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Bedfordshire and Luton Joint Formulary
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB
Formulary Chapter: 1 - Gastro-intestinal system 
Notes:

Any drug not listed on the Formulary should be considered Non-Formulary - Not recommended for prescribing

01.09.02 Bile acid sequestrants

Colestyramine

First Choice

4g oral powder
4g sugar-free oral powder

Entry reviewed April 2025

Colesevelam

Formulary

625mg Tablets

Notes:

  • For patients with proven Bile Acid Malabsorption (BAM) and have either failed or are intolerant of colestyramine. 
  • Off-label use.
  • The patient will be reviewed within 1 month to assess efficacy and the medication stopped if there is no improvement in symptoms or it is not tolerated.

Entry reviewed April 2025

Non formulary items

Chenodeoxycholic acid (250 mg Capsules)

DNP
Non Formulary

DO NOT PRESCRIBE - this applies to primary and secondary care prescribers

Classifications
May be initiated in any care setting
Specialist to advise therapy and provide first 28 days supply, continuation in Primary Care
Specialist to initiate and stabilise medicine prior to continuation in Primary Care
To be prescribed as per Shared Care Guidance. If no SCG in place status reverts to red.
Red medicines are designated as specialist only medicines which should only be prescribed by a specialist, usually within secondary care (either due to the requirement for specialist knowledge, long-term monitoring requirements, or restrictions that mean medicine supplies are only available to hospitals).
A decision has been made either locally and/or nationally not to routinely commission this preparation. Do not prescribe.
To be purchased over the counter. May be prescribed for chronic, long term conditions or on admission to hospital if essential.