Ursodiol

Generic name: Ursodiol
Drug class: Gallstone solubilizing agents

Usage of Ursodiol

Ursodiol capsules are used to dissolve small gallstones that cannot be removed with surgery, or to prevent gallstones that may occur during rapid weight loss. Ursodiol will not dissolve calcified gallstones.

Ursodiol tablets are used to treat primary biliary cirrhosis, an autoimmune disorder that causes progressive destruction of the bile ducts in your liver.

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

Ursodiol 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.

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

pain or burning when you urinate;

stomach pain or discomfort, constipation, vomiting;

liver problems--nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or

signs of a new infection--sudden weakness or ill feeling, fever, chills, sore throat, mouth sores, skin sores, trouble swallowing.

Common side effects of ursodiol may include:

upset stomach, nausea, vomiting;

diarrhea, constipation;

cough, sore throat;

painful urination;

hair loss; or

back pain.

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 Ursodiol

You should not use ursodiol if you are allergic to it, or if you have an obstruction in your liver or gallbladder.

Tell your doctor if:

you have been coughing up blood; or

you have gained weight rapidly, especially in your face and midsection.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

Relate drugs

How to use Ursodiol

Usual Adult Dose for Biliary Cirrhosis:

Tablets: 13 to 15 mg/kg orally per day, given in 2 to 4 divided doses with foodComments:-The dose should be adjusted to the patient's needs.-Scored tablets may be broken in half to provide recommended doses.Use: Treatment of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC)

Usual Adult Dose for Gallbladder Disease:

Capsules:Gallstone dissolution: 8 to 10 mg/kg orally per day, given in 2 to 3 divided dosesGallstone prevention: 300 mg orally 2 times a day-Maximum dose: 600 mg/dayComments:-Safety in the dissolution of gallstones has not been established in patients using this drug beyond 24 months.-Ultrasound images should be obtained every 6 months for the first year.-If gallstones appear to have dissolved, treatment should be continued, and dissolution should be cOnfirmed on a repeat ultrasound in 1 to 3 months.-Most patients who achieve complete dissolution show partial or complete dissolution at the first on-treatment reevaluation.-If partial stone dissolution is not observed after 12 months of treatment, the likelihood of treatment is significantly reduced.Uses:-Patients with radiolucent, noncalcified gallbladder stones less than 20 mm in greatest diameter in whom elective cholecystectomy would be undertaken except for the presence of increased surgical risk due to advanced age, idiosyncratic reaction to general anesthesia, systemic disease, or those who refuse surgery-For the prevention of gallstone formation in obese patients experiencing rapid weight loss

Warnings

Use only as directed. Tell your doctor if you use other medicines or have other medical conditions or allergies.

What other drugs will affect Ursodiol

It may be harder for your body to absorb ursodiol if you take certain cholesterol-lowering medicines, such as:

antacids that contain aluminum;

cholestyramine; or

colestipol.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially birth control pills, clofibrate, and other estrogens.

Other drugs may affect ursodiol, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.