Welchol side effects

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.

severe bloating , hot all tne time

stiffness in neck muscles -leg weakness

I've been taking Welchol for about 6 wks. in this time I have had urinarie infection, constipation with blood , gas, and some headaches. I've been unable to take the crestor it made me sick at my stomach. Zocor and Lipator effects my sleep pattern and causes mucsle problems.

I have been taking 3 welchol in the am and 3 in the pm for many many years. I take it for bile salt diahrea - and it is wonderful - NO side effects at all - stops the diahhrea. It is notindicated for this, but thank GOD my doctor put me on it INSTEAD of questran which was a nightmare. YES - I did develop b-12 anemia - but that can be resolved by taking supplements for 2 months (2000mcg) and then 1000mcg) daily after that for as long as you take the drug. ALL of my symptoms of b-12 anemia deficiency disapeared (which is what I think ALL of these complaints are about) after b-12 supplementation. Please go to your doctor and have your b-12, folic acid and intrinsic factor checked if you are on Welchol for a long period of time.

Also had blood in stool and not sure about this one, but I was
looking back over the short period I took WELCHOL and I
notice an unusual pattern of aggressive behavior. I normally
have more patience than I exhibited but it was so unusual
that I had a string of events, encounters with people that
demonstrated a severe lack of patience and low concern for
the other person---not my normal behavior. Again, can't say
that there is a connection since there are a lot of pressures
on us right now, but I thought it was worth mentioning.

I have been on this drug for about 2 months and now I can hardly walk. my knees are very stiff and painful. my doctor tells me it is arthiritis. I want to go off this drug!

I have been taking Welchol for about two years, I have not
attributed some of these side effects to Welchol untill I now
but I have irregular heart beats, severe gas, pain in my left
hip, trouble sleeping and recently hyperthyodism with a
goiter. I believe I will stop taking Welchol, my cholesterol is
not that bad it was only about 230 when my doctor put me
on Welchol because of a stroke in my optial nerve in my eye.

I started taking Welchol about 45 days ago because my PPO would not approve ZETIA (Ezetimibe). From the samples of ZETIA my overall, high, and low levels improved.
Before ZETIA I was on lipitor. I stopped lipitor because of upper back and neck pain. I did not have these symptoms with ZETIA.
Unfortunately Welchol gives me the same symptoms as lipitor.
I guess I will have to demand that my PPO allow me get a prescription to ZETIA.
ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS!!!????

I have been on Zocor, Lipator and now I have been on Welchol for over a year and then the Dr, added Zieta as a booster....It seem s to have lowered my cholestral to about 210, but I have severe lower leg cramps. I thought it was a form of arthroitis, but after reading all of the responses in this web site I am rather concerned. My Dr. seems to think there are a lot of side effects in all the cholestral drugs. What do you recommend? Thanking you ibn advance for your response to this email.

I took Welchol to lower my cholesterol and expereinced severe loss.

I took Welchol to lower cholesterol approximately five months
and the side affect was "serious hair loss". Therefore, please add "hair loss" as one of the side affects.

AFTER ONE WEEK ON WELCHOL I GOT STOMACK CRAMPS, GAS, AND LOWER BACK PAINS.

This drug has the same effects as all of the statin drugs and I have been on them all! I will not be crippled by medicine.

I have stomach cramps. The stomach cramps are uncomfortable, but not unbearable. However, I have been taking this prescription for just 2 months. What to do? Because my cholesterol is not going down very fast, and my triglycerides are so high, my dr. has also prescribed Zetia to take with the Welchol. Shoot, I hope the doc knows what he is doing, because I don't want the effects I have been reading about here.

leg and muscle pain

Teriible lower back pain and hip pain each morning after sleeping. I am not one to lie awake at night, and typically do not wake up all night. When I "try" to get out of bed in the morning, I can hardley move. Now my fingers are stiff and I can barely bend them, or if I have bent them into a fist during the night, I have terrible trouble opening my hand. Ususally requires the use of the other hand to open or close my fingers. Have alo noticed of late, muscle pain, I have been going to a health club abd haven't worked out in years, but after 4 months, you'd think the muscles wouldn't still be tender...

I have been on WelChol for about a week I feel bloated and have cramps on my lower legs.