Welchol and welchol

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.

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 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.

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?

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 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 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?

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.

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

Has anybody every heard of memory loss while taking Welchol.

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.

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.