DEAR DR. GOTT: I read your column every day and thank you for your advice.
I would like to know if Welchol is a statin drug. Some doctors say yes, some say no. I would also like to know the warnings and more about this product.
DEAR READER: Welchol is not a statin drug. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration several years ago as a new drug for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes and it was found to lower LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol as an adjunct to diet and exercise. It is not appropriate for Type 1 diabetics.
Side effects can include weakness, constipation, dyspepsia, muscle aches and pains, nausea, stomach pain, headache and indigestion.
Your letter failed to indicate whether you have personally been prescribed the product, if you know someone who has been, or if either party suffers from high cholesterol levels and/or Type 2 diabetes. Your physician may have found a multipurpose drug that works on two problems at the same time, but by writing to ask for additional information, you bring up a good point.
When any medication, even an over-the-counter one, has been prescribed, ask questions. Why is your physician ordering this? What are the side effects? How long will I be on it? How long before I should notice improvement? Do I take it on an empty stomach or with food? In the morning or in the evening? Will it interfere with any herbal supplements I may be on?
Never take a drug without being well-informed. That’s part of an office visit — and may be the most important part of the visit.
