Cholestyramine—To Use or Not to Use Many people ask us about the use of Cholestyramine as a potential treatment for the biotoxin end of mold-related illnesses. Although Cholestyramine was on our list of possible treatment options when we were sick from mold-related illnesses, it was not at the top or even toward the middle of our list for more than one reason. We were concerned about taking a cholesterol-lowering pharmaceutical drug, such as Cholestyramime, when we did not present with high cholesterol, especially when it has such a high potential for interaction with other medications. We were also concerned about the ramifications of taking Cholestyramime given that our first line of defense—our intestinal tracts—were not working properly. We had what is called leaky gut syndrome, which is when the walls of the intestines are permeable and allow toxins such as mycotoxins to recirculate over and over again throughout the body. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Cholestyramine works by attaching to certain substances in the intestine. Since Cholestyramine is not absorbed into the body, these substances also pass out of the body without being absorbed.” But what if someone has a leaky gut? Does the Cholestyramine attach to the toxic substances and then just recirculate throughout the body rather than being eliminated? Fortunately for us, our health was restored by our using natural means that were higher on our “to-try” list so we never ended up taking the Cholestyramine. However, since we are often asked this question, we will briefly share a few of our thoughts on the use of Cholestyramine or on any pharmaceutical drug for that matter. We believe in first trying the least invasive and most natural remedy possible. However, if we have a medical condition that requires pharmaceutical treatment, we first discuss with our doctor AND pharmacist the potential side effects of the drug and make sure we understand how the drug actually works in the body. In other words, what action does the drug take on the body to make it effectively accomplish the end health result we desire? We would also run a google search to see what additional information is available on the internet from qualified sources. For example, if you run a quick google search on Cholestyramine, you will see that the Mayo Clinic states, “In some animal studies, Cholestyramine was found to cause tumors. It is not known whether Cholestyramine causes tumors in humans.” Of course, there are more common side effects listed such as heartburn or indigestion, nausea or vomiting, constipation, and stomach pain; less common side effects such as belching, bloating, diarrhea, dizziness, and headache; and rare side effects such as black, tarry stools, and severe stomach pain with nausea and vomiting. For us, even just the common side effects sounded like a lot of symptoms to risk when Cholestyramine doesn’t even treat the fungal-growth end of the condition. But let’s go back to the tumor issue for a moment. The fact that tumors showed up in animal studies raises the possibility that Cholestyramine could cause more harm than good, which, in our opinion, should not put Cholestyramine on the top of anyone’s list of possible treatment options—especially when there are natural means that can neutralize mycotoxins, which is what finally headed our family down the road to recovery. The bottom line regarding any pharmaceutical treatment is that the person taking the drug has to live the repercussions of their choices so they better make sure they are making the right choice by doing their own first-hand research, which will help them make a fully informed decision. Just don’t take a doctor’s word for it. Go double check what he or she is telling you by visiting with a pharmacist AND having the pharmacist print out a pharmacological report for the particular drug being considered. Then, ask the pharmacist to explain what the pharmacological report is telling you. This may sound like an unnecessary step, but what you think it is saying may not be what it is actually saying. We have had this happen to us several times. These pharmacological reports are not necessarily “light” reading. If necessary, double check what the pharmacist has told you by going to another pharmacy and asking a second pharmacist. Yes, it’s a little time consuming and it may seem redundant, but oftentimes we have found that the second pharmacist provides important, additional information. Of course, these research steps can only be taken when time allows. For our family, Cholestyramine would not be our first treatment choice for either a mold-related illness or high cholesterol as there are natural options available with fewer documented side effects. Everyone should check with their own treating physician. Anyone reading this blog should note that the information presented herein does not constitute a fully researched article on Cholestyramine. However, if you are interested in reading what the Mayo Clinic has to say on Cholestyramine, click on the below link. mayoclinic/health/drug-information/DR601905/DSECTION=side-effects
Posted on: Tue, 26 Aug 2014 01:06:57 +0000
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