Re: Question regarding newly prescribed drug... and supplement

[Guest guest]

Here is a portion of what the PDR (physicians desk reference)says about your new medicine

DESCRIPTION

WelChol™ contains colesevelam hydrochloride (hereafter referred to as colesevelam), a non-absorbed, polymeric, lipid-lowering agent intended for oral administration. Colesevelam is a high capacity bile acid binding molecule. Colesevelam is poly(allylamine hydrochloride) cross-linked with epichlorohydrin and alkylated with 1-bromodecane and (6-bromohexyl)-trimethylammonium bromide. Colesevelam is hydrophilic, and insoluble in water.

WelChol™ is an off-white, film-coated, solid tablet containing 625 mg colesevelam. In addition, each tablet contains the following inactive ingredients: magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, and silicon dioxide. The tablets are imprinted using a water-soluble black ink.

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY

Mechanism of Action

The mechanism of action for the lipid-lowering activity of colesevelam, the active pharmaceutical ingredient in WelChol™, has been evaluated in various in vitro and in vivo studies. These studies have demonstrated that colesevelam binds bile acids, including glycocholic acid, the major bile acid in humans.

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

Colesevelam is a non-absorbed, lipid-lowering polymer that binds bile acids in the intestine, impeding their reabsorption. As the bile acid pool becomes depleted, the hepatic enzyme, cholesterol 7-(alpha)-hydroxylase, is upregulated, which increases the conversion of cholesterol to bile acids. This causes an increased demand for cholesterol in the liver cells, resulting in the dual effect of increasing transcription and activity of the cholesterol biosynthetic enzyme, hydroxymethyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, and increasing the number of hepatic low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors. These compensatory effects result in increased clearance of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) from the blood, resulting in decreased serum LDL-C levels. 1, 2

Clinical studies have demonstrated that elevated levels of total cholesterol (total-C), LDL-C, and apolipoprotein B (Apo B, a protein associated with LDL-C) are associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis in humans. Similarly, decreased levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) are associated with the development of atherosclerosis 1 . Epidemiological investigations have established that cardiovascular morbidity and mortality vary directly with the levels of total-C and LDL-C, and inversely with the level of HDL-C.

The combination of colesevelam and an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor is effective in further lowering serum total-C and LDL-C levels beyond that achieved by either agent alone. The effects of colesevelam either alone or with an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality have not been determined.

Question regarding newly prescribed drug... and supplement

My doctor is upset about my cholesterol levels. ly I think they'repretty good, much better than 10 years ago. Anyway, she prescribed what shethinks is a liver neutral medication. Welchol is the name. Its some kindafibrotic thing that supposedly binds the fats in my diet <meal> and the bilesalts that come with them, and I flush them away.. you know where.Now, reading up on it, it appears that one of the really good ways to getexcess cholesterol and fats out of a fatty liver is to make it create morebile salts, which are made with that cholesterol. It actually sounds like awin-win situation for my fatty cirrhotic liver. Has anyone else used this medication? Any ideas, observations, thoughts,suggestions?Sally

[Guest guest]

YES,, Sally, there is a product called BiosLife2 that is also in the PDR so your doc can read up on it.. it is just as effective as the statin drugs but has no side effects and its very very good for stabilizing the A1C for diabetes too. ASK your doc about it,, its very safe for liver...IF your prescription coverage will cover it, then that would be what I WOULD take if it were me.. but thats me and IM NOT telling you to take it.. Sally Hines <shines@...> wrote: My doctor is upset about my cholesterol levels. ly I think they'repretty good, much better than 10 years ago. Anyway, she prescribed what shethinks is a liver neutral medication. Welchol is the name. Its some kindafibrotic thing that supposedly binds the fats in my diet <meal> and the bilesalts that come with them, and I flush them

away.. you know where.Now, reading up on it, it appears that one of the really good ways to getexcess cholesterol and fats out of a fatty liver is to make it create morebile salts, which are made with that cholesterol. It actually sounds like awin-win situation for my fatty cirrhotic liver. Has anyone else used this medication? Any ideas, observations, thoughts,suggestions?SallyJackie

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the feedback, Jackie. I'll look into it.

