Welchol and fatigue

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.

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.

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 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?