Digestive and biliary disorders:
Indications for URSO:
Primary biliary cirrhosis.
Adult:
Take with food. 13–15mg/kg per day in 2–4 divided doses.
Children:
Not established.
Contraindications:
Complete biliary obstruction.
Warnings/Precautions:
Variceal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy, ascites, and/or need for an urgent liver transplant: give appropriate specific treatment. Monitor liver function and bilirubin monthly for 3 months after starting therapy, then every 6 months thereafter; consider discontinuing if levels increase significantly with history of stable liver function. Monitor and maintain bile flow. Pregnancy (Cat.B). Nursing mothers.
See Also:
Pharmacologic Class:
Bile acid.
Interactions:
Reduced absorption with bile acid sequestrants (eg, cholestyramine, colestipol), and aluminum-containing antacids. Estrogens, oral contraceptives, clofibrate, other lipid-lowering drugs may reduce effectiveness of ursodiol by increasing hepatic cholesterol secretion.
Adverse Reactions:
Abdominal discomfort or pain, alopecia, diarrhea, nausea, pruritus, rash, leukopenia, elevated creatinine or blood glucose, thrombocytopenia.
How Supplied:
Tabs—100; Forte—100
