What is Questran LIght l - High Cholesterol Message Board

Sarah101 · 04-04-2003, 05:01 PM

I read about questran light written by RG and I would like to know what this is? Is it a medicine or a health food item. If so, then do you get it in the health food store? DOes it work very well, and what are the side affects. It sounds like another alternative that I have not tried and I need to know more about it. I can not take anything that will upset my stomach, though, so I hope it is not that type of med. I need to lower my numbers asap and diet and exercise is not enough. Please, advise----

Lindarella · 04-05-2003, 11:53 AM

Questran is a bile acid sequestrant or resin. It's a prescription drug. The generic name is cholestyramine. It comes as a drink, that you mix with water. You can take it 1-6 times a day depending on your needs.

During normal digestion, bile acids are secreted into the intestines. A major portion of the bile acids is absorbed from the intestinal tract and returned to the liver via the enterohepatic circulation.

Cholestyramine resin adsorbs and combines with the bile acids in the intestine to form an insoluble complex which is excreted in the feces. This results in a partial removal of bile acids from the enterohepatic circulation by preventing their absorption.

The increased fecal loss of bile acids due to cholestyramine resin administration leads to an increased oxidation of cholesterol to bile acids, a decrease in beta lipoprotein or low density lipoprotein plasma levels and a decrease in serum cholesterol levels.

There is also a similar drug called Colestid. It's basically the same drug as Questran but in a pill form.

Miriam · 04-06-2003, 12:58 PM

Hi,

I tried Questran Light...it tastes EXACTLY like you are drinking baby powder. I couldn't stand the stuff...no matter how much I stirred it up, it never, ever dissolved. It's not gritty though, just very, very fine powder.

Some people can get used to it I guess, but I couldn't.

Good luck to you.

[This message has been edited by Miriam (edited 04-06-2003).]

Sarah101 · 04-07-2003, 12:45 PM

Questran sounds like something that will bloat my stomach and I have IBS and cannot do this. I need something to help me lower my numbers without terrible side affects, if possible. That is why I started non flush niacin, I am up to 2500 now and I don't think I have any bad reactions yet. Who knows, I never really feel good and I never know what it is from. I would love to know if anyone else is up to this level, and if it helps them

Lindarella · 04-07-2003, 02:46 PM

Miriam, it's not supposed to dissolve.

If you think it may help you, try taking it in the pill variety called Colestid.

Sarah, if you have IBS it may be just the thing for you. It is a stand alone treatment for IBS but only if you have the diarrhea type IBS. It's not recommended at all if constipation or alternating diarrhea/constipation is your problem as it can be constipating.

My husband takes it for IBS-D only and it completely stops it. It's a lifesaver for him.