Colesevelam for Diarrhea, Chronic User Reviews (Page 4)
Brand names: Welchol
Reviews for Colesevelam
- Che...
- Taken for 10 years or more
- October 2, 2021
"Excellent for worldwide travel for the last 15 years. Traveled for business from New Zealand to India to China and everywhere in between. Lived in Hong Kong. Had many bouts of food poisoning and other stomach upsets. Welchol was my absolute savior. Even now, wouldn't travel without it! Also have IBD... it controls it perfectly."
- Gra...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- August 27, 2021
"I owe my quality of life to this medication. I had my gallbladder out, and since then, I have experienced dumping syndrome, which, if you know, is no fun at all. I could not eat anything without extreme nausea, cramping, and near-constant diarrhea. I take this medication before I eat, sometimes in the middle of a meal if I have forgotten, and it has absolutely changed my life. In just one day, I am completely back to normal. I was wondering what my quality of life was going to be before I found this medication, now I know it’s going to be great!!"
- Anonymous
- Taken for 1 to 2 years
- December 24, 2023
"Used for 1 1/2 years, 6 pills a day (3 with each meal). I had struggled with chronic diarrhea for years. This drug worked great, and I too felt like I had a life again. Recently, diarrhea has begun all over again with a vengeance, even on medication. What is happening?"
- Lyn...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- January 2, 2022
"I had my gallbladder removed 4 years ago; I kept getting awful bouts of diarrhea as many as 9 times a day. Dreadful wind and pain. Doctors didn’t have a clue. A friend told me she thought I had acid bowel malabsorption, and she suggested the colesevelam. I asked my GP; he said it sounded as if I did and prescribed the powder, which I find very difficult to drink as I also have Sjögren's, which causes a dry mouth. So I saw a consultant who did various tests, and he prescribed the tablets. I cannot begin to tell you how much they have helped; I do need them every day, 2 tablets twice a day. If I don’t take them, I get incontinent. They have helped me so, so much; however, my GP will not prescribe the tablets, and they are costing me over £100 a month!!"
Are you taking this medicine?
Your review helps others make informed decisions.- Dow...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- March 5, 2025
"I had a gallbladder removal, seems like 18 years ago. No problems till I developed fast transit times in my intestines that showed as rumbling and loss of concentration (hard to read or watch TV or focus) or dumping syndrome. Caffeine didn't help my concentration much. Then I started on ezetimibe for cholesterol since I don't tolerate statins. After a while, this triggered worse dumping symptoms and diarrhea, to the extent of IBS-D. I took amitriptyline 10 mg twice a day, which gradually helped 80-90% after I took it several months. Then I read about gallbladder removal and took 625 mg colesevelam once a day and am well. Had dry mouth on amitriptyline, no side effects on colesevelam."
- Pet...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- June 13, 2024
"No problems after gallbladder removal. Then, ~2 years ago, I was Rx’d amiodarone during an episode of what, at the time, was diagnosed as atrial fibrillation (2 years later, determined not Afib). The drug has many negative side effects. Stopped after 11 days because of bad ones. Two really bad ones: gait problems and chronic diarrhea. Life-altering. I used to go out daily for photography. No more. I’d not eat before going out and would still have problems. Finally, after telling my GI doc about it and how it was affecting my life, and taking me off certain beta-blockers, he recommended colesevelam. 2 in am, 2 in pm. He told me to take 2 hours after my other meds. I started with 1 morning and evening but still had breakthroughs. Now two in morning and evening, few problems (maybe a problem every 1 or 2 weeks). No negative side effects. Life-altering. (And I never should have been given amiodarone! Not Afib.)"
- Ali...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- May 1, 2022
"Since 2018, I have had severe diarrhea and been in and out of hospitals. I have seen five different gastroenterologists and had lots of tests. Bile acid malabsorption diagnosed with after Sechat scan... given colesevelam. Hopefully it will work, second day now taking it..."
- Kel...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- March 8, 2025
"After having my gallbladder out 15 years ago, I became a prisoner to my home and anxiety. I developed IBS-D, and the urgency was disastrous. I can't believe I'm finally getting a life back. It's been about 3 months now with no D or urgency. I had forgotten what it was like to feel a normal digestive system. I will stay in this forever if I'm lucky."
- Sha...
- Taken for 6 months to 1 year
- February 23, 2013
Colesevelam "Doctor said this will help my blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diarrhea. I also had gallbladder removed. It works. I'm 69 and plan to stay on it. Tired of looking for restrooms."
- old...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- July 17, 2012
Colesevelam "After 11 years, one pill this morning. Just ate lunch, no diarrhea yet. Maybe I can start living again."
- Soc...
- October 27, 2014
Colesevelam "Love Welchol...... Thanks to my family doctor I can feel normal again"
- Anonymous
- September 21, 2011
Colesevelam "Just had gallbladder removed, and then came the runs that won't stop for days. Started on Welchol, and 30 mins later I was normal. It's great."
- Jer...
- Taken for 10 years or more
- March 25, 2020
"Had IBS-D for 25 years. Daily Welchol for the past nine years has cut diarrhea from five times a week to five times a year."
- twi...
- Taken for 5 to 10 years
- August 8, 2019
"This drug, colesevelam, changed my life. I had been suffering with chronic diarrhea, and it helps to keep it manageable. Without it, I live in the bathroom regardless of what I eat."
- KHa...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- October 29, 2020
"Colesevelam is a miracle drug for chronic Crohn's disease!"
- jod...
- November 13, 2009
Colesevelam "This pill is not taking away my irritable bowel syndrome, but it gives me loads of energy. I LOVE IT."
- Fre...
- Taken for 6 months to 1 year
- September 20, 2022
"I take two 650 mg tablets in the morning before breakfast, and I have had good results controlling diarrhea."
- Nib...
- Taken for 1 to 2 years
- April 1, 2019
"I’ve had leakage from IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), and this is the only med to stop diarrhea safely. Anti-diarrhea meds make me so constipated."
- mem...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- March 30, 2018
"Started working after 2 or 3 days following 15 months of chronic diarrhea (post-surgery). I take 3 a day."
- Anonymous
- Taken for 10 years or more
- March 7, 2022
"Couldn't imagine life without it after surgery for Crohn's disease. Been on Welchol for 15 years."
- ste...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- January 12, 2020
"Does not work for my colitis."
Are you taking this medicine?
Your review helps others make informed decisions.More about colesevelam
- Check interactions
- Compare alternatives
- Reviews (124)
- Drug images
- Side effects
- Dosage information
- During pregnancy
- Drug class: bile acid sequestrants
- Breastfeeding
- En español
Patient resources
- Colesevelam drug information
- Colesevelam (Advanced Reading)
- Colesevelam Tablets
- Colesevelam Oral Suspension
"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."