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Colesevelam is a bile acid sequestrant administered orally. It was developed by GelTex Pharmaceuticals and later acquired by Genzyme. It is marketed in the US by Daiichi Sankyo under the brand name Welchol and elsewhere by Genzyme as Cholestagel. In Canada it is marketed by Valeant as Lodalis.  Welchol has active ingredients of colesevelam hydrochloride.

Colesevelam is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to reduce elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in patients with primary hyperlipidemia as monotherapy and to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus, including in combination with a statin. 'The expanded use of colesevelam in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus is an example of drug repositioning'.

Colesevelam is one of the bile-acid sequestrants, which along with niacin and the statins, are the three main types of cholesterol-lowering agents.

Most common Welchol side effects from eHealthme

• Diarrhea - (519 reports)
• Nausea - (485 reports)
• Constipation - (461 reports)
• Fatigue - (426 reports)
• Muscle aches - (358 reports)
• Weakness - (332 reports)
• Headache - (325 reports)
• Drug ineffective - (316 reports)
• Weight decreased - (307 reports)
• High blood cholesterol - (306 reports)

On Jan, 31, 2017  7,243 people reported to have side effects when taking Welchol.
Among them, 69 people (0.95%) have Death

On Feb, 10, 2017  7,243 people reported to have side effects when taking Welchol.  Among them, 24 people (0.33%) have Hallucination

On Feb, 10, 2017  7,243 people reported to have side effects when taking Welchol.  Among them, 1 person (0.01%) has Hallucination, Auditory