Drug interactions
Colesevelam + Levonorgestrel oral / ethinylestradiol / ferrous bisglycinate
Severity: Moderate
Colesevelam and Levonorgestrel oral / ethinylestradiol / ferrous bisglycinate: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Colesevelam can reduce systemic exposure to ethinylestradiol and possibly progestins in combined oral contraceptives. This may reduce contraceptive reliability if doses are taken together.
What this interaction means in plain words
Colesevelam and Levonorgestrel oral / ethinylestradiol / ferrous bisglycinate can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Why it happens
Bile acid sequestrant binds hormones in the gut and reduces their absorption.
What to do
Take the contraceptive at least 4 hours before colesevelam and counsel the patient on consistent timing.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Colesevelam
- Amlodipine-olmesartan-hydrochlorothiazide + Colesevelam Moderate
- Amlodipine-olmesartan + Colesevelam Moderate
- Chenodiol + Colesevelam Moderate
- Cholic acid + Colesevelam Moderate
- Colesevelam + Cyclosporin Moderate
- Colesevelam + Glibenclamide Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Colesevelam with Levonorgestrel oral / ethinylestradiol / ferrous bisglycinate?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Colesevelam and Levonorgestrel oral / ethinylestradiol / ferrous bisglycinate can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Colesevelam can reduce systemic exposure to ethinylestradiol and possibly progestins in combined oral contraceptives. This may reduce contraceptive reliability if doses are taken together.
How serious is the interaction between Colesevelam and Levonorgestrel oral / ethinylestradiol / ferrous bisglycinate?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Take the contraceptive at least 4 hours before colesevelam and counsel the patient on consistent timing.
What other medicines interact with Colesevelam?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Colesevelam with, for example, Amlodipine-olmesartan-hydrochlorothiazide, Amlodipine-olmesartan, Chenodiol. The full list is on the Colesevelam page.
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