URSODIOL

(ur so DY all) Brand: Actigall, Urso, Urso Forte

What is the most significant information I must know about ursodiol?

• Till taking ursodiol, speak your doctor if you are also taking cholestyramine (Questran), colestipol (Colestid), or estrogens (birth control pills or hormone replacement).

• Avoid using antacids without your doctor's advice. Use only the specific type of antacid your doctor recommends. Antacids contain various medicines and some types can create it harder for your body to absorb ursodiol.

• To treat gallstones, you may have to take ursodiol for different months, and not all gallstones may completely dissolve. Much people who use this medication will develop gallstones again within 5 years after treatment with ursodiol. Conversation to your doctor about your specific risks for repeated gallstones.

• To be certain this medicine is helping your condition, your doctor may perform ultrasound examinations of your gallbladder on a regular basis. Your liver function may also need to be tested. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

What is ursodiol?

• Ursodiol is a bile acid that decreases the amount of cholesterol produced by the liver and absorbed by the intestines. Ursodiol helps interrupt down cholesterol that has formed into stones in the gallbladder. Ursodiol also increases bile flow in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.

• Ursodiol is used to treat little gallstones in people who can't have gallbladder surgery, and to prevent gallstones in overweight patients undergoing rapid weight loss. Ursodiol is also used to treat primary biliary cirrhosis.

• Ursodiol is not for treating gallstones that are calcified.

• Ursodiol may also be used for purposes another than those listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking ursodiol?

• Till using this medicine, speak your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have liver disease.

• FDA pregnancy category B. This medicine is not expected to be deleterious to an unborn child. Speak your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

• It is not known whether ursodiol passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing child. Do not use this medicine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How must I take ursodiol?

• Take this medicine exactly as it was predesigned for you. Do not take the medicine in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the instructions on your prescription label.

• Take every doze with a full glass of water. The medicine can be taken with meals unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

• It may take different months of taking ursodiol till your gallstones dissolve. Take this medicine for the entire length of time predesigned by your doctor.

• It is significant to take ursodiol regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled till you run out of medication completely.

• Store ursodiol at room temperature away from heat, moisture, and light.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember. If it is nearly time for your following doze, skip the missed doze and take the medication at the following regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medication to create up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention if you think you have used too many of this medicine.

• An overdose of ursodiol is likely to reason diarrhea.

What must I avoid while taking ursodiol?

What are the possible side effects of ursodiol?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Another smaller serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as:

· fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;

· stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, constipation;

· dizziness, weary feeling;

· back pain;

· runny or stuffy nose, cool symptoms; or

· headache.

• Side effects another than those listed here may also occur. Conversation to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect ursodiol?

• Till taking ursodiol, speak your doctor if you are using any of the next drugs:

· cholestyramine (Questran);

· colestipol (Colestid);

· estrogens (birth control pills or hormone replacement); or

· antacids that contain aluminum, such as Rolaids, Mylanta, or Maalox).

• If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use ursodiol or you may need dosage adjustments or particular trials during treatment.

• There may be another drugs not listed that can affect ursodiol. Speak your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal commodity, and drugs predesigned by another doctors. Do not start using a new medicine without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist has more information about ursodiol written for health professionals that you may read.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses external of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum'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 must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help of information Multum 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.

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