Cholestyramine for Irritable Bowel Syndrome User Reviews (Page 4)

• TeriS
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 15, 2023

"I have had IBS issues most of my life and especially after my gallbladder was removed 20 years ago. Like most, I know every bathroom in town. This medicine has changed my life. Truly a miracle and I only take half the recommended dose. Highly recommend. I mix mine in apple sauce and eat it everyday!"

• shoul...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 24, 2021

"Heaven sent! I have battled IBS for nearly 30 years and had all but given up. I met someone that told me they had horrible IBS as I did and that Cholestyramine changed their life. I was cautiously optimistic it would work for me but I spoke to my physician and he thought we should try it. It has completely changed my life! I hate even putting that out there as it sounds crazy but it's true. I no longer have fear about eating and staying near the closest bathroom. I don't have to worry about what could happen at work. The only side effect that has been constant is increased heart burn that is manageable with antacids. I've had some occasional nausea but very mild. If you suffer from IBS and haven't tried this I suggest you speak with your PCP. I hope you find the same results."

• GEH
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 30, 2023

"I have had IBS-D problems for 40 years. Over the past couple of years, it seemed worse, and I consulted a gastroenterologist. He ordered rule-out tests for pancreatitis, Crohn's disease, celiac disease, and inflammatory markers. He finally suggested I try cholestyramine 4gm once a day, 20 minutes before my main meal. Within a week, the diarrhea was almost completely stopped. After about 3 weeks, I reduced it to 1 packet every other day, unless I was eating something risky, in which case I took a packet. Then after another couple of weeks, I started taking 1/2 pack every other day. I haven't had diarrhea at all for the last month. Well-formed bowel movements most of the time. I go just 2-3 times a day at the most, whereas before it could be 8 times. For me, it has been an amazing product. The doctor told me to keep on it for another 3 months, and maybe I can stop it. I hope so—it is hard to find and rather gross to take, but the results are too exciting, so I use it. I wish you all good luck with this."

• Amazing
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 30, 2023

"My gallbladder was removed in the early 90s. Since then, I have suffered from worsening IBS symptoms and many foods I ate gave me very painful gushing bowel movements and bloating. I started taking cholestyramine about 5 years ago. This medication was and is a life changer. Why my previous doctors didn't prescribe this years ago is a mystery, but thank God I found this stuff and I can have my life back."

• Lynda
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 28, 2022

"I've been dealing with IBS-D for about 20 years! There were times I never made it to the bathroom! I would shake uncontrollably afterwards! I took Imodium, both pills and liquid! I was fed up because sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't! I couldn't go out and eat, couldn't have dinner at my kid's place cuz I would just go once, it bothered me for hours after I ate! I asked my doctor twice, she kept saying take Imodium! Then one day I insisted there had to be something! She gave me Olestyr! It is a God send! A miracle worker! I can actually go out and eat! I cried! I'm 75, probably not much life left and I want to enjoy it. Now I can! Thank you Olestyr!"

• Feeli...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 25, 2023

"After trying almost every IBS solution available and severely limiting my diet, I finally found something that worked. I had a problem where every 5 to 10 days, I would get sick and have to use the bathroom urgently. I felt like something was building up inside me, and after a certain amount of time, it had to come out. I could be eating the same thing I ate prior, yet this time I got sick after eating. I tracked it very closely and could never get past 10 days without getting sick. I got on this medicine 4/2, and it is now 8/25, and I have not been sick even once compared to every 5 to 10 days prior to using it. I take 1 1/2 teaspoons each morning with some Citrucel. I also take 1 Imodium tablet as soon as I wake up. This is half the recommended dose. I go to the bathroom regularly twice in the morning and one more time in the afternoon and the afternoon movement is not urgent at all, then I feel great the rest of the day."

• Milly
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 8, 2021

"I had bloating for years and discovered that I was lactose intolerant. Further down the road I had a colonoscopy and had a cecum polyp which necessitated removing a substantial of my gut and a colon re-section was performed. After the surgery I had bouts of bloating and diarrhea. The surgeon put me on Sandoz Cholestyramine. It cured my problem. I haven't used for 2 years even though I've had some episodes. Quite honestly I forgot about the medication even though I had it in the house. Well I had a very sick past 4 days with bloating and pain in my lower intestines. I was knocked out. I remembered the Cholestyramine and took a package in a few hours I was fine...like I was never sick, I took another package the following day and am fine. I will use this as needed. It was also 1 & 1/2 years past the expired date, but it worked! I found that I need to avoid salads...too much fiber. Who know? We are all a mystery. I will renew prescription."

• SC lady
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 1, 2021

"From age 10 or so I have had urgency to get to the toilet to have a BM. Most times I succeeded. In High School I carried a bunch of wash cloths to put in my underpants if I was too late. I have been prescribed so many unhelpful pills and liquids. After my first colonoscopy was stopped I learned my bowel had about 1/2 liquid BM and a few solids. I was advised to just go sit on the toilet every few house and wait! No luck there. About age 60 or so I was prescribed cholestyramine and it worked!! The instructions were to take it AFTER urgent diarrhea. Bad advice. My internist changed that to every other day!! THAT WORKED. This stuff is a scoop of yellow powder in water or juice. It's like playing with sand at the beach. IT WORKS. Please believe me you will be so happy. It's not 100%, nothing in this world is guaranteed but please folks. TRY IT! Tell your doctor your story and then ask. If that doc won't then find a doc who will."

