Posology : מינונים

4.2.   Posology and method of administration

Treatment for elevated serum cholesterol levels should begin with dietary therapy. A minimum of six months of dietary therapy and counseling should usually be undertaken before initiating drug therapy; shorter periods can be considered in patients with severe elevations of LDL-cholesterol (>225 mg/dl or 5.8 mmol/L) or definite Coronary Heart Disease. Drug therapy should be added to dietary therapy, and not substituted for it.
Colestipol hydrochloride granules should never be taken in dry form. Esophageal spasm or respiratory distress can result from attempting to swallow the granules dry.
Route of administration: Oral, mixed with water or other fluids.
Adults:
The recommended initial daily adult dosage of colestipol hydrochloride is 5 grams either once or twice daily.
For adults colestipol hydrochloride is recommended in doses of 5 - 30 grams taken as one dose or two divided doses. Initiation of therapy is recommended at 5 grams either once or twice daily with 5 gram increments at one month intervals. Appropriate use of lipid profiles including LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides is advised so that optimal, but not excessive doses are used to obtain the desired therapeutic effect on LDL-cholesterol level. If the desired therapeutic effect is not obtained at a dose of 5 - 30 grams/day with good compliance and acceptable side-effects, combined therapy or alternate treatment should be considered.
Patients should take other drugs at least one hour before or four hours after Colestid to minimise possible interference with their absorption. However, Colestid and Gemfibrozil may be used in the same patient when administered 2 hours apart (see Interactions).

Preparation:

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Colestid Granules should always be taken mixed in a liquid such as orange or tomato juice, water, skimmed milk or non-carbonated beverage. The contents of the sachet or level scoopful should be added to 100 ml or more of the preferred aqueous vehicle and mixed thoroughly until dispersed (cholestipol hydrochloride will not dissolve in the liquid). Colestid may also be taken in soups or with cereals, pulpy fruits with a higher water content or yoghurt.

Elderly Patients:
At present there are no extensive clinical studies with colestipol in patients over the age of 65.
Review of available data does not suggest that the elderly are more predisposed to side effects attributable to colestipol than the general population; however, therapy should be individualised and based on each patient's clinical characteristics and tolerance to the medication.

Children:
Dosage in children has not been established.