If you have a certain kind of high cholesterol or type 2 diabetes, your doctor might suggest Welchol as a treatment option. It’s a prescription drug used along with a balanced diet and exercise to:

There are two forms of welchol.

  • You swallow a tablet.
  • You mix a powder with liquid to make a suspension.

colesevelam is an active ingredient in Welchol. An active ingredient is what makes a drug work. bile acid sequestrants are drugs that have bile acid in them.

This medication is also available in generic form. Generic medications have the same active ingredient as brand-name drugs, but usually cost less.

This article describes the dosages of Welchol, as well as its strengths and how to take it. To learn more about Welchol, see this in-depth article.

Note: This chart highlights the basics of Welchol’s dosage. Read on for more detail. And keep in mind that this article covers Welchol’s standard dosage schedule, which is provided by the drug’s manufacturer. But always follow the dosing instructions your doctor gives you.

Condition Dosage for The tablets have 625-milligram (mg) in them.s Dosage for 3.75-gram (g) packets
type 2 diabetes six tablets once daily or three tablets twice daily contents of one packet once daily
high cholesterol six tablets once daily or three tablets twice daily contents of one packet once daily

This section covers the administration of the drug. Your doctor will give you dosage instructions for the medication.

What are the forms of Welchol?

There are two forms of welchol.

  • You swallow a tablet.
  • You mix a powder with liquid to make a suspension.

What strengths does Welchol come in?

The two strengths of Welchol are:

  • The tablets have 625-milligram (mg) in them.
  • A packet of powder.

What are the usual dosages of Welchol?

Before you start Welchol, your doctor may order a blood test to check your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. They may not prescribe this drug if certain levels are too high.

The information below describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. But be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. They’ll determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Dosing for type 2 diabetes

The recommended dosage for type 2 diabetes is 3.75 grams (g) daily.

Dosing for high cholesterol

The recommended dosage for high cholesterol is 3.75 g daily.

What’s the dosage of Welchol for children?

Welchol can be used to lower LDL cholesterol in children ages 10 years and older. Females* can take Welchol only after they have started their period.

The recommended daily dose of the drug is for children. The manufacturer recommends that children take powder packets instead of tablets because of the large size.

* In this article, we use the term “female” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.

Is Welchol used long term?

It is usually used as a long-term treatment. You will likely take it a long time if you and your doctor determine it is safe and effective.

Answers to some questions about the dosage of the drug are below.

What is Welchol’s dosage for treating diarrhea?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved Welchol to treat diarrhea. Because of this, there is no standard or approved Welchol dosage for treating this condition.

But scientists have experimented with Welchol in studies to treat certain kinds of diarrhea, including bile salt diarrhea. And some doctors may prescribe Welchol off-label to treat diarrhea. (Off-label means a drug is used to treat a condition other than those it’s approved for.)

If you have questions about the dosage of welchol, talk to your doctor.

Can I mix Welchol powder with a liquid other than water?

You can mix the powder packets with the water, fruit juice, or diet soda to make a suspension for drinking.

There is a powder for making a liquid suspension and a tablet for making a pill. How you take it depends on the form you are prescribed.

Welchol tablet

The tablets can be taken once daily or twice daily. Your doctor may prescribe you six tablets to be taken once daily or three tablets to be taken twice daily.

Take Welchol tablets with food and swallow them with liquid. You should not chew, crush, or split these tablets. If you have trouble swallowing tablets, see this article for tips on how to take this form of medication. You can also ask to have Welchol prescribed as a powder for making a liquid suspension.

Welchol powder for liquid suspension

The instructions for preparing liquid suspension from the packets are below.

  1. The packet should be emptied into a cup or glass.
  2. Add water, diet soda, or fruit juice.
  3. Stir well.
  4. The suspension can be drank with a meal.

Do not take the powder in its dry form without mixing it with liquid.

For information on Welchol expiration, storage, and disposal, see this article.

Accessible drug containers and labels

“If you can’t read the prescription label on your medication, you should tell your doctor or pharmacist. Some pharmacies have labels for medication.”

  • Large print or use of blind.
  • You can use a code on a phone to change the text to sound.

“If your current pharmacy doesn’t offer accessibility features, your doctor or pharmacist may be able to recommend a new pharmacy.”

Let your pharmacist know if you have trouble opening bottles. They may be able to deliver the drug in a container. They may have tips to make it easier to open the drug container.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is close to your next dose, skip it. Then take your next dose. If you miss a dose, take two doses together.

If you need help remembering to take your dose of Welchol on time, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or downloading a reminder app on your phone.

Do not take more Welchol than your doctor prescribes, as this can lead to serious side effects.

Symptoms of overdose

Symptoms caused by a Welchol overdose can include stomach issues, such as constipation.

What to do in case you take too much Welchol

Call your doctor right away if you think you’ve taken too much Welchol. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach the American Association of Poison Control Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately or go to the nearest emergency room.

The dosages provided by the drug manufacturer are described in the sections above. If your doctor recommends it, they will prescribe the correct amount of the drug.

Remember, you should not change your dosage of Welchol without your doctor’s recommendation. Only take Welchol exactly as prescribed. Talk with your doctor if you have questions or concerns about your current dosage. Here are some examples of questions you may want to ask:

  • How long does it take for it to work?
  • Can I take my vitamins at the same time as I take Welchol?
  • “Should my dose be changed if I don’t like the way it works?”

If you have type 2 diabetes, consider joining the Bezzy T2D online community. It’s a place where people living with this condition can share advice and support. You might also want to sign up for Healthline’s type 2 diabetes newsletter to get news on treatments and tips for managing your condition.

Or you may be interested in Healthline’s heart health newsletter, which has advice on managing high cholesterol and more.

Q:

Is it possible to take Welchol at the same time as my other drugs?

Anonymous

A:

Not all of them. The effectiveness of other medications can be decreased by the use of welchol. It is advisable to take other medications at least 4 hours before taking Welchol.

Statin drugs, which are used to lower cholesterol, may be taken at the same time as Welchol. These include:

If you have questions about the best time to take welkenol, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

The Healthline Pharmacist TeamAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.