Colesevelam Hcl Coupons & Prices

Looking for a colesevelam HCl coupon? Colesevelam hydrochloride is the generic form of Welchol, a bile acid sequestrant that helps lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol and improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes. When it is in stock, the generic is usually priced lower than the brand, but both Welchol and generic colesevelam have seen intermittent supply disruptions, so availability and cash price can vary widely from one pharmacy to the next. Enter your ZIP above to see today's price and compare colesevelam across more than 60,000 U.S. pharmacies with a free Rx.com coupon.

What is colesevelam and how does it work?

Colesevelam hydrochloride (brand name Welchol) belongs to a class of medicines called bile acid sequestrants. It works in the intestine, where it binds to bile acids and carries them out of the body. To replace the lost bile acids, the liver pulls cholesterol out of the blood to make more, which lowers LDL cholesterol. Through effects on bile acid signaling, colesevelam can also help lower A1C (a measure of long-term blood sugar).

It is FDA-approved as an add-on to diet and exercise to reduce elevated LDL cholesterol in adults and in boys and postmenarchal girls ages 10 to 17 with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (an inherited high-cholesterol condition), and to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes. Doctors often add it when a statin alone is not enough. It is not a first-line replacement for statins and is not used for type 1 diabetes.

How much does colesevelam cost without insurance?

When it is available, generic colesevelam is usually less expensive than brand-name Welchol, but there is no single "list price" and supply of both the brand and the generic has been intermittent. What you pay at the counter depends heavily on which pharmacy you use, whether your form is in stock, the dose form (tablets or oral suspension packets), and your ZIP code, so the same prescription can cost noticeably more at one store than another nearby. That is why comparing before you fill matters.

Rx.com shows live cash prices across more than 60,000 pharmacies and gives you a free discount coupon you can use whether or not you have insurance. Enter your ZIP above to see today's price near you. If you were prescribed brand-name Welchol specifically, its manufacturer runs an official savings program on the Welchol website; program eligibility and terms vary, so check the details there.

Colesevelam alternatives and related medications

Colesevelam is one of several cholesterol-lowering options, and it is common to compare it with other bile acid sequestrants and lipid-lowering drugs. Your prescriber chooses based on your cholesterol levels, whether you also have type 2 diabetes, and how you tolerate each option.

• Welchol — the brand-name version of colesevelam
• cholestyramine and colestipol — other bile acid sequestrants
• ezetimibe — lowers LDL by blocking cholesterol absorption
• atorvastatin — a statin, often the first-line LDL-lowering drug
• metformin — a common first-line type 2 diabetes medication

You can compare cash prices for any of these on Rx.com. This is general information, not a recommendation to switch; talk with your provider or pharmacist about which medicine fits your situation.

Safety and important precautions

Colesevelam has no boxed warning, but it is not right for everyone. It should not be used by people with a history of bowel obstruction, serum triglycerides over 500 mg/dL, or a history of pancreatitis caused by high triglycerides. Because it can raise triglyceride levels, extra caution is needed if your triglycerides are in the 300 to 500 mg/dL range. It can also worsen trouble swallowing or other gut-motility problems, and it has not been studied in severe GI disorders or after major GI surgery.

Common side effects include constipation and indigestion (dyspepsia). Colesevelam can reduce the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and of several oral medicines, including levothyroxine, glyburide, oral contraceptives, phenytoin, and cyclosporine, so those should generally be taken at least 4 hours before colesevelam. This is not medical advice; share your full medication list with your doctor or pharmacist and follow their guidance.