Brand
name :Ursofalk
Pronounced: AK-ti-gawl
Generic name: Ursodiol
Other brand name: Urso 250
Why is Ursofalk prescribed?
Ursofalk is used to help dissolve certain kinds of gallstones. If
you suffer from gallstones but do not want to undergo surgery to remove
them, or if age, infirmity, or a poor reaction to anesthesia makes
you a poor candidate for surgery, Ursofalk treatment may be a good
alternative.
Ursofalk is also used to prevent gallstones in people on rapid-weight-loss
diets. And under the brand name Urso 250, its active ingredient is
prescribed to treat liver disease caused by hardening and blockage
of the bile ducts (primary biliary cirrhosis).
Most important fact about Ursofalk
Ursofalk is not a quick remedy. It takes months of Ursofalk therapy
to dissolve gallstones; and there is a possibility of incomplete dissolution
and recurrence of stones. Your doctor will weigh Ursofalk against alternative
treatments and recommend the best one for you.
Ursofalk is most effective if your gallstones are small or "floatable" (high
in cholesterol). In addition, your gallbladder must still be functioning
properly.
How should you take Ursofalk WITHOUT a prescriptions/Rx?
Take Ursofalk exactly as prescribed; otherwise the gallstones may
dissolve too slowly or not dissolve at all. During treatment, your
doctor will do periodic ultrasound exams to see if your stones are
dissolving.
Urso should be taken 4 times a day with food.
--If you miss a dose...
Take it as soon as you remember, or at the same time as the next dose.
--Storage instructions...
Store at room temperature in a tightly closed container.
Ursofalk side effects
Side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity,
inform your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine
if it is safe for you to continue taking Ursofalk.
* Side effects may include:
Abdominal pain, allergy, arthritis, back pain, bronchitis, chest pain, constipation,
cough, diarrhea, dizziness, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, gas, hair loss, headache,
high blood sugar, indigestion, insomnia, joint pain, menstrual pain, muscle
and bone pain, nasal inflammation, nausea, sinus inflammation, skin rash,
sore throat, stomach or intestinal disorder, stomach ulcer, upper respiratory
tract infection, urinary tract infection, viral infection, vomiting
Why should Ursofalk not be prescribed?
Do not take these medications if you are sensitive to or have ever
had an allergic reaction to ursodiol or to other bile acids.
Ursofalk will not dissolve certain types of gallstones. If your doctor
tells you that your gallstones are calcified cholesterol stones, radio-opaque
stones, or radiolucent bile pigment stones, you are not a candidate
for treatment with Ursofalk.
Also, if you have biliary tract (liver, gallbladder, bile duct) problems
or certain liver and pancreas diseases, your doctor may not be able
to prescribe Ursofalk for you.
Special warnings about Ursofalk
Although Ursofalk is not known to cause liver damage, it is theoretically
possible in some people. Your doctor may run blood tests for liver
function before you start to take Ursofalk and again while you are
taking it.
Possible food and drug interactions when taking Ursofalk
If Ursofalk or Urso are taken with certain other drugs, the effects
of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially
important to check with your doctor before combining Ursofalk or Urso
with the following:
Aluminum-based antacid medications (Alu-Cap, Alu-Tab, Rolaids, others)
Cholesterol-lowering medications, such as Atromid-S, Lopid, Mevacor,
Questran, and Colestid
Estrogens such as Premarin
Oral contraceptives
Special information if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, inform your doctor
immediately. So far, there is no evidence that ursodiol can harm an
unborn baby; but to be safe, Ursofalk is not recommended during pregnancy.
Caution is needed during breastfeeding; it is not known whether ursodiol
taken by a nursing mother passes into her breast milk.
Recommended dosage for Ursofalk
Ursofalk
Overdosage
