Cholestyramine

Additional information

Pharmacokinetics and dosing

No studies with a clinically relevant sex analysis regarding the pharmacokinetics or dosing  cholestyramine have been found.

Effects

The lipid-lowering efficacy of cholestyramine 16 g/day in patients with hyperlipoproteinemia was analyzed in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (29 men, 18 women). Despite that women had higher baseline cholesterol levels, the mean percentage fall in cholesterol levels induced by cholestyramine did not differ between men and women [1].

Cholestyramine therapy have been compared to lovastatin therapy in patients with severe primary hypercholesterolemia in a randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled study (170 men, 94 women). Men and women taking cholestyramine 12 g twice daily had a similar mean reduction in the levels of LDL cholesterol, while women treated with lovastatin 20-40 mg twice daily had larger mean reductions LDL levels than men [2]. Another study has compared cholestyramine with pravastatin. Patients at increased risk for cardiovascular disease (1047 men, 989 women) were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: 16 g cholestyramine, 8 g cholestyramine and 20 mg pravastatin, 20 mg pravastatin, or 40 mg pravastatin. There was no difference in lipid-lowering effect between men and women (no data shown). Results for each treatment group were not stratified by sex [3].

No studies on sex differences in clinical outcomes such as morbidity and mortality have been found.

Adverse effects

No studies with a clinically relevant sex analysis regarding adverse effects of cholestyramine have been found.

Reproductive health issues

Regarding teratogenic aspects, please consult Janusmed Drugs and Birth Defects (in Swedish, Janusmed fosterpåverkan).