Welchol side effects

I'm on Welchol for the second time. I've been having a pain in my left shoulder blade and in the left side of my neck, that seems to be related. I took it for a week, had the pain, then stopped it for two days and the pain went away. I'm trying it again (2nd day) and the pain is back in my shoulder blade. I'm still having the vivid dreams I had the last time I took the drug about a year ago, which cause me to sleep so deeply, it's hard to wake up. It also causes me to grind my teeth harder (sleeping so deep) that causes more jaw pain, and pain in the neck. The first time I took this drug was last year, along with Crestor. Talk about vivid dreaming! With the two drugs together I thought I was hallucinating. The first time I also had horrible headaches and sore throat. I just can't understand why they continue to tell us there are no side effects, when clearly there are. We have all experienced them. I wish there was an easy answer.

I have been on Welchol to help lower my cholesterol along with the lipitor and I have such muscle aches and pain especially in my feet, knees, arms are sore along with my right shoulder, headache everyday and very tired. Not sure if I am going to fill my prescription today..I ache all over.

I have been on various cholesterol drugs (statins) including Lipitor with severe muscle weakness of the lower extremities. My doctor ordered Welchol and said since it contains no statins there would be no side effects. Within three days I experienced severe weakness and pain of the hands and wrists. It became worse as I continued taking this drug. I was unable to even hold a cup of coffee or golf. I discontinued it and it gradually subsided. I watch what I eat, go to aerobic classes six days a week and walk several miles four times a week. I am going to continue with this regime and Welchol is now my last experience with cholesterol drugs.

I've developed pretty bad knee pain after being on Welchol for a year. I've been off it for about three weeks, pain still not subsiding.

Has anyone experienced weight loss while on "WELCHOL" ?

I started taking Welchol in February of 2009. Took 4-6 pills a day. I began to have heart palpitations, and flutterings of the heart soon after. I did not see any connection to my symptoms with the Welchol. I went to the doctor and he did a CT and told me that the heart was fine. He increased my heart medication and still the palpitations went on. Then, last week, I forgot to take the Welchol...didn't take it for a whole day and suddenly the heart palpitations ceased. I'm into 4 days without the Welchol and have had no heart palpitations whatsoever. I will stay off it for awhile...then try it again, and if the palpitations return, I will know who the culprit is. Is anyone else out there having this problem. I did have the tiredness and after reading all these side affects, I now know the reason why.

After 7 doses of Welchol I could not swallow, had severe heartburn and pressure in my chest, fatigue, and shortness of breath upon ANY exertion worsening pain in my left shoulder and pain in my left foot I felt that I was having a massive heart attack. I will never take this drug again and I can only pray that these symptoms go away, which so far they have not (last does was yesterday morning)

Have been on Welchol for IBS for many years. It stopped my IBS symptoms but does cause constipation. I try to eat healthier in order to help with that. About 3 months ago, I began having pain in my fingers. I thought it was probably due to carpal tunnel syndrome. In the last two weeks, the pain intensified and spread to all the knuckles on my hand; I also had swelling and redness. The pain then spread to my toes, the rest of the bones in my feet, wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees, and ankles. Next came stinging and burning and then sporadic numbness. By late afternoon, the fatigue was incredible, and I would become dizzy. I went to the doctor, and he ran every blood test available. Everything came back normal, which was great, but my doctor couldn't pinpoint what was causing my problems. He said none of my medicines would cause such symptoms.

My boss asked me if I was taking any cholesterol medication, and I told her I took Welchol for IBS. She said she had read article upon article connecting cholesterol medication to joint paint and encouraged me to check online to see if I could find any answers. This site was one of the many I found where other people mentioned symptoms very similar to my own. My boss suggested I mention this to my doctor. I was thrilled at the prospect of finding such an "easy" solution since my other medications are not easily replaced.

My doctor instantly said that there was "no way" that Welchol could cause these symptoms since -- as so many of your doctors have told you -- that it is not absorbed into the bloodstream. However, he approved my stopping Welchol as an "experiment". I noticed that many of you mentioned it took a few weeks or more for the symptoms to reduce. My doctor warned me again that this was not the solution and that in a couple days, he wants me to consider taking Neurontin or going on a sedative for stress. He thinks, since all the tests have come back negative, that stress is the real culprit.

I know that stress can cause many health problems, but it just seems too coincidental that so many of you have experienced the same symptoms I'm facing. Do you think I'm making the right decision? My symptoms are difficult to cope with at times, but they are not incapacitating. I would really like to try staying off of Welchol and see if it helps in the weeks to come instead of adding yet another medication to my list.

