Shortage of Bile acid sequestrants: colestyramine powder for oral suspension 4g (Questran and Questran Light), colesevelam (Cholestagel) and colestipol (Colestid)

Bristol-Myers Squibb divested the Questran range to Cheplapharm at the end of July 2019. Current supply situation is as follows:

Questran Light (Cheplapharm) – available in very limited quantities until at least March 2020.
Questran (Cheplapharm) – out of stock; not expected back before 2021.
Colestyramine light 4g sachets – Mylan – (recently launched) available in wholesalers from week commencing 10 February 2020
Cholestagel (colesevelam) 625mg tablets (Sanofi) – Currently in stock.
Colestid (colestipol) plain (Pfizer) – UK licensed stock. Intermittent limited supplies of Colestid plain granules are available until June 2020
Colestid (colestipol) Orange (Pfizer) – Intermittent limited supplies of Colestid orange granules are available until August 2020

This memo advises on management options until the shortage resolves.

Attachments

Medicines Information Pharmacist, London and South East Regional Medicines Information