Patient/caregiver was instructed upon therapeutic uses of cholestyramine as follows:
- Cholestyramine is an anti-cholesterol medication used in individuals with complaint of hyperlipidemia and hypercholesterolemia, to help reduce the levels of cholesterol, especially LDL-cholesterol, in the blood.
- Cholestyramine forms complexes with bile acids, which cannot be absorbed in the intestines. This prevents reabsorption and recycling of bile acids, and so, are excreted in the feces complexed with cholestyramine.
- As bile acids are needed for digestion and absorption of fats, they are synthesized utilizing their precursor, cholesterol. This results in increased conversion of cholesterol to bile acids, thus reducing the level of cholesterol in the blood.
- Reduction in the blood levels of cholesterol, especially LDL-cholesterol (bad cholesterol), contributes to reduced risk for atherosclerosis and plaque formation in the blood vessels.
- Formation of plaque can compromise blood supply to vital organs, such as, heart, brain, and kidneys, which can undermine their function.
- By reducing the risk for plaque formation, cholestyramine helps to prevent compromise of blood supply to vital organs. This can help prevent episodes of angina, myocardial infarction, stroke, and compromised renal function, and helps maintain their functional status.
- Reduced plaque deposition in the blood vessels also helps maintain optimum blood pressure and prevent episodes of hypertension, thus reducing workload on the heart and improving cardiac function.
