Colestyramine
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Colestyramine can be used during pregnancy if needed.
What is it?
Colestyramine (Questran®) is used to treat high cholesterol, some types of diarrhoea, a rare liver condition called primary biliary cirrhosis, and blocked bile ducts.
Colestyramine is also given to women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy who have taken a medicine called leflunomide within the last two years. Leflunomide causes birth defects in animals and there is not enough evidence to confirm it is safe in humans. Colestyramine helps to ‘wash out’ leflunomide from the woman’s body. For more information, please read the bump leaflet on leflunomide.
Benefits
What are the benefits of taking colestyramine in pregnancy?
Colestyramine treatment can improve the health and wellbeing of women with certain medical conditions. This can also be important for the unborn baby’s health.
Colestyramine can prevent another medicine called leflunomide, which might cause birth defects, from reaching a baby in the womb.
Risks
Are there any risks of taking colestyramine in pregnancy?
Colestyramine stays in your digestive system before being passed out in poo, so would not be expected to have direct effects on your baby.
Colestyramine can reduce the levels of vitamins A, D, E, and K. Lack of vitamin K can stop your blood from clotting normally. If you are taking colestyramine you might be offered tests to check how well your blood is clotting, as well as vitamin supplements.
Alternatives
Are there any alternatives to taking colestyramine in pregnancy?
Most women will be able to safely continue taking colestyramine during pregnancy. If you want to conceive and take colestyramine, please speak to your doctor about whether it is still right for you.
No treatment
What if I prefer not to take medicines during pregnancy?
Continuing medicines for some medical conditions in pregnancy can be vital for your and your baby’s health. Your doctor will only prescribe medicines during pregnancy when necessary.
Will I or my baby need extra monitoring?
Women in the UK are offered a detailed scan to look for birth defects, usually at around 20 weeks of pregnancy. Most women taking colestyramine will not need any extra monitoring.
If you have been given colestyramine because you have taken leflunomide within two years of your pregnancy, you might be offered the scan to look for birth defects slightly earlier than 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Are there any risks to my baby if the father has taken colestyramine?
We would not expect any increased risk to your baby if the father took colestyramine before or around the time you became pregnant.
Who can I talk to if I have questions?
If you have any questions regarding the information in this leaflet, please discuss them with your healthcare provider. They can access more detailed medical and scientific information from www.uktis.org.