Colesevelam

[BasilG]

So finally saw my consultant Friday and she has decided to try me on Colesevelam tablets for Ibs-d has anyone else tried this?

[Bellacat21]

Hi I have been on these for 12 months for bile salt malabsorption they’re very good. Unsure how long can be on them for though whether life long tablet or temporary my GP has not said

[BasilG in reply to Bellacat21]

Thanks for your reply. I haven’t been diagnosed with BAM but they want to try me on medication to see if it works, if not they will try something else.

[Denisemurphy]

Hi, I take them for bile acid malabsorption. They work great, maybe she’s seeing if you respond rather than testing you for BAM. Been on them years now and see no side effects and completely controls all symptoms (may take you a little while to get the rite dose tho) Hope they help you.

[Jimbob85]

Hi! I have been taking Colesevelam tablets for 4 years, as treatment for bile acid malabsorption and will be for the foreseeable future. I can honestly say they have changed my life! The only side effects I have experienced so far are bloating and very low vitamin D after a period of time, so get your levels checked every 6 months. The vitamin D is easy to fix with supplements but the bloating not so easy. I now no longer have a flat tummy as it is constantly full of air so I always look slightly rounded, even though I am slim, maintain a gym routine and a relatively bloat free diet. However I would choose these minor side effects any day over the horrific symptoms of BAM. Like others have said, you might need to play with the dose for a while until you find what is right for you but for me, 2 tablets with breakfast and 2 tablets with dinner keep me virtually free of the worst symptoms. I was also told that I had IBS for a long time but no medication was working and I suffered badly. It wasn't until I finally had a Sehcat scan that I was actually diagnosed with bile acid malabsorption which is very different to IBS and requires different treatment (Colesevelam). So if you haven't been offered a Sehcat, speak to your doctor and push for it. Good luck and I hope the Colesevelam works for you!