Chenodiol

Generic name: Chenodiol (chenodeoxycholic Acid)
Brand names: Chenodal
Dosage form: oral tablet (250 mg)
Drug class: Gallstone solubilizing agents

Usage of Chenodiol

Chenodiol is made from bile acid, a substance that occurs naturally in the body.

Chenodiol is used to dissolve gallstones in people who cannot have gallbladder surgery.

Chenodiol may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Chenodiol side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Chenodiol may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

worsening or no improvement of your gallstone symptoms;

severe or ongoing diarrhea; or

liver problems--loss of appetite, upper stomach pain, tiredness, easy bruising or bleeding, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Common side effects of chenodiol may include:

mild stomach cramps; or

abnormal blood tests (low white blood cells, high cholesterol or triglycerides).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Chenodiol

You should not use chenodiol if you are allergic to it, or if:

you are pregnant;

you have a bile duct obstruction or other disorder;

you have pancreatitis related to your gallstones;

you have cirrhosis or other liver disease; or

you have a blockage in your digestive tract (stomach or intestines).

To make sure chenodiol is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have a history of liver problems or jaundice.

Do not use chenodiol if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby or cause birth defects. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are using this medicine.

It is not known whether chenodiol passes into breast milk or if it could affect the nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding.

Relate drugs

How to use Chenodiol

Usual Adult Dose for Gallbladder Disease:

Initial dose: 250 mg orally 2 times a dayMaintenance dose: 13 to 16 mg/kg/day in 2 divided dosesDuration of therapy: 24 monthsComments:-After the first 2 weeks, the dose should be increased by 250 mg/day each week thereafter until the recommended or maximum tolerated dose is reached.-Doses less than 10 mg/kg were usually ineffective and may be associated with an increased risk of cholecystectomy.-Oral cholecystograms or ultrasonograms should be conducted at 6 to 9 months.-Most patients who achieve complete dissolution will show at least partial dissolution at the first on-treatment test. Complete dissolution should be confirmed with oral cholecystogram or ultrasonogram after 1 to 3 months of continued treatment.Use: Patients with radiolucent stones in well-opacifying gallbladders, in whom selective surgery would be undertaken except for the presence of increased surgical risk due to systemic disease/age

Warnings

You should not use chenodiol if you have liver disease, cirrhosis, or certain conditions that cause an obstruction in your digestive system.

Chenodiol can harm an unborn baby or cause birth defects. Do not use if you are pregnant.

What other drugs will affect Chenodiol

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:

cholestyramine;

colestipol;

birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy;

antacids that contain aluminum--Almacone, Gelusil, Maalox, Mag-al Plus, Mylanta, Rulox, and others; or

a blood thinner--warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with chenodiol, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Disclaimer

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