Questran

[mickeybread]

Hi everyone, just found & joined this forum. I have just (last week) discovered that my local pharmacy cannot get supplies of questran due to "manufacturing problems" . I am not sure if this is linked in anyway to previous problems with supply, it is the first time that I have had any problems.
I am also suprised to hear that some gp's do not realise it is used for crohns sufferers, I have been using it for around ten years and at the moment I do have enough in reserve to last me a month or so, but I am dreading how I will cope if I cannot get more in the future. As I am sure some of you already know, the effects of not having my daily doses of colestyramine powders (Questran) will be devastating, I will not be able to venture very far from the bathroom, never mind the house, lol.
I am going to be seeing my gp & gastroenterologist (does that sound right?) ASAP to see if there is an alternative. If anyone out there knows of any please do let me know.
So far, I have been relatively lucky in that I have only had to avoid fatty/greasy foods, without my questran I will have to avoid food altogether or eat within touching distance of the bathroom. It realy is that serious, once one days dosage has been missed, from then on, the effects of eating are almost instantanious, I am sure I dont need to go into detail, lol.

[laura/nottingham]

Hi, dunno whether anyone has metioned, Im sure my work started changing the Questran sachets for Colestid (colestipol) sachets.

[bobbin]

Questran Light (sugar free) is more readily available than standard Questran at the moment. You could ask you doctor for a prescription for that instead. Further (but limited supplies) of standard Questran are due at the end of December.

[raluk]

Hi, did anybody found questran (cholestyramine) anywhere? I can't find it in Italy. Did anybody know what happened with questran's supply? I am using this for 3 years after my gallblader removal because I developed diarrhea and questran was my life saver (I am sure that you all know what life with d means), and now I am very worried cause I really need it and I don't know another med in change to help with my problem. Sorry for my bad english! Thank you!

[MicaG]

Hi, i am a BSD sufferer after having my gall bladder removed 8 years ago. It has taken 6 years for me to find out what the problem is, after being diagnosed with IBS etc etc. I took my research to my GP and he started me on Questran. Only those who have suffered with these problems can understand the difference it has made to my life. In fact, it gave me my life back, i no longer had to plan shopping/days out/daily routine around the quickest routes to a bathroom. There was no way i could work, i had to rely on my partner, and i finally thought i had found the solution. Now im being told by every pharmacist i take my prescription to that due to manufacturers problems, its like gold dust ! I was told it was being sent abroad, but lots of these posts are from people in other countries having the same problems! Does anyone know when they will be available or something that works as well? As most of you know, my life will be on hold till its sorted Thankyou .

[bobbin]

Hi, i am a BSD sufferer after having my gall bladder removed 8 years ago. It has taken 6 years for me to find out what the problem is, after being diagnosed with IBS etc etc. I took my research to my GP and he started me on Questran. Only those who have suffered with these problems can understand the difference it has made to my life. In fact, it gave me my life back, i no longer had to plan shopping/days out/daily routine around the quickest routes to a bathroom. There was no way i could work, i had to rely on my partner, and i finally thought i had found the solution. Now im being told by every pharmacist i take my prescription to that due to manufacturers problems, its like gold dust ! I was told it was being sent abroad, but lots of these posts are from people in other countries having the same problems! Does anyone know when they will be available or something that works as well? As most of you know, my life will be on hold till its sorted Thankyou .

Questran is in very short supply at present due to manufacturing issues. The shortage is not due to export from the UK.

In order to increase your options, your prescription should be written generically as 'colestyramine sugar free sachets'. This gives the pharmacist two options... to dispense the brand Questran Lite, which is currently more readily available than standard Questran, or to dispense the generic/unbranded version of colestyramine made by TEVA. The generic version is in stock at most wholesalers.

There's no need to worry. Go back to your doctor for the new prescription and the pharmacy should be able to order it for you if they don't have it in stock.

[MicaG]

thanks so much for the advice, will print and take to my GP, once again thank you !

[Mohamed]

I know is a very long time. just wanted to share my knowledge.I have bought the Questran recently from boots in the uk .It cost £32.00 for 100 sachets and was on private prescribtion.
hope that will help and is available on the high street of London