Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases) + Colesevelam
Colesevelam brand names: WelChol, Lodalis.
We found no known interaction between Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases) and Colesevelam in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the label for Colesevelam states a food rule worth keeping to.
Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases) and Colesevelam
We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.
No Known Interaction Found
We did not find a documented interaction between Colesevelam and Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases) in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.
Worth understanding: our licensed dataset holds no drug-interaction record for Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases) at all — not against Colesevelam, and not against any other medication we track. This verdict therefore rests on the absence of any recorded data, not on research that looked at this combination and found nothing. We cannot rule an interaction out.
If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.
Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.
Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases) safety at a glance
Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.
Some Colesevelam Products Have a Food Rule — Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases) Should Not Break It
At least one FDA label for a product containing Colesevelam says to take it with food. If you take Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases) on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate — and take Colesevelam with a meal where the label says to.
This may not be true of your version. Food instructions belong to the product, not the ingredient: two Colesevelam products can carry different directions, and extended-release forms often differ from immediate-release ones. The label we read is quoted below — check the directions on your own box or bottle, or ask your pharmacist, for how to take the exact product you were given.
Colesevelam hydrochloride should be taken as follows ( 2.2 , 2.4 ): Tablets Take 6 tablets once daily or 3 tablets twice daily with a meal and liquid.
From the Dosage and Administration section of the FDA label we read for Colesevelam — where that label names a specific product, the instruction is that product's. See the Colesevelam drug page ›
A food rule is not an interaction — it is about how much of the medicine you absorb. The directions that came with your own product, and your pharmacist, outrank anything on this page.
Questions About Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases) or Colesevelam
These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases) or Colesevelam, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:
Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.
See Every Supplement That Interacts With Colesevelam
This page covers Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases) only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Colesevelam page lists 17 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.
The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Coffee Charcoal (moderate), European Mandrake (moderate), Glucomannan (moderate) and Guar Gum (moderate).
By severity: 1 major · 7 moderate · 9 minor.
From our pharmacist’s overview on the Colesevelam page
“Colesevelam (WelChol, Lodalis) lowers cholesterol by binding bile acids in your gut, and every one of the 17 supplements on this list can interfere with how oral medicines are absorbed in that same territory. I would treat this list with genuine care, and the place to start is activated charcoal, the only major-rated entry.”
Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026
Taking Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases) as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions
We hold 713 real supplement products containing Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases), each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases). Even though Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases) itself has no known interaction with Colesevelam, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:
Where Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases) and Colesevelam Sit Against Everything Else
Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.
#39 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days
#1,706 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days
Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.
Where does our data come from?
- Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
- Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases) reference on this page ↓
- Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases) and Colesevelam records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
- What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
About Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases)
What is Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases)?
- Digestion and bloating
- Muscle soreness and exercise recovery
- Inflammation and swelling
- Sinus and respiratory congestion
- Post-surgery or injury recovery
Proteolytic enzymes are proteins that help break down other proteins, and common examples include bromelain (from pineapple), papain (from papaya), trypsin, chymotrypsin, and pancreatin. People take them for digestion, inflammation, and muscle recovery, but the evidence is mixed and stronger for some uses (like aiding digestion in people who lack natural enzymes) than others. They are generally well tolerated, but talk with a pharmacist or doctor before use, especially if you have allergies, a bleeding risk, or are pregnant.
Enzymes sourced from fruit (pineapple, papaya), animal pancreas, or microbial/fungal fermentation · Capsules, tablets (often enteric-coated), powders
An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases) is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases) record says about it on its own.
Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases): dosing
There is no single standardized dose for proteolytic enzyme supplements. Products vary widely in their source, strength, and how they measure enzyme activity (for example, units may be listed differently from one brand to another).Because of this, the best approach is to follow the directions on the product label and not exceed the recommended amount. Do not assume an over-the-counter product replaces a prescription pancreatic enzyme.
From our Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases) monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.
About Colesevelam
What Is Colesevelam Used For?
Brand names: WelChol, Lodalis
Colesevelam is used alongside diet and exercise to reduce high LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) in adults with primary hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol). It is also approved to lower LDL cholesterol in boys and girls aged 10–17 who have heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) — an inherited condition that causes very high cholesterol — when diet and lifestyle changes alone haven't worked.
Colesevelam tablets and oral suspension (Welchol and colesevelam hydrochloride products) are also used to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes, as an add-on to diet and exercise. Colesevelam is not for type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.
Most-Reported Side Effects for Colesevelam
From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (2,014 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.
Other Drugs & Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases)
Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases) — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.
No drugs match “”.
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list
We also checked Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases) against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.
- Apixaban ›
- Levothyroxine ›
- Amlodipine ›
- Methylphenidate ›
- Warfarin ›
- Sertraline ›
- Testosterone ›
- Ivermectin ›
- Losartan Potassium ›
- Aspirin ›
- Abemaciclib ›
- Acetaminophen ›
- Metoprolol ›
- Rosuvastatin ›
- Rivaroxaban ›
- Escitalopram ›
- Clopidogrel ›
- Atorvastatin ›
- Docusate ›
- Tadalafil ›
- Tirzepatide ›
- Methamphetamine ›
- Ibuprofen ›
- Warfarin Sodium ›
- Valacyclovir ›
- Hydroxyurea ›
- Sumatriptan ›
- Semaglutide ›
- Prednisone ›
- Propranolol ›
- Lisdexamfetamine ›
- Amitriptyline ›
- Metformin ›
- Amoxicillin ›
- Lisinopril ›
- Isotretinoin ›
- Amlodipine Besylate ›
- Methotrexate ›
- Bendamustine ›
- Bupropion ›
- Amphetamine ›
- Doxycycline ›
- Fluoxetine ›
- Azithromycin ›
- Acyclovir ›
- Pregabalin ›
- Lamotrigine ›
- Dextroamphetamine ›
- Gabapentin ›
- Acetaminophen, Codeine ›
- Levothyroxine, Liothyronine ›
- Clonazepam ›
- Quetiapine ›
- Naproxen ›
- Omeprazole ›
- Letrozole ›
- Duloxetine ›
- Methylene Blue ›
- Buspirone ›
- Citalopram ›
Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,829 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases) list.
Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases) References
The 3 references that drive our Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases) monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.
- Weeks JA, Harper RA, Simon RA, Burdick JD. Assessment of sensitization risk of a laundry pre-spotter containing protease. Cutan Ocul Toxicol. 2011;30(4):272-9. PubMed
- Marquès LI, Lara S, Abós T, Bartolomé B. Occupational rhinitis due to pepsin. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2006;16(2):136-7. DOI
- Cartier A, Malo JL, Pineau L, Dolovich J. Occupational asthma due to pepsin. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1984;73(5 Pt 1):574-7. PubMed
Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.
Taking Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases) and Colesevelam Together: Common Questions
Is it safe to take Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases) with Colesevelam?
Should I take Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases) and Colesevelam at the same time of day?
Does Colesevelam interact with any supplements?
Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy
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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.