Sally

-----Original Message-----From: Hepatitis C [mailto:Hepatitis C ] On Behalf Of Jackie onSent: Friday, December 09, 2005 10:06 PMHepatitis C Subject: Re: Question regarding newly prescribed drug... and supplement

YES,, Sally, there is a product called BiosLife2 that is also in the PDR so your doc can read up on it.. it is just as effective as the statin drugs but has no side effects and its very very good for stabilizing the A1C for diabetes too. ASK your doc about it,, its very safe for liver...IF your prescription coverage will cover it, then that would be what I WOULD take if it were me.. but thats me and IM NOT telling you to take it.. Sally Hines <shines@...> wrote: My doctor is upset about my cholesterol levels. ly I think they'repretty good, much better than 10 years ago. Anyway, she prescribed what shethinks is a liver neutral medication. Welchol is the name. Its some kindafibrotic thing that supposedly binds the fats in my diet <meal> and the bilesalts that come with them, and I flush them away.. you know where.Now, reading up on it, it appears that one of the really good ways to getexcess cholesterol and fats out of a fatty liver is to make it create morebile salts, which are made with that cholesterol. It actually sounds like awin-win situation for my fatty cirrhotic liver. Has anyone else used this medication? Any ideas, observations, thoughts,suggestions?SallyJackie

[Guest guest]

Hi Liz,

It does sound gross, butt once you start doing them, it almost seems grosser *not* to do it, as it does make one feel better, and cleaner.

Oddly, I FORGOT I used to do these on a regular basis, until this thread. Probably one of the healthiest times in my life. Not just because of that, but because I literally had a *boy*friend who was 18 yrs younger. Naw...that wasn't it, either...I was eating healthy and exercising.

Bottoms up!

Jane

----- Original Message -----

From: elizabethnv1

LOL I still think they are gross , rofl

[Guest guest]

hahahahahha Jane, YOU are so funny,, BUTT you are right,, hugs jaxJane <seyrek@...> wrote: Hi Liz, It does sound gross, butt once you start doing them, it almost seems grosser *not* to do it, as it does make one feel better, and cleaner. Oddly, I FORGOT I used to do these on a regular basis, until this thread. Probably one of the healthiest times in my life. Not just because of that, but because I literally had a *boy*friend who was 18 yrs younger. Naw...that wasn't it, either...I was eating healthy

and exercising. Bottoms up! Jane ----- Original Message ----- From: elizabethnv1 LOL I still think they are gross , rofl Jackie

[Guest guest]

I miss my 18 years younger boyfriend. Yes, I was getting more exercise then.

Bottoms up? What kinda crack is that?

Sally

-----Original Message-----From: Hepatitis C [mailto:Hepatitis C ] On Behalf Of JaneSent: Saturday, December 10, 2005 2:55 PMHepatitis C Subject: Re: Question regarding newly prescribed drug... and supplement

Hi Liz,

It does sound gross, butt once you start doing them, it almost seems grosser *not* to do it, as it does make one feel better, and cleaner.

Oddly, I FORGOT I used to do these on a regular basis, until this thread. Probably one of the healthiest times in my life. Not just because of that, but because I literally had a *boy*friend who was 18 yrs younger. Naw...that wasn't it, either...I was eating healthy and exercising.

Bottoms up!

Jane

----- Original Message -----

From: elizabethnv1

LOL I still think they are gross , rofl

[Guest guest]

LOL gimme a break girl we all know it was the boyfriend that made ya feel healthy ...........just kidding , hehe actually each of us has to decide which things are going to work for us , like some like colonics ,and some like milk thistle,and some prefer just plain old vitamins cause what makes some of us feel healthier may not work for the next person . But I would strongly advise anyone that before they start doing anything like colonics or vitamins that they get their doctors advice first . Each has there drawbacks

Re: Question regarding newly prescribed drug... and supplement

Hi Liz,

It does sound gross, butt once you start doing them, it almost seems grosser *not* to do it, as it does make one feel better, and cleaner.

Oddly, I FORGOT I used to do these on a regular basis, until this thread. Probably one of the healthiest times in my life. Not just because of that, but because I literally had a *boy*friend who was 18 yrs younger. Naw...that wasn't it, either...I was eating healthy and exercising.

Bottoms up!

