Questran (Cholestyramine) for IBS

Overview
Questran is a prescription medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to lower blood serum cholesterol and relieve itching associated with partial biliary obstruction. Questran may be prescribed off-label in cases of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to treat diarrhea when other medications have failed. Questran is also known by its drug name, Cholestyramine. Cholestyramine is also sold under the brand name Prevalite.

Questran is a bile acid binding agent. It is believed that Questran works in cases of IBS by reducing the amount of bile acids in the intestines, thus reducing diarrhea.

How do I take it?
Questran is taken one to six times a day.

Questran is available in packets or cans as a powder.

Side effects
The FDA-approved label for Questran lists common side effects including dizziness, spinning sensation, rash or irritation of the skin, tongue, or rectal area, sour taste in the mouth, hiccups, nausea, constipation, loss of appetite, weight changes, vomiting, gas, and muscle or joint pain.

Rare but serious side effects listed for Questran include abnormal bleeding and hyperchloremic acidosis, a metabolic condition that can result to coma or death.

For more details about this treatment, visit:
Questran – RxList: http://www.rxlist.com/questran-drug.htm