Choleystyramine Light Powder, For Suspension
NDC 67877-422

The NDC code 67877-422 is assigned by the FDA to the product Choleystyramine Light. This pharmaceutical product is labeled by Ascend Laboratories, Llc and is currently categorized as listed product. The medication is a powder, for suspension administered via oral route. In terms of distribution, this product is available in 2 different package configurations. The associated package NDC(s) include: 67877-422-24, 67877-422-60. Beyond standard identification, this entry provides technical data including pharmacologic classes, UNII ingredient references, and RxNorm cross-referencing for healthcare systems.

1) Cholestyramine for Oral Suspension USP Light powder is indicated as adjunctive therapy to diet for the reduction of elevated serum cholesterol in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia (elevated low density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol) who do not respond adequately to diet. Cholestyramine for Oral Suspension USP Light powder may be useful to lower LDL cholesterol in patients who also have hypertriglyceridemia, but it is not indicated where hypertriglyceridemia is the abnormality of most concern.Therapy with lipid-altering agents should be a component of multiple risk factor intervention in those individuals at significantly increased risk for atherosclerotic vascular disease due to hypercholesterolemia. Treatment should begin and continue with dietary therapy specific for the type of hyperlipoproteinemia determined prior to initiation of drug therapy. Excess body weight may be an important factor and caloric restriction for weight normalization should be addressed prior to drug therapy in the overweight.Prior to initiating therapy with cholestyramine resin, secondary causes of hypercholesterolemia (e.g., poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, nephrotic syndrome, dysproteinemias, obstructive liver disease, other drug therapy, alcoholism), should be excluded and a lipid profile performed to assess Total cholesterol, HDL-C and triglycerides (TG). For individuals with TG less than 400 mg/dL (<4.5 mmol/L), LDL-C can be estimated using the following equation:LDL-C = Total cholesterol - [(TG/5) + HDL-C] For TG levels > 400 mg/dL, this equation is less accurate and LDL-C concentrations should be determined by ultracentrifugation. In hypertriglyceridemic patients, LDL-C may be low or normal despite elevated Total-C. In such cases cholestyramine resin may not be indicated. Serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels should be determined periodically based on NCEP guidelines to confirm initial and adequate long-term response. A favorable trend in cholesterol reduction should occur during the first month of cholestyramine resin therapy. The therapy should be continued to sustain cholesterol reduction. If adequate cholesterol reduction is not attained, increasing the dosage of cholestyramine resin or adding other lipid-lowering agents in combination with cholestyramine resin should be considered.Since the goal of treatment is to lower LDL-C, the NCEP4 recommends that LDL-C levels be used to initiate and assess treatment response. If LDL-C levels are not available then Total-C alone may be used to monitor long-term therapy. A lipoprotein analysis (including LDL-C determination) should be carried out once a year. The NCEP treatment guidelines are summarized below.  * Coronary heart disease or peripheral vascular disease (including symptomatic carotid artery disease). † Other risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) include: age (males ≥45 years; females: ≥ 55 years or premature menopause without estrogen replacement therapy); family history of premature CHD; current cigarette smoking; hypertension; confirmed HDL-C <35 mg/dL (<0.91 mmol/L); and diabetes mellitus. Subtract one risk factor if HDL-C is ≥60 mg/dL (≥1.6 mmol/L).  LDL-Cholesterol mg/dL (mmol/L)Definite Atherosclerotic Disease*Two or More OtherRisk Factors†Initiation LevelGoalNoNo≥190 (≥4.9)<160 (<4.1)NoYes≥160 (≥4.1)<130 (<3.4)YesYes or No≥130 (≥3.4)≤100 (≤2.6)Cholestyramine resin monotherapy has been demonstrated to retard the rate of progression2,3 and increase the rate of regression3 of coronary atherosclerosis. 2) Cholestyramine for Oral Suspension USP Light powder, is indicated for the relief of pruritus associated with partial biliary obstruction. Cholestyramine resin has been shown to have a variable effect on serum cholesterol in these patients. Patients with primary biliary cirrhosis may exhibit an elevated cholesterol as part of their disease.

An active ingredient is the substance responsible for the medicinal effects of a product specified by the substance's molecular structure or if the molecular structure is not known, defined by an unambiguous definition that identifies the substance. Each active ingredient name is the preferred term of the UNII code submitted.

• CHOLESTYRAMINE 4 g/5.718g

RxNorm is a normalized naming system for generic and branded drugs that assigns unique concept identifier(s) known as RxCUIs to NDC products.The NDC to RxNorm Crosswalk for this produdct indicates multiple concept unique identifiers (RXCUIs) are associated with this product:

• RxCUI: 1801279 - cholestyramine Sugar-Free 4 GM Powder for Oral Suspension
• RxCUI: 1801279 - Sugar-Free cholestyramine resin 4000 MG Powder for Oral Suspension

A pharmacologic class is a group of drugs that share the same scientifically documented properties. The following is a list of the reported pharmacologic class(es) corresponding to the active ingredients of this product.

• Bile Acid Sequestrant - [EPC] (Established Pharmacologic Class)
• Bile-acid Binding Activity - [MoA] (Mechanism of Action)