Enteric-Coated Cholestyramine

Enteric-Coated Cholestyramine (ECC) is a specialized oral formulation of the bile acid sequestrant cholestyramine, developed by Pharmascience Inc. for the treatment of diarrhea associated with Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS). In SBS, the loss of the ileum leads to impaired bile acid reabsorption, resulting in high concentrations of bile acids entering the colon and causing osmotic diarrhea. ECC utilizes an enteric coating to delay the release of cholestyramine until it reaches the distal small intestine. This targeted delivery is intended to bind bile acids after they have facilitated fat digestion in the proximal gut but before they can trigger diarrhea, while also reducing the risk of drug-drug interactions and malabsorption of fat-soluble vitamins typically associated with standard cholestyramine powder.

Other names

Enteric-Coated Cholestyramine CapsuleDelayed-Release Cholestyramine