I would appreciate your advice and thoughts. Thank you for your posts -- they have given me real hope for a solution.

Been reading everyone's postings and now I'm scared. I currently am on Vytorin 10/80 and today the doctor added Welchol. I just had and ACL replacement surgery 4 weeks ago and my leg aches anyhow. I can't remember a time I have not had back pain, and I have arthritis in my joints and neuropathy in my feet. Any yeahs or nahs out there for you experienced ones? Is it worth taking, do you assume all my current pains will only get worse?????

I had delayed a recent refill of Welchol because of the cost and found that the hip and leg pain of the last 3 years on Welchol disappeared. Tried it again and pain returned. Still suffering horrible low back pain requiring an MRI (which was negative) I also stopped taking Zetia, which I'd taken for 5 years. Am three weeks without either drug, and have absolutely no back pain, some muscle weakness in legs but no pain, am no longer limping, have noticed that the dark circles under my eyes have improved dramatically - and I can now sleep without sleep aids. I am truly enjoying a pain-free life again and am adopting a dedicated cholesterol lowering diet. Hopefully, exercise will follow as the muscle weakness improves.

I have been on Welchol for 5 months and it has changed my life. It was prescribed for IBS and I have tried many different medications, acupuncture, naturopathy, yoga, and anything else that the doctors hinted would help. This is the first thing that seems to be working. Since August, I have had four "flare-ups," which is a significant difference. I have been experiencing more headaches and some gas and heartburn. In my case, I am willing to accept these side effects because my quality of life has improved SO much in the past five months. I know that everyone experiences different side effects and results, but if you've tried everything and feel burnt out and like you want to give up, I recommend just trying Welchol to see if it can help you.

Besides having all over muscle aches with this medicine that 'doesn't get absorbed in the blood', I had so much hair fall out in 1 week. I called the doctor and she said it was not a side effect. Well, I had a huge hand full of hair to challenge that statement. I quit taking it and the hair is growing back in. I'm taking the red yeast rice capsules from the health food store and will see how that is working.

After just two days on three WelChol a day, I have flu symptom. I'm going to stop the pills and see if it clears up just as quickly. If it was the WelChol, I'll just live with high cholesterol (273). WelChol will be the third strike after trying Vytorin and Lovastatin and having issues with all of them.

I have been off WelChol for about 3 weeks now thanks to this web site. After about a year on the drug I had enough pain in my shoulders that it prevented me from sleeping. I stopped the drug after reading the comments here and the pain has diminished each day. In addition headaches, night sweats, leg pain and fatigue have been greatly reduced. For me, WelChol is poison and I am very grateful that each of you shared your experience since the drug company doesn’t provide this information.

Wow, third day and no headache so I guess it was the weather. I was also not tired so. I feel great with no side effects. I just hope this works. Blood test at the end of Jan. will tell all.

This is my second day taking Welchol and so far I have been ok. I did have a headache yesterday but I am not sure if it was the weather or the medication. I didn't read that the medication makes you tired but I do get sleepy from it. I am hoping that my body needs to just adjust to this new medication.

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

I decided to read about side effects of Welchol. I just got back from the doctor's and she gave me some free samples of this. In the past, I had been on Lipitor and Zetia but had terrible back, hip and leg pain. I went off of those and I was fine. Started on Crestor- same pain in back, hips and legs. Now my doctor says that Welchol is not absorbed in the blood stream so there should be no side effects- only possible heartburn. After reading all of these side effects that everyone is having on Welchol, I am not going to even try it.
I am going to record everything I eat and try to control my cholesterol with a good ,healthy diet. I also have heard that Red Yeast Rice- available at GNC or Health food stores can lower your cholesterol. I might try that but for now I'm doing the healthy diet and exercise.

Just started taking it 2 days ago, already, headache, watery eyes, acid reflux. Couldn't take statins either, Lipitor=terrible foot pain, Zocar= major stomach upset, High Dose Niacin=terrible itching, Crestor=immediate memory lose and now this. Think I need to tell the Dr.'s to leave me alone and let the LDL's role. From reading these post I think there is a group of us that are not supposed to take this crap....

Severe itching and burning in chest and breast. Intense burning in rib cage and stomach. Breast pain, had mammo last year,going back Friday to check on that again..Pain in left shoulder and burning in arms to. Some minor pain in low back, legs & toes. Tons of gas & flatulence and bloating. Headaches and nausea, some dizziness & sensitivity to light.

