Question

A patient with hyperlipidemia has a new order for the bile-acid sequestrant medication colesevelam (Welchol). Which nursing action is appropriate when giving the medication? Give the patient's other medications 2 hours after the Welchol.

Answer 1

The appropriate nursing action when giving colesevelam is to administer other medications 2 hours after Welchol to avoid interference with their absorption. Colesevelam works by binding with bile acids, helping to lower cholesterol levels.

Step-by-step explanation:

When administering the bile-acid sequestrant medication colesevelam (Welchol) to a patient with hyperlipidemia, it is appropriate to give the patient's other medications 2 hours after the Welchol. This is due to colesevelam's ability to bind with bile acids, which aids in their excretion, ultimately reducing cholesterol levels. However, it can also interfere with the absorption of other medications if taken too closely together. Bile salts and phospholipids such as lecithin play a crucial role in emulsifying fats in the small intestine by breaking down large lipid globules into smaller fragments, increasing the surface area for enzyme activity.