When should cholestyramine be administered in relation to other medications to avoid interaction?

Cholestyramine is a bile acid sequestrant used primarily to lower cholesterol levels. Its mechanism involves binding bile acids in the intestine, which prevents their reabsorption and prompts the liver to use cholesterol to produce more bile acids, thereby reducing the levels of cholesterol circulating in the bloodstream.

To effectively prevent interactions with other medications, it is recommended that cholestyramine be administered one hour before other medications. This timing is crucial because cholestyramine can bind to various drugs in the gastrointestinal tract, which may hinder their absorption and reduce their therapeutic effect. Administering cholestyramine before taking other medications ensures that it has the opportunity to act on bile acids without interfering with the absorption of those other drugs.

If cholestyramine is taken too close in time to other medications, there is a risk that it will bind to those medications and decrease their effectiveness. Therefore, adhering to the one-hour interval before other medications is essential for maintaining optimal drug efficacy and avoiding potential therapeutic failure.