In 10 patients tested by Dr Shoemaker, cholestyramine doses managed to correct the vision problems and end other chronic symptoms, some of which had been present for 10 years.
In LRC-CPPT, patients on cholestyramine, a bile acid sequestrant resin, had 20% lower LDL as compared to an 8% drop on placebo and, after seven years, had a 24% reduction in CV deaths versus placebo.
The health care provider will also be trying to distinguish common cramping from muscle diseases that can mimic it and be an uncommon side effect of commonly prescribed drugs used to lower cholesterol (such as cholestyramine) or decrease stomach acid (cimetidine or ranitidine).