Drug interactions
Colestipol + Levothyroxine
Severity: Moderate
Colestipol and Levothyroxine: 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
Colestipol binds levothyroxine in the gut and substantially reduces its absorption, which can lead to hypothyroidism in treated patients.
What this interaction means in plain words
Colestipol and Levothyroxine 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.
Colestipol belongs to Cardiovascular; Levothyroxine belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Bile acid sequestrant resin binds levothyroxine in the gastrointestinal lumen, preventing absorption.
What to do
Take levothyroxine at least 4 hours before colestipol. Monitor TSH after starting, stopping, or changing the dose of colestipol.
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?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Colestipol and Levothyroxine, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Levothyroxine
Other interactions of Colestipol
- Amlodipine-hydrochlorothiazide-valsartan + Colestipol Moderate
- Amlodipine-olmesartan-hydrochlorothiazide + Colestipol Moderate
- Atenolol-chlorthalidone + Colestipol Moderate
- Azilsartan-chlorthalidone + Colestipol Moderate
- Candesartan-hydrochlorothiazide + Colestipol Moderate
- Captopril-hydrochlorothiazide + Colestipol Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Colestipol with Levothyroxine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Colestipol and Levothyroxine 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. Colestipol binds levothyroxine in the gut and substantially reduces its absorption, which can lead to hypothyroidism in treated patients.
How serious is the interaction between Colestipol and Levothyroxine?
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 levothyroxine at least 4 hours before colestipol. Monitor TSH after starting, stopping, or changing the dose of colestipol.
What other medicines interact with Levothyroxine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Levothyroxine with, for example, Cholestyramine, Sodium iodide i-131, Tiratricol. The full list is on the Levothyroxine page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
