Pomegranate - WelChol (Colesevelam) Interaction

Interaction Details

Pharmacist Analysis

Pomegranate (and pomegranate extract) has several potential drug interactions that should be taken into consideration.

Primarily, pomegranate can affect drugs metabolized by CYP2C9, CYP2D6, and CYP3A4 enzymes. This accounts for a very large proportion of the drug interactions associated with pomegranate.

Pomegranate also may have mild antihypertensive effects, potentially increasing the risk of adverse effects and hypotension when used with other drugs that lower blood pressure.

Although there is no interaction noted between pomegranate and the drug in question, as always, it is recommended to speak with your doctor before adding on any new medications or supplements so you can be appropraitely monitored.

What About Welchol?

Welchol (colesevelam) is, for the most part, not absorbed and does not undergo metabolism. It is excreted in the feces mostly unchanged.

Due to how colesevelam works, no interaction is expected between it and most drugs and supplements, including pomegranate.

It is important to note, however, that Welchol can affect the absorption of other drugs administered at the same time. Therefore, dosing of it and other drugs/supplements are generally recommended to be separated.

Colesevelam Overview

• Colesevelam is used in adults along with diet, weight loss, and exercise to reduce the amount of cholesterol and certain fatty substances in the blood alone or in combination with other cholesterol-lowering medications known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins). Colesevelam is also used alone or in combination with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors in certain boys and in girls, ages 10 to 17, with familial heterozygous hypercholesterolemia (an inherited condition in which cholesterol cannot be removed from the body normally) to decrease the amount of cholesterol and other fatty substances in the blood. Colesevelam is also used along with diet and exercise to control blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes (condition in which the body does not use insulin normally and therefore cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood). Colesevelam is in a class of medications called bile acid sequestrants. It works by binding bile acids in your intestines to form a product that is removed from the body.

• Bile acids are made when cholesterol is broken down in your body. Removing these bile acids helps to lower your blood cholesterol. Accumulation of cholesterol and fats along the walls of your arteries (a process known as atherosclerosis) decreases blood flow and, therefore, the oxygen supply to your heart, brain, and other parts of your body. Lowering your blood level of cholesterol and fats may help prevent heart disease, angina (chest pain), strokes, and heart attacks.

Pomegranate - More Interactions

Pomegranate interacts with 898 drugs

Interaction Rating Key

These severity listings are for informational use only. Never start, stop or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.