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Cholic acid

Generic Name: Cholbam
Dosage form: oral capsule (250 mg; 50 mg)
Drug class: digestive enzymes

What is Cholic acid?

Cholic acid is one of the bile acids. Bile acids help in the digestion of fats and some nutrients. Bile acid disorders affect the ability to produce normal cholic acids. It can be difficult for the body's absorption of nutrients that are important for body function, health, and growth. The liver can become toxic if abnormal bile acid levels build up. Cholic acid can be used to treat bile acid disorders. Cholic acid normalises bile acid production in the body. This medication guide does not list all possible uses of cholic acid.

Side effects of Cholic acid

If you experience symptoms indicative of an allergic reaction, such as hives, difficulty breathing or swelling to lips, face, tongue or throat - seek medical assistance immediately!

Cholic acid can cause serious side effects. If you experience:

  • Blood in your stool; changes in bowel habits such as diarrhoea and constipation;
  • You may experience pain or burning after urinating.
  • Liver problems: nausea, upper stomach discomfort, itching and fatigue, loss of appetite. Dark urine and clay-coloured stools. Jaundice.

Cholic acid can cause a variety of side effects.

  • Acid reflux, heartburn
  • Nausea, diarrhea, and  stomach pain;
  • Painful urination
  • General ill feeling;
  • Jaundice;
  • Skin sores;
  • You may experience numbness, burning, or tingling in your feet or hands.

There may be other side effects. Call your doctor if experiencing side effects; for reporting purposes contact the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Similar/related drugs

Cholbam

Warnings

Read all instructions included with your medication carefully and carefully follow them. Inform your healthcare provider about your medical conditions, your allergies, and the medicines you are using.

Before you take this drug

Notify your doctor of any of the following issues:

  • Liver disease
  • If you use cyclosporine,

Notify your doctor immediately if you become pregnant or nursing. You may find your name on a registry for pregnant women to track the effects of the cholic acids on the child. Never give candy to a young child without consulting a doctor. Anyone younger than three weeks of age is not allowed to use citric acid.

How to take Cholic acid?

Review all instructions or guides provided with your medication and adhere to its directions exactly. Follow the directions on the label. Take with food Do not chew or crush the capsule. If you can't swallow the capsule whole, crack it open and sprinkle some medicine on a soft spoonful of food. If you're giving Cholic to a child under the age of two, mix it with some breast milk or baby formula. Stir the mixture for 30 seconds, then use it immediately. The mixture should not be saved for future use. Cholic acid comes in different capsule sizes. You may need to take 1 capsule per dose or as many as 8 capsules. The cholic acid doses are calculated based on your weight. You may have to use two different sizes of capsules to get the full dose. Be sure to follow your doctor's instructions for dosage. As you progress from childhood to adulthood, the recommended dose of cholic acid increases. Inform your doctor of any weight changes. Medical tests will be required frequently. Store in an airtight, cool environment at room temperature to protect from heat and moisture damage.

Details on dosage

Adult dose for bile acid synthesis disorders:

Initial dose: 10–15 mg/kg, orally, once or twice a day.
Patients with concomitant familial hypertriglyceridemia:
Initial dose: 11–17 mg/kg, orally or in two divided doses.
Maintenance dose: minimum dose to maintain liver function
Comments:
Monitor more often during rapid growth periods, concurrent diseases, and pregnancy.
An overdose of cholic acids may be indicated by concurrent elevations in serum gamma glutamyltransferase and ALT.
Uses:
to treat disorders of bile acid synthesis caused by single enzyme defects.
As an adjunctive treatment for peroxisomal disorders, including Zellweger syndrome disorders, in patients with liver disease, steatorrhea, or complications due to decreased fat-soluble vitamin absorption.

The usual paediatric dose for bile acid synthesis disorders:

Initial dose: 10–15 mg/kg, orally, once or twice a day.
Patients with concomitant familial hypertriglyceridemia:
Initial dose: 11–17 mg/kg, orally or in two divided doses.
Maintenance dose: minimum dose to maintain liver function
Comments:
Monitor more often during rapid growth periods, concurrent diseases, and pregnancy.
An overdose of cholic acids may be indicated by concurrent elevations in serum gamma-glutamyltransferase and ALT.
Uses:
For treating bile acid synthesis disorders caused by single enzyme defects
As an adjunctive treatment for peroxisomal disorders, including Zellweger syndrome disorders, in patients with liver disease, steatorrhea, or complications due to decreased fat-soluble vitamin absorption.

What happens if I miss the dose?

If it's nearly time for your next dose, skip any that are missed - never take two at the same time!

What happens if I overdose?

Call 1-800-222-1222 immediately if you suspect poisoning and for immediate medical assistance.

What should be avoided?

Avoid taking any other medications by mouth while you are taking your citric acid dose. Because cholic acids aid in digestion, they can interfere with the absorption of any other medications you may need to take. Take cholic acids at least one hour before or four to six hours after taking:

  • Cholestyramine;
  • Colesevelam;
  • Colestipol;
  • An antacid containing aluminum: Acid-Gone, Di-Gel, Gaviscon, Gelusil, Maalox, Mylagen Mylanta, and Rulox.

Interaction with other drug

Other drugs can affect fatty acids, including vitamins and herbal products.Inform your physician of all medications you are currently taking as well as those you have started or stopped taking, in addition to those which you have recently started or stopped using.