Clinical Use of Cholestyramine Resin in Diarrheas of Various Etiology

Abstract

Although cholestyramine resin has been used historically to treat some hypercholesterolemias, it serves a useful purpose in treating various diarrheas (e.g., ileal resection, post-vagotomy, antibiotic induced). The purpose of this article is to review and summarize its therapeutic use in the latter regard. Through its physical-chemical properties, administration of cholestyramine often leads to patient noncompliance and other inherent problems associated with its routine use. Thus, an additional intent of this article is to identify these problems and focus attention on pharmaceutical techniques which may prove helpful in overcoming such difficulties.