Improper lifestyle, the use of fried foods and taking a huge amount of drugs can disrupt the functioning of liver cells, resulting in the development of all kinds of diseases of this organ. To restore its function, pharmacists created medicines with hepatoprotective action, able to withstand destruction and establish normal functioning of the gland.
Description
The drug "Livodex" refers to funds with immunomodulating and choleretic effect, aimed at protecting hepatocytes. With its help, the concentration of lipids and cholesterol in the human body is restored.
The manufacturer of this product is the Indian company San Pharmaceutical Industrial Ltd.
Release form
Medication "Livodex" produces in tablet form and in the form of suspensions.
Biconvex round tablets have a red protective film coating and are at risk for division.
Structure
The main active ingredient is ursodeoxycholic acid. Livodex tablets are produced in two dosages - 150 mg and 300 mg each. With the help of auxiliary components - starch, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium carboxymethyl starch, hypromellose, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide, povidone and purified talc - the core is formed.
The film sheath is formed by cellulose, titanium dioxide, yellow and red iron oxide and macrogol. Tablets are packaged in 10 pieces in blisters. A pack can be 10, 50 and 100 pieces.
The main effect of the drug
About the drug "Livodex" reviews indicate that it has a restorative and cytoprotective effect on the digestive tract.
With the help of the active component of the tablets, the membrane structure of hepatocytic cells is stabilized and the content of acids that have a toxic effect is reduced.
The action of ursodeoxycholic acid is aimed at lowering the cholesterol level in the composition of bile, increasing the solubility and absorption of cholesterol, reducing the lithogenic index of bile content and its secretion. These biochemical processes are possible due to the hypocholesterolemic effect of the active component of the tablets. Inhibition of cell death caused by the toxicity of bile acids also occurs.
The drug prevents damage to the cell membrane by gastric reflux during the development of biliary reflux esophagitis and reflux gastritis.
With the help of hepatoprotective tablets, cholesterol stones are dissolved in the cavity of the gallbladder and their subsequent formation is prevented. The mechanism of this process is associated with a decrease in the amount of cholesterol in bile, which leads to its mobilization from stones and further dissolution of formations.
Thanks to the immunomodulatory effect of the drug "Livodex" antigens are suppressed, the natural activity of lymphocytic cells is normalized. Under the influence of ursodeoxycholic acid, varicose veins and the incidence of diseases of the digestive tract are reduced.
Indications for use
Livodex tablets are prescribed for the treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis without decompensatory symptoms, biliary reflux esophagitis and reflux gastritis, alcoholic liver disease, chronic hepatitis of various nature, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, cystic fibrosis, bile duct disease or bile duct disease.
The drug is able to dissolve small or medium stones of cholesterol nature with a functioning gall bladder.
How to use
Once a day recommends taking the medicine "Livodex" instruction. Reviews of experts advise to swallow the whole tablet without chewing and drink it with a large volume of clean water so as not to harm the stomach.
When dissolving stones in the gallbladder and therapy of liver diseases, a two-time intake of 100 mg is recommended. The duration of treatment ranges from 5 months to 1 year. Then there should be a short break, after which repeated therapy is carried out until the stones completely disappear.
For the treatment of reflux gastritis for 10-14 days, take once a day 250 mg of the drug "Livodex". Reviews of people indicate that the severe stages of this disease are treated for about 5 months.
In liquid dosage form, the medication is prescribed for patients with low weight. Usually, with a body weight of less than 30 kg, a suspension is prescribed.
It is important to know with which medicines you can and with which you can not combine the drug "Livodex." Ursodeoxycholic acid is not used with antacids, which contain aluminum or ion exchange resin, due to a violation of its absorption.
The simultaneous use of lipid-lowering drugs, estrogens, neomycin or progestogen in the form of oral contraceptives increases the saturation of bile with cholesterol, reduces the ability of ursodeoxycholic acid to destroy bile formations.
The active component of the drug increases the digestibility of cyclospores from the contents of the intestine, as a result of which it is necessary to control its content in the blood plasma and review dosage.
Patient opinions about the drug
About the drug "Livodex" reviews can be heard positive. They say that tablets have an effective preventive effect in diseases of the liver and bile ducts.
For reference: the drug quickly penetrates the bloodstream, after 2 hours in the blood you can detect the maximum concentration of ursodeoxycholic acid. At the same time, it takes 2 days to remove from the body as part of bile and feces.
