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| Other drug names: | A-Am An-Az B C-Ch Ci-Cz D-Dh Di-Dz E F G H I-J K-L M-Mh Mi-Mz N-Nh Ni-Nz O P-Pl Pm-Pz Q-R S-Sn So-Sz T-To Tp-Tz U-V W-Z 0-9 |
| Contents of this page: | |
Some commonly used brand names are:
In the U.S.--
In Canada--
Other commonly used names are ursodeoxycholic acid and UDCA .
Ursodiol (ur-so-DYE-ole) is used in the treatment of gallstone disease. It is taken by mouth to dissolve the gallstones.
Ursodiol is used in patients with gallstones who do not need to have their gallbladders removed or in those in whom surgery should be avoided because of other medical problems. However, ursodiol works only in those patients whose gallstones are made of cholesterol and works best when these stones are small and of the ``floating'' type.
Ursodiol is also used to help prevent gallstones in patients who are on rapid weight-loss programs.
Ursodiol is available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage form:
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For ursodiol, the following should be considered:
Allergies--Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to ursodiol or other products containing bile acids.
Diet--It is thought that body weight and the kind of diet the patient follows may affect how fast the stones dissolve and whether new stones will form. However, check with your doctor before going on any diet.
Pregnancy--Ursodiol has not been studied in pregnant women. However, ursodiol has not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems in animal studies.
Breast-feeding--It is not known whether ursodiol passes into the breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are taking this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.
Children--Although there is no specific information comparing use of ursodiol in children with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in children than it does in adults.
Older adults--Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults. Although there is no specific information comparing use of ursodiol in the elderly with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.
Other medicines--Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
Other medical problems--The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of ursodiol. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
Take ursodiol with meals for best results, unless otherwise directed by your doctor.
Take ursodiol for the full time of treatment, even if you begin to feel better . If you stop taking this medicine too soon, the gallstones may not dissolve as fast or may not dissolve at all.
Dosing--The dose of ursodiol will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of ursodiol. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so .
The number of capsules that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are taking ursodiol .
Missed dose--If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible or double your next dose.
Storage--To store this medicine:
It is important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits. Laboratory tests will have to be done every few months while you are taking this medicine to make sure that the gallstones are dissolving and your liver is working properly.
Do not take aluminum-containing antacids (e.g., ALternaGEL, Maalox) while taking ursodiol. To do so may keep ursodiol from working properly. Before using an antacid, check with your health care professional.
Check with your doctor immediately if severe abdominal or stomach pain, especially toward the upper right side, or severe nausea and vomiting occur . These symptoms may mean that you have other medical problems or that your gallstone condition needs your doctor's attention.
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. The following side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:
More common
Back pain; diarrhea
Less common or rare
Constipation; dizziness; hair loss; heartburn; nausea; vomiting
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although these uses are not included in product labeling, ursodiol is used in certain patients with the following medical conditions:
There is no additional information relating to proper use, precautions, or side effects for these uses.
Revised: 08/08/97
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