What is Ursodiol?
Ursodiol capsules can be used to dissolve small gallstones that aren't eliminated by surgery or to stop gallstones that can develop in the course of fast weight loss. Ursodiol does not dissolve gallstones that are calcified.
Ursodiol tablets treat primary biliary liver cirrhosis, which is an auto-immune disorder that causes the progressive destruction of the bile canals within your liver.Ursodiol is also used for reasons not mentioned in this guideline for medication.
Side effects of Ursodiol
Contact a medical professional immediately. Get medical attention immediately if you notice symptoms or warning signs of an allergic response, such as difficulty breathing, hives, or swelling of your lips, face, or tongue.
Ursodiol could cause severe adverse effects. Consult a medical provider immediately if you experience:
- Discomfort or burning sensation after you urinate;
- Stomach pain or discomfort, constipation, vomiting;
- Liver problems: nausea nausea, stomach pain in the upper part of the stomach, itching, fatigue, lack of appetite, black stools, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the eyes or skin), as well as
- Indications of symptoms of a new sign of a new ill-feeling: fever, chills, sore throat and skin sores, mouth sores, difficulty swallowing.
Common adverse effects of ursodiol could be:
- Upset stomach, nausea, vomiting;
- Diarrhea, constipation;
- Cough, sore throat
- Urination that is painful;
- Hair loss;
- Lower back pain.
This isn't an exhaustive list of all the side effects. Others could happen. Consult your physician to seek medical advice on the effects. You can report any side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Similar or related drugs
Actigall, Ocaliva, Urso, Obeticholic Acid, Reltone, Urso Forte, and Chenodal
Warnings
Only use it according to the directions. Talk to your doctor if you are taking other medicines or suffer from any other medical condition or allergies.
Before you take this drug
Ursodiol is not a good choice when you have an allergy to it or there are obstructions in the gallbladder or liver.
Tell your doctor if:
- You've been coughing blood up;
- You've gained weight quickly. You have gained weight quickly, particularly on your face and midsection.
Consult a physician if you are breastfeeding or pregnant.Not authorized to be used by anyone less than 18 years of age.
How to take Ursodiol?
Please read and heed all instructions on your prescription label and review any medication guides and instruction sheets before beginning treatment. Ensure you take exactly as prescribed.Consume the tablets with food. Take the tablet in conjunction with food.You might need to break the tablet in half to get the proper dosage.Suck each tablet piece in whole in a glass of water. Broken tablets may give off a bitter taste.
If a tablet is broken, be sure to keep it away from the rest of the tablets and make use of it within 28 days following the break.Make sure to use ursodiol on a regular basis for the most effective results.Doses are determined by weight. Your dose may need to change if you gain or lose weight.
There are a variety of medical tests you may require, such as gallbladder ultrasound examinations as well as blood tests to determine your liver's functioning. It is also possible to require liver function tests every six months following the time you have stopped taking Ursodiol.Contact your physician if your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse.
To remove gallstones, you could be required to take ursodiol for some time. Certain gallstones might not dissolve, and you could develop gallstones that are new within 5 years following treatment. Talk to your doctor about the risks.Keep tightly sealed to keep at room temperature and away from heat and moisture.
Details on dosage
Usual Adult Dose for Biliary Cirrhosis:
Tablets between 13 and 15 mg/kg taken orally daily, administered in 2 to 4 equal doses along with food
Comments:
The dosage is to be adjusted according to the individual's requirements.
The tablets that are scored can be cut into two pieces to give the doses that are recommended.
Use: Treatment for patients suffering from primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC)
Usual Adult Dose for Gallbladder Disease:
Capsules:
Gallstone dissolution The dose range is 8–10 mg/kg daily, administered between 2 and 3 equal doses.
Prevention of gallstones Treatment: 300 mg orally, two times per day.
Maximum dose: 600 mg/day
Comments:
Safety in the dissolution of gallstones hasn't been proven in patients who take this medication over a period of 24 months.
Ultrasound images should be taken every six months for the first year.
If gallstones appear to be dissolving, treatment should be continued. Dissolution must be confirmed with another ultrasound within one to three months.
The majority of patients who experience complete dissolution exhibit the dissolution in a partial or complete manner after the initial reevaluation of treatment.
If partial dissolution of the stone is not seen within 12 months after treatment, then the possibility of treatment being successful is greatly diminished.
Uses:
Patients with noncalcified, radiolucent gallbladder stones smaller than 20 millimeters in the largest diameter for whom elective cholecystectomy may be performed with the exception of an increased risk to surgery due to age-related decline or a sporadic reaction to general anesthesia or systemic illness or patients who choose not to undergo surgery
For the prevention of gallstone development in patients who are obese and who experience rapid weight loss
What happens if I miss the dose?
Do not take the medicine for as long as you can. However, avoid your missed dosage if you are close to the time of the next dose. Don't take two doses at a time.
Make sure you refill your prescription before the expiration date of your medication.
What happens if I overdose?
For medical emergencies, seek emergency medical attention or contact for help at the Poison Helpline at 1-800-222-1222.
What should be avoided?
Talk to your doctor prior to using an antacid. Use only the one that your doctor recommends.
Interaction with other drugs
It could be more difficult for the body's ability to absorb ursodiol when you take certain medications to lower cholesterol, like:
- Antacids that contain aluminum
- Cholestyramine;
- Colestipol.
Inform your doctor about any other medications, particularly contraceptives for birth, clofibrate, and other hormones.
Other medications can interfere with ursodiol, such as medications that are prescribed and available over the counter, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some interactions with drugs are not listed here. Are included here.