I have been experiencing pain in my feet, right shoulder, and main in my arms, where they bend. Now I have worked out for almost 30 years and have had various sports injuries - and have not even considered Welchol as a possible cause for this. Tonight for whatever reason, I decided to look up the drug that my Dr. told me would have no side effects, just out of curiosity.

My history with Welchol is around a year and a half, and it works rather nicely. My cholesterol was 205 last month after about a year of not making the best choices diet wise. I have brought my number down to 188 through what I coin "food reform" - a lifestyle of very mindful eating. I think I need to get back into doing that if I want to get rid of some of this pain.

I read hair loss among some of the posts. How true is this? I have noticed my receding hairline receding faster this year and again, didn't connect Welchol with it at all.

I've been taking Welchol for three weeks and have developed gastritis which I think is the result of taking this med. One of the side effects is heartburn which I do not have but I do have burning sensation in my stomach. Please respond if you have experienced this side effect. I hurt! Thanks! M.A.

I also started taking Welchol, two in the morning and two in the evening. I started noticing that I can not get an erection, and I know it's the medication. Can someone out there tell me if i am the only one or is someone else having this problem due to Welchol?

They just prescribed welchol for my mother ... 625 mg ... 3 tablets 2x a day ...That's 6 tablets total @ 625 mg each ... I decided to research it before she starts taken it ... I am SOOOOO glad I did...

I wished I come across this site earlier. I had all the symptoms described. Currently had severe knee pain, right shoulder pain, tired, watery eyes, nauseating back headache, dizziness...
Had WELCOL for about 6 months.
Will seriously try to seek alternate method. I am 47yrs old

Going into my second week and experiencing irratic sleeping, lower back pain, occasional nausea and a lot of gas. I'm taking it for IBS and to lower cholesterol. I have also been taking a probiotic and something called chlorella, which is supposed to be one of the healthiest, natural supplement on the planet. So I was thinking the combination of all of the above was causing this. After reading all of the side effects, I'm thinking strongly of quiting the Welchol. Will give it one more week.

I have been on Welchol since April & have been experiencing several unexplained problems. I have been having "sweats" which I just chalked up to being menopause symptoms.........but now not so sure. I can't sleep & suffer from muscle pain as well as muscle spasms in my face. Is anyone else having any of these issues!

I was on Zetia for a long time and did well on it, but my Doctor did not like what he was hearing about Zetia, so he put me on Welchol. I have been taking it for a month and have sever bloating and stomach discomfort. Does this subside with time? I am unable to take statins.

I was on Zetia for a long time and did well on it. But my Doctor didn't like what was coming out about it, so he changed me to Welchol. I have been on it for a month and feel weak, and have sever bloating. Does that ever subside?

I had been on other statin drugs and experienced severe muscle pain in my arms. After going off the RX's the pain went away. Now my MD prescribed Welchol 4 months ago. I didn't focus on any side effects until I read all of these logs. I've been having severe pain in my knees, but it seemed to have subsided since I started using moist heat on them. The gas pain that I also have been experiencing I just chulked it up to getting older and taking fish oil. I wish I would have read these logs before I filled a 3 month supply of the drug. Now I don't know what to do. The Welchol seems to be working, but now I'm on the fence about the drug.

Just started Welchol after trying Lipitor & others. Have now developed severe vertigo & my right upper arm is killing me. I can't drink ANY alcohol because it makes me violently ill, almost to the point of throwing up, My doc says this drug is non-systemic & says I should have a brain scan...I stopped taking it 3 days ago-arm pain is gone but not the vertigo yet...I'll have to weigh my options of going back on it again.
Has anyone else had dizziness & lightheadedness from this?

All this talk of HAIR LOSS, POSSIBLE GALL STONES, ANEMIA etc. is really scaring me as my doctor (gastro-i) has prescribed it for extreme IBS. Am interested to know if anyone else has experienced hair loss. I HAVE been experiencing gas and feeling tired. Don't know if the tiredness is due to the Walchol. Am very uncomfortable about taking this drug after reading all these comments.

Been taking Welchol for 1 month,started two weeks after starting Welchol, pain in my right shoulder,constipation, muscle aches,indigestion,nausea accidental injury,weakness,flu-like symptoms,went to doctor yesterday,he brought out a book showing only one side effect-indigestion,send me for blood work.I quit taking Welchol or any other cholesterol med.My mother is 86,and she told me not to do it.LOL

i've been taking Welchol - 2 tabs morning and 2 at night - As with the statins, the muscles in my upper arms hurt so bad that I can't sleep, can hardly hold the leash to walk my dog and NOW (after taking Welchol) I am getting pain in my foot and knee. My doctor may get angry but I don't care, I'm not taking anything else for this....I'm 52 and living with daily pain and why should I? I could live pain free simply by stopping this mess.....so I am....stopping that is.

