Questran Light
PATIENT INFORMATION LEAFLET
Questran Light™ 4g/sachet Powder for Oral Suspension
(colestyramine)
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
• If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.
The name of your medicine is Questran Light 4g/sachet Powder for Oral Suspension but will be referred to as Questran Light throughout this leaflet.
What is in this leaflet
1. What Questran Light is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take your medicine
3. How to take your medicine
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store your medicine
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What Questran Light is and what it is used for
Questran Light is supplied as sachets. Each sachet contains 4g of the active substance colestyramine.
Colestyramine belongs to a group of medicines called bile acid binding resins.
Questran Light is used to lower your body's level of cholesterol (a type of fat) which can cause heart disease.
This medicine works in the digestive system and absorbs the cholesterol-containing bile acids, which then pass out through the body in the faeces.
Questran Light may also be used to help stop some types of diarrhoea or itching.
2. What you need to know before you take your medicine Do not take Questran Light:
- if you have ever had an allergic reaction to any of the ingredients of Questran Light, or a similar medicine.
- if you have an illness which results in your bile duct being completely blocked (e.g. gall stones). Check with your doctor if you are unsure. Children
This medicine is not suitable for children under 6 years of age.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Questran Light if you are concerned about any of the following:
Long-term treatment with high doses of Questran Light may reduce the body's ability to absorb fat soluble vitamins from the diet. These include vitamins A, D and K. Therefore you doctor may suggest you take a vitamin supplement.
If this medicine is being given to a child where there is a family history of high blood cholesterol levels, an additional supplement of folic acid may be advised.
Other medicines and Questran Light
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
If you are taking any other medicines it is important that they are taken at a different time to your dose of Questran Light.
Any other medicines should be taken at least 1 hour before you take your dose of Questran Light or 4 - 6 hours after you have taken your dose of Questran Light.
This is because Questran Light may change the effects of other medicines by stopping them from working so well and Questran preparations can stay in the digestive system and can stop other medicines from being absorbed by the body.
Questran Light with food, drink and alcohol
It is recommended that your alcohol intake is kept within the recommended guidelines as advised by your doctor, as alcohol can increase your cholesterol level.
If you have been prescribed this medicine to reduce your cholesterol levels, it is recommended that you follow a low fat diet as advised by your doctor.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
You should not take this medicine if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are breast-feeding, unless your doctor recommends it. Driving and using machines
Questran Light have not been shown to impair your ability to drive or use machines.
This should be taken into account by patients with diabetes mellitus. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.
Questran Light contains aspartame, which is a source of phenylalanine. It may be harmful for people with phenylketonuria.
3. How to take Questran Light
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
To lower cholesterol levels
The usual dose is 3 - 6 sachets a day. This can be taken as a single dose or divided doses up to 4 times a day.
To relieve itching
The usual dose is one or two sachets each day.
To manage diarrhoea
The usual dose is 3-6 sachets a day. This can be taken as a single dose or divided doses up to 4 times a day.
Children (6 - 12 years)
The dose to be given to children will depend on the child's weight, which the doctor will work out for you.
Children under 6 years
This medicine is not recommended for children under the age of 6.
How to make up the sachets
1. The contents of one sachet should be sprinkled evenly on to 150ml (4-6 fluid oz) of water or fruit juice.
2. Allow to stand for 1 or 2 minutes.
3. Once the powder has soaked into the liquid, stir or shake it to mix in thoroughly.
Do not take this medicine in its dry form as it may cause you to choke.
Questran Light can be mixed with water, fruit juice, skimmed milk, thin soups or fruit smoothies or sauces (e.g. apple sauce).
Keep taking your medicine until your doctor tells you to stop. Your doctor will want you to have regular checkups whilst you are taking this medicine.
If you take more Questran Light than you should
Go to your nearest hospital Casualty Department or tell your doctor immediately. Take the empty container and any remaining sachets with you. If you forget to take a dose
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 forgotten dose.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
The most frequent side effect seen is constipation. To minimise this effect you will usually start with a low dose and increase it slowly until you are taking the full number of sachets as prescribed by your doctor. This side effect usually reduces over time.
Other side effects, less common, include:
- bloatedness,
- wind (flatulence),
- feeling sick (nausea) or vomiting,
- diarrhoea,
- heartburn,
- anorexia, weight loss or gain,
- indigestion (dyspepsia),
- problems with your body’s ability to absorb food correctly leading to grey, bulky or smelly stools (steatorrhea),
- increased tendency to bleed, which may also be seen with vitamin D, vitamin K or vitamin A deficiency (which
- may rarely result in night blindness),
- increased level of chloride in the blood (hyperchloremic acidosis) especially in children,
- thin or brittle bones (osteoporosis),
- rash, itching, irritation of skin, tongue or around the anus,
Rare reports of obstruction of the intestine have been seen.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to Store your medicine
Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use Questran Light after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and sachet after ‘Exp'. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not store above 30°C. Protect from moisture. Store in the original package.
If your medicine becomes discoloured or show any signs of deterioration, you should seek the advice of your pharmacist.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6. Further Information What Questran Light contains
The active ingredient is colestyramine.
Each sachet contains 4 grams colestyramine. Questran Light sachets contain no sugar and less powder than Questran sachets.
The other ingredients are: aspartame, citric acid anhydrous, colloidal anhydrous silica, orange flavour, propylene glycol alginate and xanthan gum.
What Questran Light looks like and the contents of the pack
Questran Light comes in the form of sachets containing orange-flavoured powder which produces an off white suspension when reconstituted with water.
Questran Light is supplied in packs containing 50 sachets.
Manufactured by: Farmea, 10, rue Bouche Thomas, ZAC d'Orgemont, Angers, France
Procured from within the EU and repackaged by the Product Licence holder: B&S Healthcare, Unit 4, Bradfield Road, Ruislip, Middlesex, HA4 0NU, UK.
Questran Light™ 4g/sachet Powder for Oral Suspension, PL No: 18799/2245 | POM |
Leaflet date: 06.03.2014
Questran is a trademark of Bristol-Meyers Squibb group of companies.