he put me on colesevelam, and it changed my life. He also put me on the 650 mg tabs and started me at 2 at bedtime, then told me that I could take up to 6 until it worked. So I think it might be normal. How is it working for you? I hope it’s helping you!!!! Tisha, March 28, 2019"

• Lil...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 23, 2016

"This drug is a lifesaver for me as I have been diagnosed with SeHCAT, that I have idiopathic severe bile acid malabsorption. We're talking decades of severe diarrhea daily, and being dismissed as an 'it's all in the mind, non-compliant patient' type. My only issue is that since taking it, I've started tinnitus. However, I'm hoping that a new med will come out shortly or trying to take less will help manage that, as it's a very difficult thing to live with."

• Mot...
• November 8, 2016

"I've always had issues with going, but I had my gallbladder out in 2008. Since then, I've been getting worse and worse. I went to three different doctors who diagnosed me with IBS-D and sent me home, saying take a prebiotic. Finally, I found a doctor early this year. He was determined to help me. I was always late to work, and as soon as I got there, I was in the bathroom. I went to the bathroom in excess of ten times a day on a good day. I had to carry a change of clothes to work because I had frequent accidents. And my belly pain was so bad I felt as though I would fall unconscious. My doctor referred me to a specialist, and he put me on four pills once a day. I still go to the bathroom like four times a day, but it's given me back my life!"

• gra...
• July 22, 2016

"In 2001, I had my gallbladder removed. And since then, I have had chronic diarrhea. I would spend 12 hours with explosive diarrhea. It made my life miserable. I didn't know when I could leave the house. The delayed gastric emptying and the chronic diarrhea prompted me to start taking the drug Welchol. And I feel so good. I have had to change my eating habits. Foods that I have loved, I cannot eat anymore. I can accept that, so I am no longer miserable. Maybe I can start exercising and lose weight."

• Ski...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 29, 2022

"I’ve literally been taking colesevelam for 2 weeks. And it’s working amazingly well. I have Crohn's and had 2 small bowel resections. I have just been diagnosed with bile acid malabsorption (BAM), and life was pretty miserable. I’m a runner too, so I had to dive into bushes."

• LAW...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 5, 2020

"If I take it morning and night as directed. I get bound up, so then I stop taking it and ruin my underwear as I can't make it to the bathroom. Then I take it again, and it takes forever to help me. I am either bound up or ruining my clothes. Imodium doesn't touch me."

• Hop...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 31, 2021

"Had a hysterectomy for cervical cancer in '93, followed by 6 weeks of radiation. In '94, got a bowel obstruction, which required 3 feet of small intestine to be removed. Been suffering with chronic diarrhea since 1994. Had to retire from job. Didn't go out much, especially in the morning. Going to grocery stores made me nervous in case of having an accident. New GI prescribed Welchol, and I seriously feel my diarrhea symptoms have improved! 3 tabs in the morning after breakfast. Feeling almost normal again!"

• SIB...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 31, 2023

"Not all Colesevelams are created equal! I have been on Bionpharma's version for a year, which has been life-changing. My pharmacy filled the last one with Colesevelam manufactured by Cosette. I knew it was a different manufacturer within one hour of taking the medication as it is completely ineffective at alleviating my symptoms. I am exactly the same on Cosette's version of the medication as I am without taking any. Bionpharma's version, on the other hand, is a game-changer. If you are taking this med or prescribed and feel it is ineffective, I encourage you to try the Bionpharma version!"

• Ret...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 22, 2020

"I started taking 1 generic Welchol in 2013 for chronic diarrhea after gallbladder removal. It was wonderful until it stopped working in 18 months. I went to 2 pills, 1 in the morning and 1 at night. It was great for 18 months! I had 2 colonoscopies. Nothing there. I have an appointment to talk to the doctor again. I’m tired of this."

• gal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 2, 2021

"After my GP, doing all tests under the sun, they found out my percentage of bile leaking and having a bad reaction, plus epileptic. I had to pay privately, my doctor, aka higher than GP, would not give me this. Then when he did - bingo, no more running to the toilet, can now meet a friend without worrying."

• Leo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 25, 2024

"I’ve been using colesevelam for just over a year now as I have Crohn’s disease, and I can honestly say this has been a miracle for chronic diarrhea. Like wow, before being on this medication, I was going to the toilet at least 10 times a day, and now I have somewhat normal bowel habits. Although it only masks the symptoms of Crohn’s disease, it doesn’t affect the disease itself, so damage is still being done and flares will come back no matter what you're taking, so please seek other meds alongside this."