Livodex tablets help a lot. Reviews of people suffering from constant increased acidity in the stomach indicate the ability of the drug to restore the digestive system. Improvements become noticeable after 5 days. The acidity of the gastric juice is reduced to normal values, there is no more bitterness and unpleasant aftertaste in the mouth. An important condition for the restoration of digestion is a strict diet, including foods low in acid.
Not all patients are eligible for therapy with Livodex 300 mg tablets. In some patients, at the beginning of treatment, there were no changes in the state, and on the 5-6th day undesirable consequences began to appear in the form of abdominal pain and diarrhea, which requires cancellation of therapy.
Similar means
Other medicines based on ursodeoxycholic acid are also on the pharmaceutical market. For the Livodex product, an analogue can be produced both in the same form and in another. The preparations Ursoliv, Ursofalk, Urdoxa, Holudexan, Exhol, Ursokhol exhibit similar pharmacological properties with a choleretic effect. Hepatoprotective agents “Urdoxa” and “Choludexan” can not only reduce the cytotoxic effect caused by bile acids, but also have an immunomodulatory effect on the body.
In the form of a suspension and tablets with a dose of 150 and 300 mg, the drug "Livodex" is available. The Ursosan analogue is made in capsules with a dose of 250 mg and in a liquid state. Both hepatoprotectors exhibit choleretic and cholelitolytic effects.
The drug "Ursosan"
The manufacturer of this tool is the Czech company "PRO. HONEY. CA Prague A.O. ” To answer which is better - “Livodex” or “Ursosan”, you need to know the description of the second medication, then compare their composition, effect, indications for use.
The drug "Ursosan" refers to medicines containing ursodeoxycholic acid. In the human body, it is present in a small volume in the composition of bile and has the least toxicity and the greatest hydrophilicity in comparison with other bile acids.
The action of ursodeoxycholic acid is aimed at reducing the production of cholesterol in the liver cells and its absorption in the intestines. Cholesterol forms liquid crystals with ursodeoxycholic acid, leading to the destruction of stones.
The drug has a positive effect on liver diseases and cholestatic conditions due to a change in bile acids with a toxic effect on acids with non-toxic properties. It shows a cytoprotective effect, improves the secretory ability of hepatocyte cells and stimulates immunoregulatory processes.
With normal functioning of the gallbladder, the Ursosan preparation dissolves radiopaque cholesterol gallstones in the bladder, the size of which in diameter does not exceed 15 mm. It is taken for gastritis with reflux, primary biliary cirrhosis without decompensation.
Available in hard gelatin capsules with a size of zero, the contents are a white powder.
Ursosan or Levodex - which is better?
Comparing information on two similar drugs, we can say that they are available in different solid dosage forms, from which the active substance can be released in different ways. In the composition - the same active component, only in different quantities. Different dosage and release rate may affect the effectiveness of the drugs. According to experts, the capsule "Ursosan" choleretic effect is not pronounced in comparison with the tablets "Levodex". It is not always possible to determine how quickly a drug acts as part of complex therapy. In the treatment of diseases of the digestive tract, there are cases when, before prescribing choleretic drugs, they reduce inflammation with other medicines.
The attending physician may prescribe enzymatic preparations, which include Pangrol, Panzinorm, Creon, Pancreatin, Mezim.
An integrated approach to the treatment of the digestive tract is needed when the drug “Ursosan” or “Livodex” is combined with other means.
Often, hepatoprotective alone can not be done to restore the liver, cleanse the bile duct from stones and normalize the metabolism in the human body.
Price
Due to the long course of therapy with Livodex hepatoprotective agent, its price may seem high, therefore, treatment of liver diseases is considered an expensive and long process. In addition to hepatoprotective agents, you will have to buy enzyme preparations or anti-inflammatory drugs, the cost of which can vary. For one package, which contains 50 tablets with a dosage of 300 mg, you will have to pay about 800 rubles.
Ursosan medicine has the same price as Livodex tablets. For one package, which contains 50 capsules with a dosage of 250 mg, you will have to pay about 790 rubles, and 100 pieces cost about 1470 rubles.
There are more expensive analogues, for example, the German drug in capsules "Ursofalk." For one package, which contains 50 capsules with a dosage of 250 mg, you will have to pay from about 970 rubles, and 100 pieces cost about 2070 rubles.