PATIENT INFORMATION LEAFLET
Your doctor has prescribed Questran or Questran
Light for you. Please read this leaflet before you take your medicine.
It gives a summary of information about your
medicine. If you want to know more, or
are not sure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Remember
This medicine is for YOU. Only a doctor can prescribe it. NEVER give it to anyone else. It may harm them even if they have the same
symptoms as you.
Q. What is in Questran or Questran Light sachets?
A. The active ingredient is called cholestyramine. Questran and Questran Light sachets each
contain 4 grams cholestyramine but the Questran Light sachets contain less
sugar and overall powder bulk.
Other
ingredients in Questran are: acacia, citric acid anhydrous, flavours,
polysorbate 80, propylene glycol alginate, sucrose, sunset yellow.
Other
ingredients in Questran Light are: aspartame (30 mg /sachet), citric acid
anhydrous, colloidal silicon dioxide anhydrous, flavours, propylene glycol
alginate, quinoline yellow, sucrose, xanthan gum.
Questran
and Questran Light are supplied in packs of 60 or 180 sachets.
Questran
and Questran Light belong to a group of medicines called bile acid binding
resins.
Q.
Who supplies Questran or Questran Light sachets?
Product Licence holder:
Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Ltd
T/A Bristol-Myers Pharmaceuticals 141-149 Staines Road
Hounslow
Product Authorisation holder:
Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Ltd
T/A Bristol-Myers Pharmaceuticals Dublin Ireland
|
|
Manufacturer: Bristol-Myers
Squibb Pharmaceuticals Ltd Moreton,
Merseyside L46 1QW |
|
Product
Licence numbers: Questran
0125/5009R Questran
Light 0125/0192 |
Product
Authorisation numbers: Questran
48/20/ 1 Questran
Light 48/20/2 |
Q. What is this medicine for?
A. Questran and Questran Light are used to lower your body's
level of cholesterol (a type of fat) and should always be used together with a
low fat diet. Questran and Questran
Light work exclusively in the digestive system to absorb the cholesterol-containing
bile acids which then pass out through the body in the faeces. You probably feel quite well and would not
notice you have high cholesterol, but too much of it in the blood stream is one
of the important causes of heart attacks.
Your doctor has prescribed Questran or Questran Light to try to reduce
the chances of this happening.
Questran
and Questran Light may also be used to help stop some types of diarrhoea or
itching. If you are taking the medicine
for these conditions, then you may not need to adhere to a low fat diet.
BEFORE TAKING YOUR MEDICINE
Q. Should I be taking Questran or Questran Light?
A. DO NOT take these sachets if:
•
you have had an allergic reaction to any of the ingredients of Questran or
Questran Light.
•
you have a disease which results in complete biliary obstruction, such as
gallstones. Check with your doctor if
you are unsure.
This
product is NOT FOR USE in children under 6 years old.
Q. Can I take any other medicines?
A. Questran and Questran Light may change the effect of other
medicines by stopping them from working so well. Questran preparations stay in the digestive system and can stop
other medicines from getting into the bloodstream by acting like a sponge and
stopping them from being absorbed by the body.
To avoid this, the time at which you take your medicines is very
important.
Any
other medicines you are taking should be taken at a different time from your
dose of Questran or Questran Light. For
example, if you take a dose of Questran or Questran Light at 9.00am, any other
medicines should be taken at least one hour before the Questran or Questran
Light dose (this means before 8.00am), or 4-6 hours after your dose of Questran
or Questran Light (this would be 1.00 - 3.00pm).
If you
are unsure, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Always tell your doctor about any other medicines you are using, even
those you have bought over the counter in a pharmacy or elsewhere, e.g.
supermarket.
Q. What if I am pregnant or breast-feeding?
A. If you are pregnant, or there is a possibility you might
become pregnant, or you are breast-feeding while you are taking Questran or
Questran Light, tell your doctor as soon as possible.
