# Cholestyramine **URL:** \ **Category:** Life with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis\ **Created:** [June 10, 2015, 3:45am UTC](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/t/cholestyramine/684 "2015-06-10T03:45:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mikey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.livingwithpsc.org/mikey/32/321_2.png) [@mikey](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/u/mikey)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 3:45am UTC](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/t/cholestyramine/684/1 "2015-06-10T03:45:05Z")
Hi I’m itching terribly. I was prescribed cholestyramine. It tastes so nasty I can’t swallow it. I was told that there’s a pill form called cholestipol. I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this? Is it as effective? Side effects? Etc Thank you ---
**Author:** ![Dolphin5](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.livingwithpsc.org/dolphin5/32/757_2.png) [@Dolphin5](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/u/Dolphin5)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 1:20pm UTC](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/t/cholestyramine/684/2 "2015-06-10T13:20:44Z")
Same here. It is nasty stuff. An alternative would be great to have. ---
**Author:** ![Bill](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.livingwithpsc.org/bill/32/316_2.png) [@Bill](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/u/Bill)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 3:57pm UTC](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/t/cholestyramine/684/3 "2015-06-10T15:57:21Z")
I mix the powder with orange juice and stir it in, do not shake it to mix, it’s tolerable, I’ve had worse. ---
**Author:** ![mikey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.livingwithpsc.org/mikey/32/321_2.png) [@mikey](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/u/mikey)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 4:24pm UTC](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/t/cholestyramine/684/4 "2015-06-10T16:24:38Z")
Has anyone ever heard of cholestipol? ---
**Author:** ![Jennifer\_S](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.livingwithpsc.org/jennifer_s/32/790_2.png) [@Jennifer\_S](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/u/Jennifer_S)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 4:46pm UTC](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/t/cholestyramine/684/5 "2015-06-10T16:46:05Z")
I mix orange or cranberry juice and mix it in w a small hand blender. That makes it foamy and more pleasant to drink. Also mixing w a combonation of juice and seltzer makes it better. ---
**Author:** ![Windward](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.livingwithpsc.org/windward/32/875_2.png) [@Windward](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/u/Windward)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 5:31pm UTC](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/t/cholestyramine/684/6 "2015-06-10T17:31:15Z")
I mix It with orange pedialyte and water 1oz to 3 oz of water, and drink fast, then drink water behind it, and rinse mouth out Effective to drink just before eating to bind fat. Hydration, walk for circulation, and avoiding animal fat, will help limit bile salts building that cause the itching. Few days to feel better depending on what’s blocking bile drainage, your diet, and overall health. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_H](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.livingwithpsc.org/paul_h/32/61_2.png) [@Paul\_H](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/u/Paul_H)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 3:21am UTC](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/t/cholestyramine/684/7 "2015-06-11T03:21:39Z")
Cholestyramine goes down easier if you put about an ounce of cold water, then add Cholestyramine powder, then add about two ounces of cold citrus Gatorade. You cannot escape the grittiness, but it will swallow easier. ---
**Author:** ![Alix](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.livingwithpsc.org/alix/32/247_2.png) [@Alix](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/u/Alix)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 5:25pm UTC](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/t/cholestyramine/684/8 "2015-06-11T17:25:26Z")
What about mixing with apple sauce? Would that help with the grittiness if swallowed fairly quickly? ---
**Author:** ![mikey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.livingwithpsc.org/mikey/32/321_2.png) [@mikey](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/u/mikey)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 5:36pm UTC](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/t/cholestyramine/684/9 "2015-06-11T17:36:13Z")
Thanks for all your responses. I was really just wondering if anyone has tried the pill form cholestipol. I guess not. I’m going to ask the doctor. I haven’t been able to sleep the past few nights I’ve been so itchy. I absolutely cannot swallow the powder. But I’ll see how this pill works. ---