Jane

----- Original Message -----

From: elizabethnv1

LOL I still think they are gross , rofl

[Guest guest]

LOL!!!!!!!!! ((((Sally)))

I'm sooo happy that you're able to make doctor appts again. Isn't it awesome? I'm still in awe of the quickness of your disability determination. Every time I think about it, a great big grin beams.

Take care, Sal.

Jane

RE: Question regarding newly prescribed drug... and supplement

I miss my 18 years younger boyfriend. Yes, I was getting more exercise then.

Bottoms up? What kinda crack is that?

Sally

-----Original Message-----From: Hepatitis C [mailto:Hepatitis C ] On Behalf Of JaneSent: Saturday, December 10, 2005 2:55 PMHepatitis C Subject: Re: Question regarding newly prescribed drug... and supplement

Hi Liz,

It does sound gross, butt once you start doing them, it almost seems grosser *not* to do it, as it does make one feel better, and cleaner.

Oddly, I FORGOT I used to do these on a regular basis, until this thread. Probably one of the healthiest times in my life. Not just because of that, but because I literally had a *boy*friend who was 18 yrs younger. Naw...that wasn't it, either...I was eating healthy and exercising.

Bottoms up!

Jane

----- Original Message -----

From: elizabethnv1

LOL I still think they are gross , rofl

[Guest guest]

I had a slow day, felt really really achy and tired after driving to Santa and back yesterday,, we didnt get home till 9 pm,, it was a long day.. HOW are you feeling? love you my sister jackieelizabethnv1 <elizabethnv1@...> wrote: I would love to see what you can find out hun . How are ya today ? Question regarding newly prescribed drug...and supplementMy doctor is upset about my cholesterol levels. ly I think they'repretty good, much better than 10 years ago. Anyway, she prescribed what shethinks is a liver neutral

medication. Welchol is the name. Its some kindafibrotic thing that supposedly binds the fats in my diet <meal> and the bilesalts that come with them, and I flush them away.. you know where.Now, reading up on it, it appears that one of the really good ways to getexcess cholesterol and fats out of a fatty liver is to make it create morebile salts, which are made with that cholesterol. It actually sounds like awin-win situation for my fatty cirrhotic liver. Has anyone else used this medication? Any ideas, observations, thoughts,suggestions?SallyIt's a pleasure having you join in our conversations. We hope you have foundthe support you need with us. If you are using email for your posts, for easy access to our group, justclick the link-- Hepatitis C/Happy Posting !

GROUPS LINKS Visit your group "Hepatitis C" on the web.

[Guest guest]

Thanks Jane. I'm happy too. Does it show?

The disability isn't complete. I still lack any income at all, and no way to pay rent. I'm really not at all ahead of where I was last July, pocketwise. In fact, having spent down all my meager savings, and having now to pay a co-pay on my meds, I'm a bit behind where I was before.

But on we go, and hope it improves. Word from an SSDI friend on another list is that I may wind up paying ALL my income on treatment drugs under SSDI. We shall see.

Sally

-----Original Message-----From: Hepatitis C [mailto:Hepatitis C ] On Behalf Of JaneSent: Saturday, December 10, 2005 7:01 PMHepatitis C Subject: Re: Question regarding newly prescribed drug... and supplement

LOL!!!!!!!!! ((((Sally)))

I'm sooo happy that you're able to make doctor appts again. Isn't it awesome? I'm still in awe of the quickness of your disability determination. Every time I think about it, a great big grin beams.

Take care, Sal.

Jane

RE: Question regarding newly prescribed drug... and supplement

I miss my 18 years younger boyfriend. Yes, I was getting more exercise then.

Bottoms up? What kinda crack is that?

Sally

-----Original Message-----From: Hepatitis C [mailto:Hepatitis C ] On Behalf Of JaneSent: Saturday, December 10, 2005 2:55 PMHepatitis C Subject: Re: Question regarding newly prescribed drug... and supplement

Hi Liz,

It does sound gross, butt once you start doing them, it almost seems grosser *not* to do it, as it does make one feel better, and cleaner.

Oddly, I FORGOT I used to do these on a regular basis, until this thread. Probably one of the healthiest times in my life. Not just because of that, but because I literally had a *boy*friend who was 18 yrs younger. Naw...that wasn't it, either...I was eating healthy and exercising.

Bottoms up!

Jane

----- Original Message -----

From: elizabethnv1

LOL I still think they are gross , rofl