I have been taking welchol for approx 5 months and welchol has lowered by cholesterol by 100 pts and I am so pleased with the results. I have diarrhea in the mornings but combat that with a banana which immediately takes these symptoms away. Side effects in general have been very minimal and since I can't take statins, this has really been a life saver for me as my cholesterol is very high not due to diet etc. but instead, heredity