Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Cholestyramine Directions?

I was at my doctor's office yesterday discussing my ongoing IBS problems with her (mostly IBS-D). We've been through many medications over the past 6 years or so with little result and yesterday she asked if I still had my gallbladder (I do) and suggested I try Cholestyramine. I picked up my trial prescription of 30 sachets today and am wondering if anyone else uses this regularly and knows much about its side effects and recommended usage because the directions and info provided by the pharmacist differed from those on the printout they gave me. The pharmacist advised taking it about an hour after dinner or about a half hour after breakfast ideally. He also mentioned not to take it within 2 hours of other drugs as it would affect their absorption yet in the printed info accompaning the prescription it says not to take other drugs an hour before or 4 hours the Cholestyramine. It also recommends in the printed info that the Cholestyramine should be taken at the start of the meal.

Also, has anyone had any problems with Cholestyramine and gas? I'm travelling in about 5 weeks and have massive gas pains on long flights to the point that the only way I can endure a flight at all now is not to eat a thing the day of travel. Anyway, I can't afford to be yet more gassy on the plane (lest I explode!) but at the time am in a really bad diarrhea phase right not and desperately want to get that under control. Just trying to figure out whether I'm better to start this now or wait until I'm back.

Would appreciate hearing anyone else's experiences/thoughts on this. Thanks!

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