I have been taking Cholestyramine Powder for 20 years ! I am totally sick of drinking the stuff, especially because it can inhibit the absorption of medications. Because of the Cholestyramine I have a medicine schedule each and every day. I have tried drinking it with meals and without meals. Or I will drink a gulp or two and then wait a few minutes and drink another gulp or two. If I chug it all down at once I get a stomach ache. I too suffer from bloating, but I cannot pin it down to the Cholestyramine itself, my bloating could be caused by many things. I take two packets a day. I put the powder in a water bottle that is half full of Arrowhead bottled water and then shake it up thoroughly. I sometimes wait a short while until it's completely dissolved so it's easier to swallow. It does not seem to dissolve properly if use bottled water that is processed by using reverse osmosis. Last November I skipped one day of my Cholestyramine Powder and I ended up going to the ER ! I had uncontrollable watery diarrhea, vomiting and dry heaves ! Holy Cow !
Take Care