NOTICE: This Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) is intended for persons living in Australia.
QUESTRAN LITE
colestyramine
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about QUESTRAN LITE. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking QUESTRAN LITE against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet.
You may need to read it again.
What QUESTRAN LITE is used for
QUESTRAN LITE is used:
to reduce high levels of cholesterol in the blood assist in the prevention of coronary heart disease. It also used as an accompanying therapy to you diet in order to reduce cholesterol
for the relief of pruritis (itching) associated with the flow of bile being partially blocked
for the relief of diarrhoea caused by surgery or disease of the small bowel
This medicine belongs to a group of medicines called resins. It reduces the level of cholesterol in the blood by combining with bile in the small intestine to form an insoluble complex, which is then excreted in faeces.
The reduction of blood cholesterol levels helps to prevent blockages in the blood vessels to the heart which reduces the likelihood of angina (chest pain with heart disease) and heart attacks.
QUESTRAN LITE may be used alone or in combination with other medicines.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you.
Your doctor may have prescribed this medicine for another reason.
This medicine is not addictive.
This medicine is only available with a doctor’s prescription.
The safety and effectiveness of using QUESTRAN LITE in infants and children has not been established.
Before you use it
When you must not use it
Do not use QUESTRAN LITE if you have an allergy to
any medicine containing colestyramine
any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
shortness of breath
wheezing or difficulty breathing
swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
rash, itching or hives on the skin
Do not use QUESTRAN LITE if you have been diagnosed with complete biliary obstruction, where no bile is secreted into the intestine. A bile duct obstruction, also known as biliary obstruction, is where one of the ducts that carries bile from the liver to the intestine via the gallbladder becomes blocked.
Do not take this medicine after the expiry date printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking this medicine, talk to your doctor.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if you have allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.
Tell your doctor if you have or have had any medical conditions:
hypothyroidism
diabetes
nephrotic syndrome which is a kidney disorder that causes your body to excrete too much protein in your urine
liver problems
jaundice – yellowing of the skin and eyes
phenylketonuria (PKU)
blood problems – blood clotting associated with vitamin K deficiency
hyperchloraemic acidosis – too much chloride in the blood
constipation
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant or are breast-feeding.
Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits involved.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start taking QUESTRAN LITE.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and QUESTRAN LITE may interfere with each other. These include:
thyroid and thyroxine preparations
warfarin, a medicine used to prevent blood clots
chlorothiazide, a diuretic which is used to help you excrete more urine
tetracyclines, antibiotics which fight bacterial infections
phenobarbital (phenobarbitone), a medicine used to treat epilepsy
digitalis
aldosterone antagonists, a diuretic which is used to help you excrete more urine
inorganic iron
estrogenic drugs
Do not stop taking QUESTRAN LITE if you have been taking a medicine with toxic side effect such as digitalis while you are using QUESTRAN LITE as this could be hazardous to your health.
These medicines may be affected by QUESTRAN LITE, or affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take different medicines.
Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid, while taking this medicine.
How to take QUESTRAN LITE
How much to take
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the box, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How much to take
Adults
Maintenance or on-going therapy: 12 to 16 g of colestyramine resin equivalent to 14.1 to 18.8g of QUESTRAN LITE per day.
Children and Infants
No dosage regimen has been established for children. Your doctor will start therapy in a child with small doses and adjust the dose, depending on the child’s response to initial therapy.
How to take it
QUESTRAN LITE must not be taken in its dry form; it must always be mixed with water, juice or other fluids before taking.
add the contents of the 4g sachet to 100 to 150 mL of water or fruit juice
mix immediately by stirring vigorously
continue to stir until the mixture is even (the powder will not dissolve)
drink the entire mixture immediately, rinse the container and drink the rinse to ensure that you have taken the full dose
Make sure you use the full amount of water and ensure that it is well mixed before you drink it.
You can mix QUESTRAN LITE with thin soups or pulpy fruits with a high water content e.g. pureed apple or crushed pineapple. If care is taken you can mix it with carbonated drinks.
When to take it
Take your medicine at about the same time each day.
Taking your medicine at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take your medicine.
If you are taking other medicines, you must take them one hour before taking QUESTRAN LITE or four to six hours after taking QUESTRAN LITE.
How long to take it
Continue taking your medicine for as long as your doctor tells you.
This medicine helps to control your condition, but does not cure it. It is important to keep taking your medicine even if you feel well.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose that you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.
Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your medicine as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.
This may increase the chance of getting an unwanted side effect.
If you are not sure of what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much QUESTRAN LITE. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention.
While you are using QUESTRAN LITE
Things you must do
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor or pharmacist that you are taking QUESTRAN LITE.
Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who treat you that you are taking this medicine.
If you plan to have surgery that needs a general anaesthetic, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking QUESTRAN LITE.
If you become pregnant while taking this medicine, tell your doctor immediately.
Keep all of your doctor’s appointments so that your progress can be checked.
Your doctor may do some tests from time to time to make sure the medicine is working and to prevent unwanted side effects.
Things you must not do
Do not take QUESTRAN LITE to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not give your medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not stop taking your medicine or lower the dosage, without checking with your doctor.
Do not take QUESTRAN LITE in its dry form. Always mix it with water or other fluids before you take it.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how QUESTRAN LITE affects you.
As with other medicines QUESTRAN LITE may cause dizziness, light-headedness, drowsiness or tiredness in some people.
Make sure you know how you react to it before you drive a car, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous.
Avoid drinking large quantities of alcohol.
If you drink alcohol, your dizziness or light-headedness may be worse.
Large quantities of alcohol may increase your chance of QUESTRAN LITE causing liver problems.
Things that would be helpful for lowering your cholesterol levels
A healthy diet and reduction in your weight is recommended before using QUESTRAN LITE for cholesterol reduction.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking QUESTRAN LITE.
This medicine helps most people, but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical attention if you get some of the side effects.
If you are over 65 years of age you may have an increased chance of getting side effects.
Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
constipation
haemorrhoids
The above list includes the more common side effects of your medicine.
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:
abdominal pain
flatulence (wind/gas)
nausea
vomiting
heartburn
diarrhoea
anorexia (loss of appetite)
indigestion
steatorrhoea (the presence of excess fat in the faeces. Stools may be bulky and difficult to flush, have a pale and oily appearance and can be especially foul-smelling)
rash and irritation of the tongue, skin or anal area
changes in bowel motions
chest pain
headache
anxiety
dizziness
drowsiness
The above list includes serious side effects that may require medical attention.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.
After using QUESTRAN LITE
Storage
Keep your sachets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C.
Do not store QUESTRAN LITE or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it on a window sill or in the car.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep it where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking this medicine or the expiry date has passed, ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine that is left over.
Product description
What it looks like
QUESTRAN LITE is an cream coloured, fine powder.
It is available in sachets containing 4 g of cholestyramine. There are 50 sachets in the box.
Ingredients
QUESTRAN LITE contains 850 mg per gram of colestyramine as the active ingredient.
The powder also contains the following inactive ingredients:
aspartame
citric acid
colloidal anhydrous silica
orange juice flavour
propylene glycol alginate
xanthan gum
QUESTRAN LITE contains aspartame.
Sponsor
QUESTRAN LITE is sponsored in Australia by:
Mylan Health Pty Ltd
Level 1, 30 The Bond
30-34 Hickson Road
Millers Point NSW 2000
www.mylan.com.au
Phone: 1800 314 527
This leaflet was prepared in May 2020.
AUST R 11971
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