Ursodiol for PBC

Overview
Ursodiol — also known as ursodeoxycholic acid or UDCA — is a drug used to treat people living with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three formulations of ursodiol: Actigall, Urso 250, and Urso Forte.

Part of a class of medications called gallstone dissolution agents, ursodiol works by reducing how much cholesterol the body produces, by dissolving cholesterol in bile to prevent stones from forming, and by reducing toxic levels of bile acids that build up in PBC. Researchers have found that it helps to move bile through the liver, which appears to help with liver function and reduce liver scarring.

How do I take it?
Ursodiol comes in the form of capsules or tablets, taken orally. For treating PBC, it’s usually taken two or four times per day, with food. Always follow your doctor’s instructions on dosages.

Side Effects
According to the FDA-approved labels for formulations of ursodiol, common side effects of the drug include abdominal pain or discomfort, hair loss, diarrhea, nausea, itching, and rash.

Rare but serious side effects include abnormal liver function tests and enteroliths (stonelike mineral buildup) in people who are at risk for intestinal stenosis (partial obstruction at the center of the intestine) or stasis (when the stomach takes too long to empty).

For more details about this treatment, visit:

Ursodiol — MedlinePlus
https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a699047.html

Prescribing Information: Urso 250 and Urso Forte — Allergan
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/...

Actigall (Ursodiol, USP) Capsules — Allergan
https://www.rxabbvie.com/pdf/actigall_pi.pdf

Primary Biliary Cholangitis — Mayo Clinic
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/...