**Author:** ![Blanch](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.livingwithpsc.org/blanch/32/697_2.png) [@Blanch](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/u/Blanch)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 12:23pm UTC](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/t/cholestyramine/684/10 "2015-07-03T12:23:51Z")
My daughter takes Cholestogel, We are in Ireland so I think it's actually the same drug but with a different label. It is in pill form (quite large pills) and she finds that it helps with the itching as when she stops taking it, the itching becomes fierce. As for side-effects, she found that her hair was thinning and is convinced the Cholestogel is the cause however she continues to take it. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_H](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.livingwithpsc.org/paul_h/32/61_2.png) [@Paul\_H](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/u/Paul_H)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 2:46am UTC](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/t/cholestyramine/684/11 "2019-02-10T02:46:55Z")
I hope you are mixing it in water before trying to swallow it. ---
**Author:** ![Lonivision](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.livingwithpsc.org/lonivision/32/1789_2.png) [@Lonivision](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/u/Lonivision)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2019, 11:37pm UTC](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/t/cholestyramine/684/12 "2019-10-06T23:37:23Z")
My itching is horrible and I just started on Cholestyramine, I"ve beening mixing it with Sweeted Ice Tea…tastes like a Arnold Palmer. My question, how long does it take to start working? ---
**Author:** ![JeffDC1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.livingwithpsc.org/jeffdc1/32/402_2.png) [@JeffDC1](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/u/JeffDC1)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 1:01am UTC](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/t/cholestyramine/684/13 "2019-10-07T01:01:43Z")
Lonivision, thanks for joining. Jeff ---
**Author:** ![Lonivision](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.livingwithpsc.org/lonivision/32/1789_2.png) [@Lonivision](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/u/Lonivision)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2020, 2:06am UTC](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/t/cholestyramine/684/14 "2020-01-20T02:06:05Z")
Thanks for the info Blanch. My clinical trial coordinator is from Ireland, she is a joy. I’d love to visit Ireland soon. ---
**Author:** ![Lonivision](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.livingwithpsc.org/lonivision/32/1789_2.png) [@Lonivision](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/u/Lonivision)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2020, 2:07am UTC](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/t/cholestyramine/684/15 "2020-01-20T02:07:12Z")
HI Paul, I am mixing it nearly to death before swalling it. I am now putting it in yogurt, it’s a little more manageable. ---
**Author:** ![Lonivision](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.livingwithpsc.org/lonivision/32/1789_2.png) [@Lonivision](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/u/Lonivision)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2020, 2:10am UTC](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/t/cholestyramine/684/16 "2020-01-20T02:10:28Z")
“mikey” are you taking anything for sleep? I am only getting about 3 hours of sleep due to itching. I am getting those three from mere exhaustion. ---
**Author:** ![fcmmark](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.livingwithpsc.org/fcmmark/32/2189_2.png) [@fcmmark](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/u/fcmmark)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2020, 1:34pm UTC](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/t/cholestyramine/684/17 "2020-01-20T13:34:32Z")
Have you tried Rifampin yet? I was on 300 MG twice a day and it eliminated my itching by 98%. ---
**Author:** ![Ett513](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f08c70/32.png) [@Ett513](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/u/Ett513)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 4:15am UTC](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/t/cholestyramine/684/18 "2020-01-23T04:15:27Z")
It took about 2-3 weeks before I noticed relief and I’ve been on it for 4 months now. Itching is 95% controlled, but it feels like I’m swallowing wet sand. I mix it with about 20 oz of water to dilute as much as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Lonivision](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.livingwithpsc.org/lonivision/32/1789_2.png) [@Lonivision](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/u/Lonivision)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 4:33am UTC](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/t/cholestyramine/684/19 "2020-01-26T04:33:46Z")
I have not take Rifampin, I’ll mention it to one of my doctors. Are you having any side effects from it? ---
**Author:** ![merrywhiterose](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.livingwithpsc.org/merrywhiterose/32/1429_2.png) [@merrywhiterose](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/u/merrywhiterose)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 1:46am UTC](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/t/cholestyramine/684/20 "2020-02-18T01:46:55Z")
I definitely have to try it in yogurt! [Next page](https://forum.livingwithpsc.org/t/cholestyramine/684.md?page=2)