• Rebecca
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 25, 2021

"I had my gallbladder removed 9 years ago, since then I've had mild problems of diarrhea but the last 4 years have been terrible I’m having belly pains which means I need the toilet straight away. I’ve been to the doctors a lot an had blood tests given samples changed diet I was told its just IBS it was getting unbearable not being able to go out the house without knowing there’s a toilet near by. I told the dr I can’t put up with it anymore He said he would refer me to the gastro clinic, I received a text to say a prescription was waiting for me for this medication that the gastro people said to try this first. Well I didn’t think it would work straight away but it did, I was amazed. I can go about my life now without worrying where a toilet is. There have been maybe 4 or 5 episodes over the last 4 weeks of either pain or diarrhea but not both together and it doesn’t last all day either compared to when I was going up to 8 times a day. So thank you for this medicine."

• Campe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 18, 2023

"I started taking cholestyramine on March 5, 2023. It took a few weeks for it to work but it's working great. I'm not rushing to find a bathroom anymore. The only issue I have is that it raised my Triglycerides from 140 to 320. I currently take cholesterol medication for high cholesterol, but my levels were always within the range until now. I'm waiting for a call from my Dr. to see what other medication is out there. All in all this product does work for my bathroom issues."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 22, 2022

"I suffered from stomach aches and diarrhea for years after having gallbladder surgery. I couldn't leave the house or go to a restaurant without having to hurry up and get to a bathroom. Now after going to my 4th GI doctor she prescribed this medication and I haven't felt better in over 20yrs."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 17, 2022

"Before my doctor prescribed Prevalite for my IBS w/diarrhea, I was living on Imodium tablets and dreading every meal. I was always anxious about attending lunch and dinner functions/meetings for fear I’d have to rush to the bathroom. It has saved me from a life of seclusion when it comes to eating. I can now have normal social interaction with others again. I take it in water using a shaker bottle with no side effects whatsoever."

• PennyC
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 20, 2022

"I have lived with regular bouts of diarrhoea for over 20 years, and despite trying a variety of routines to alleviate this, (low FODMAP, low fibre, no fruit not too many vegetables etc etc), nothing worked. I have been taking colestyramine for a few weeks now, after a recent CAT scan revealed I had severe issues in my bowel and intestines with bile salts and which was the cause of my problem. I cannot begin to describe how effective this medication is. I can lead a normal life and I feel as if I’ve won the lottery ten times over. A game changer. A life enhancer. The end of debilitating diarrhoea."

• Timmy
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 15, 2022

"It helped me quite a bit with my IBS but I am only in week two of taking the medication. Gonna go to 8mg instead of 4mg soon since my IBS still could be better. First week on it was really good but second week seems like my IBS is back to a bit of what it was. Better but not great. I would definitely recommend trying this if you have IBS."

• James
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 5, 2022

"I have been on cholestyramine for about two years now. It started working within in a day or so of the first dose. It took a bit to balance how much I should take daily but I found that between 50% to 70% of the 4 gram pouch makes my life completely normal. I usually find out the hard way if I forget to take a dose."

• Bob
• April 28, 2024

"Great stuff. I had IBS for many years, which got progressively worse. I was buying Imodium in bulk plus Pepo. Taking Cholestyramine really changed my life for the better. I now have relatively normal bowel habits, with just an occasional dose of Imodium. What a relief. I wish it came in a pill rather than the gritty suspension stuff I drink, but that is a very minor issue compared to the great relief from IBS."

• Andreas
• January 1, 2010

"I wouldn't be able to leave the house without this medication. I had gallbladder surgery and since then have suffered major cramps and diarrhea daily."

• jacqu...
• September 25, 2015

"Allows me to be a normal person, not searching for a rest room every minute of the day."

• Sass
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 3, 2019

"The zydus mfg brand of cholestyramine is undrinkable...I recommend the Sandoz mfg. Been using 30 years and tried the Zydus mfg. Disgusting"

• Anonymous
• September 26, 2020

"Mix with lukewarm water and it will mix right up. Not cold."

• Amadora
• August 19, 2015

"After suffering for seven weeks of diarrhea and undergoing over 15 tests, taking once a day a packet of this prescription powder made my diarrhea stop- a miracle!! N"

• Gege
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 15, 2020

"I find if you mix cholestyramine well with orange Gatorade and water and plenty of ice. It covers the taste and the grittiness. I’m able to drink it with my my meals 3 times a day."

• Mike
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 25, 2016

Questran (cholestyramine) "It's very effective for bowel problems and reduced my pain to zero most of the time."

• Popping...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 3, 2020

"I just started taking cholestyramine. I am 7 days in. No more water poop. ... I was able to go to the store without having to go to the bathroom.... Poop was solid ... WOW"

• nettee
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 1, 2013

"Not good at all. I took Cholestyramine for a week and I would wake up at night and run to the bathroom and it was just too late. I wish it worked for me as well as it has for so many of you. "