I've been taking welchol for a little over a month... I notice that my stomach got bigger (is this what you call bloating) in a month's times... my whole body i still small. Also I always have gas...usually this happens when I drink regular milk (lactose intolerance), but I've switch to soy milk and gas is still there.. I used soy milk prior to taking welchol.

Also, I cannot bend my middle finger on my right hand and it is very tender.. This only happened recently..

In 2002 I was on Lipitor for around two and a half years, my muscle deterioration was so bad, fatigue, weakness, ED and joint pain. Doctor took me off and put me on Welchol after about two weeks I felt so much better, continued on Welchol up until about three months ago and stopped, muscle pain was two much, joint pain, butt muscle pain, tail bone pain, no ED, just fatigue, just went back to the Doctor and I told him I quit taking Welcho he was mad, states no side effects, he prescribed sleeping pills and I will try Welchol again. I am 47 now and also have developed a severe case of ringing in my ear.

I just started using a prescription of Welchol. After two days, I am seriously thinking of discontinuing taking it. I am not prone to anxiety at all, and since I started using this, I have some anxiety and I am generally uncomfortable. Some gas and constipation. My heart rate is up a little. I really don't like this feeling of anxiety at all. I am taking Synthroid and Benicar.

I have read all of the symptoms on this page and have many of them. I too was on all of the statins but had to stop due to terrible muscle aches, pain and fatigue. This is my second attempt at Welchol and the same as before lower back and hip pain, foot pain, lethargy and trouble sleeping. Dr said not absorbed by the body so no side effects, B.S. I also had a strange bout of anemia before, I'll bet it was the Wechol then too. I'll take my chances with the Cholesterol I can't live like this. There must be something else we can take?

gas, flatulence, bloating, all are a part of taking Welchol. I have to take it because it is the only relief I have found for IBS. My cholesterol is fine. Dr. put me on Welchol and I have (with help from stool softeners occasionally) been keeping in under control for the most part.

Horrible nauseating pain in my hip, lower leg, upper shoulder and waist. I am getting of of it to see.

I had trouble breathing, my throat burned, my eyes watered and I was constantly coughing. Finally I realized that I had just started my job in a backward workplace that still allowed smoking about two weeks after I began using Welchol. I worked with our city council to get smoking banned in all workplaces and then finally did. All of my problems are gone, now that I can work in a smoke-free environment and the few problem addicts can't smoke on the premises. The Welchol was never the problem, it was toxic tobacco smoke.

I have been on Welchol about 21/2 months. I have bloating and lots of gas.indegestion, acid reflux, headache in back of head. I thought was a sinus headache. Not sure now. Just called my Dr. about blood work after reading all remarks.Watch out for the other drugs, especially Crestar. My muscles were breaking down into my blood stream with that and I had to go through some painful tests to make sure threr was no permanet damage. Zocor,Mevacor,Lipitor all caused muscle weakness as did all of the statins. So please get to your Drs. if you experience any of these.
thanks, NLC

This is my second try with Welchol. I have stopped this med because of headaches. Is anyone else having headache problems? Do they subside with continued use?

i started taking welchol a week ago, and now i am having muscle aches, weakness and black, tarry stools. according to my doc, this med has no side effects-- i just think it is a coincidence that i am now feeling this way after taking this, and i was fine before. what a damper on my day!

I have been taking Welchol for a week and a half. I have noticed a little dizziness and some muscle pain. I don't seem to have much energy either. Sleeping is what I want to do most these days. Not good. Just wanted to share my side effects with you..

Pain in knee and foot. Pain during walking so I had to limp. I am taking Welchol 625 mg. 3 tablets two times a day after meal, total 6 tablets a day.

Frequent, urgent urination with slight burning sensation.

I have been on Zuccor and Lipitor, had severe leg cramps and also in the hand. I have not noticed any side effects with Welchol, I have been taking it for at least 8 months now. But my sleeping is not that good, 2 hours a night does not seem enough. Zuccor gave me sex problems.
Etienne

i don't knoe if welchol is my problem but i have been on this for two years and i have back pain pain in my joints and now have developed pain left side of my neck. could welchol be the problem?

Has anybody every heard of memory loss while taking Welchol.