Q. Is it all right to drink alcohol?
A. Alcohol intake should be kept within the guidelines suggested
by your doctor. It is particularly
important to stick to these as alcohol can increase your cholesterol level.
Q. Is it all right to drive?
A. There is no reason why you cannot continue driving while you
are being treated with Questran or Questran Light unless your doctor advises
against it.
TAKING YOUR MEDICINE
Q. How should I take Questran or Questran Light sachets?
A. The label will tell you how many sachets and how often your
doctor wants you to take this medicine.
To lower your cholesterol, the usual dose is 3-6 sachets each day. Your dose may be taken as a single daily
dose or in divided doses up to 4 times a day.
To relieve itching, the usual dose is one or two sachets each day. The dose in children depends on the child's
weight which your doctor will work out.
The contents of one sachet should be sprinkled evenly on the surface of
150 ml (4-6 fluid oz) of water or fruit juice.
Allow to stand for one or two minutes. After the powder becomes wetted,
stir or shake to make a uniform suspension.
Questran or Questran Light can be mixed with water, fruit juice, skimmed
milk, thin soups or pulpy fruits with a high moisture content e.g. apple sauce.
DO NOT take the medicine in its dry form, since it could
cause you to choke.
Q. Should I take the sachets with food?
A. It does not matter when you take your Questran or Questran
Light in relation to food.
Q. How long should I take Questran or Questran Light sachets?
A. Continue with the sachets until your doctor tells you
otherwise. It is important you take
this medicine. Your doctor will tell
you to come back for regular
check-ups. Keep your doctor’s
appointments even if you feel well.
Q. What if I miss a dose?
A. If you miss a dose do not worry. Take it as soon as you remember.
However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose
and continue as before. DO NOT take a
double dose to make up for the one you missed.
Q. What if I take too many sachets, or a child swallows some?
A. Go to your nearest hospital Casualty Department or tell your
doctor immediately. If you are going to
the hospital, take the empty container and any remaining sachets with you.
UNDESIRABLE EFFECTS
Q. Are there any unwanted effects of Questran or Questran Light?
A. Any medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Taking Questran or Questran Light is much
like changing your diet. Some people
may develop constipation or feel slightly bloated or suffer from a little wind
during the first few days of treatment.
These normally reduce over time and frequently disappear if treatment is
continued. However, check with your
doctor if these effects continue or are bothersome.
If
you are starting Questran or Questran Light for the first time, by increasing
the dose slowly you will minimise these effects. Usually patients start with one sachet daily for a week or so,
then increase the dose by one sachet every week until they are taking the
number of sachets the doctor has prescribed.
Large
doses of Questran may cause diarrhoea.
After using Questran or similar products for a long time, a few patients
have experienced unusual tiredness and rapid or deep breathing.
If
you notice any other unusual effects while taking Questran or Questran Light,
check with your doctor or pharmacist.
Long-term
treatment with high doses of Questran or Questran Light may reduce the body's
absorption of fat-soluble vitamins from the diet (vitamins A, D and K). In some patients, reduced absorption of
vitamin K could increase the time it takes for the blood to clot. If you are worried about this, please discuss
it with your doctor who may suggest a vitamin supplement.
LOOKING AFTER YOUR MEDICINE
You will
see an 'EXPIRY DATE' on the packaging of Questran or Questran Light. Do not use after this date.
Keep all
your medicines where children cannot reach them. Keep Questran or Questran Light sachets at room temperature (i.e.
below 30°C). They should not get too
hot or damp; so do not leave the sachets near a radiator, on a window sill, or
in the bathroom.
If your
doctor decides to stop the sachets, take the remainder back to a pharmacy.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Further
information about cholesterol and self-help may be obtained from your doctor
and from:
Family Heart Association
Wesley House
7 High Street
Kidlington
Oxford OX5 2DH
Date
of last revision:
August 1995