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Questran Light (CHOLESTYRAMINE)
Cholestyramine (Questran Light), marketed by Bristol Myers, is a bile acid sequestrant indicated for primary hypercholesterolemia, competing in a class with off-patent alternatives such as colestipol and colesevelam. Its key strength lies in its well-established mechanism of action and long-standing use, supported by a key composition patent expiring in 2028. The primary risk is the significant presence of generics for its competitors, which may erode market share and pricing power.
At a glance
| Generic name | CHOLESTYRAMINE |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Bristol Myers |
| Drug class | Bile Acid Sequestrant [EPC] |
| Therapeutic area | Metabolic |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
| First approval | 1973 |
Approved indications
- Primary Hypercholesterolemia
- Hypertriglyceridemia with Elevated LDL
- Pruritus with Partial Biliary Obstruction
Common side effects
- Constipation
- Bleeding tendencies due to hypoprothrombinemia
- Vitamin deficiency
- Hyperchloremic acidosis
- Osteoporosis
- Rash and irritation of the skin, tongue and perianal area
- Intestinal obstruction
- GI-rectal bleeding
- Black stools
- Hemorrhoidal bleeding
- Bleeding from known duodenal ulcer
- Dysphagia
Drug interactions
- phenylbutazone
- warfarin
- thiazide diuretics (acidic)
- propranolol (basic)
- tetracycline
- penicillin G
- phenobarbital
- thyroid and thyroxine preparations
- estrogens and progestins
- digitalis
- oral phosphate supplements
- fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K)
Key clinical trials
- Leflunomide for the Treatment of High-Risk Smoldering Multiple Myeloma in African-American and European-American Patients (PHASE2)
- Efficacy and Safety Studies of Frexalimab (SAR441344) in Adults With Relapsing Forms of Multiple Sclerosis (PHASE3)
- LATAM LOWERS LDL-C (PHASE4)
- Leflunomide in Combination With Steroids for the Treatment of Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease After Donor Stem Cell Transplant for Hematologic Malignancies (PHASE1)
- Gemcitabine and Leflunomide in Patients With Advanced Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer (PHASE1)
- Exploratory Evaluation of the Effect of Cholestyramine on Serum Levels of POPs in Obese Female Patients (NA)
- Efficacy and Safety of Cholestyramine in the Management of Hyperphosphatemia in Adult Hemodialysis Patients (PHASE4)
- A Safety and Pharmakokinetic Study of A4250 Alone or in Combination With A3384 (PHASE1)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| FDA label | Mechanism, indications, dosing, boxed warnings, drug interactions |
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Questran Light CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Questran Light updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Bristol Myers portfolio CI