The drug "Ursofalk" is a hepatoprotector. It helps dissolve stones. Next, we consider in detail the instructions for its use, get acquainted with analogues and reviews about this drug.
According to the instructions to Ursofalk, the active component of this drug is ursodeoxycholic acid. The auxiliary components, in turn, are corn starch along with silicon dioxide and magnesium stearate.
Pharmacodynamics of the drug
In accordance with the instructions, Ursofalk has a choleretic effect. It lowers the lithogenicity of bile, increasing its acid content and causing an increase in gastric and pancreatic secretions. In addition, the drug enhances the effect of lipase, producing a hypoglycemic effect. Thanks to Ursofalk, a partial or absolute dissolution of stones occurs during enteral use, and the saturation of bile decreases. The drug has an immunomodulatory effect, affecting the immunological reaction in the liver. Ursofalk reduces the expression of a number of antigens on the membranes of hepatocytes, affecting the number of T-lymphocytes and reducing the number of eosinophils.
To date, many years of experience have been accumulated in the treatment of patients who suffer from hepatobiliary disease, which is associated with cystic fibrosis. There is evidence that Ursofalkom therapy can reduce proliferation of the bile duct, slowing down the development of lesions that are detected by histological studies. The medicine contributes to the reverse development of the hepatobiliary system in those cases when therapy is started in the early stages.
Pharmacokinetics of the drug
What else does the instruction for Ursofalk tell us? After internal administration, ursodeoxycholic acid can be absorbed quickly enough in the intestine through passive diffusion. Approximately seventy percent of the intake is absorbed. After absorption in the liver, the acid conjugates with taurine and glycine, excreted with bile. During the first passage through the liver, sixty percent of the substance is metabolized.
Depending on the daily dosage, the type of disease and the general condition of the liver, a certain amount of ursodeoxycholic acid can accumulate in bile. At the same time, a decrease in the content of various lipophilic acids is observed.
This is also confirmed by the instructions for use with Ursofalk.
Under the influence of intestinal bacteria, ursodeoxycholic acid may slightly decompose to form a lithocholic substance. Litocholic substance is hepatotoxic, in some animals it causes liver damage. In the human body, it is absorbed only in small quantities. During metabolism, sulfation is carried out in the liver region, due to this it is neutralized before excretion into bile occurs. The medicine is excreted in the feces. The half-life of ursodeoxycholic acid is six days.
Indications for use
According to the instructions, Ursofalk is prescribed to patients in the following cases:
- When it is necessary to achieve the dissolution of stones located in the gallbladder.
- Against the background of biliary reflux gastritis.
- The presence of the primary form of biliary cirrhosis against the background of no signs of decompensation.
- The presence of chronic hepatitis of various origins.
- The presence of primary sclerosing cholangitis.
- The appearance of cystic fibrosis in patients. In this case, Ursofalk is prescribed as part of a comprehensive treatment.
- The development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
- The appearance of alcoholic liver disease.
- The development of biliary dyskinesia.
Next, we will examine in which cases Ursofalk should not be used.
Contraindications for use
As indicated by the instructions for use, Ursofalk cannot be taken if the following conditions and diseases are present:
- The presence of hypersensitivity to the components of the drug.
- Presence of high calcium X-ray gallstones.
- The presence of a non-functioning gallbladder.
- The presence of acute inflammatory diseases of the gallbladder.
- The presence of bile ducts.
- The development of cirrhosis of the liver to the stage of decompensation.
- The presence of severe renal and pancreatic function disorders.
- The presence of impaired contractility of the gallbladder.
- The appearance of blockage of the biliary tract.
- Observation of frequent episodes of biliary colic.
- The development of severe liver and kidney failure.
Children who are under the age of three years, and in addition, patients who have difficulty swallowing tablets, are recommended to use the drug in the form of suspensions.
Pregnancy
"Ursofalk" instructions for use are strictly contraindicated for pregnant women. To date, information about the use of ursodeoxycholic acid is extremely limited or completely absent. Studies in animals have established the presence of reproductive toxicity, which is noted at the beginning of pregnancy with the use of this drug. Thus, during pregnancy, Ursofalk medication should not be used in any case, except in situations when it is absolutely necessary. According to animal studies, this acid does not have any effect on animal fertility. Information on the effect of ursodeoxycholic acid on human fertility is currently lacking.
The use of this drug by patients with childbearing potential is permissible only if they use reliable methods of contraception. Doctors recommend using non-hormonal or oral contraceptives with a low estrogen content. But patients who take Ursofalk to dissolve the stones should use effective non-hormonal contraceptives. It is advisable to do this because hormones can increase the formation of stones. The onset of pregnancy should be completely excluded before starting treatment.
According to several documented facts, the level of ursodeoxycholic acid in milk in women is often low, and therefore the occurrence of side effects in children on the background of breastfeeding is not expected.
Consider the instructions for use for Ursofalk suspension for children below.
Side effects on the background of its use
The digestive system is often accompanied by loose stools, and in addition, diarrhea. Against the background of treatment of the primary form of biliary cirrhosis, it is extremely rare for patients to experience acute pain that occurs in the upper abdomen on the right side.
As for the liver reaction, calcification of stones is very rare in the gallbladder. Against the background of treatment of the pronounced stage of the primary form of biliary cirrhosis, the appearance of liver decompensation, which disappears immediately after drug withdrawal, is extremely rare.
Urticaria may occur on the skin, which is very rare. In the event that any of the above side effects is noticeably exacerbated or the patient notices other adverse reactions, you should inform your doctor.
The instructions for the drug "Ursofalk" are very detailed.
Interaction with other drugs
Preparations in the form of Colestyramine, Colestipol and antacids that contain aluminum hydroxide reduce the absorption of ursodeoxycholic acid in the intestinal region, thereby reducing its absorption with effectiveness. In the event that the use of drugs that contain at least one of these components is nevertheless necessary, then they should be consumed at least two hours before Ursofalk.
Ursodeoxycholic acid can enhance the absorption of Cyclosporin from the intestine. In this regard, in patients who take Cyclosporine, the doctor should check the concentration of this medicine in the blood, and if necessary, adjust its dosage. In some situations, according to the instructions, the Ursofalk drug significantly reduces the absorption of Ciprofloxacin.
In clinical trials involving volunteers, the use of ursodeoxycholic acid with Rosuvastatin led to a slight increase in the level of the last drug in the blood plasma. The clinical significance of this interaction, including with respect to other statins, is still unknown.
There are also reports regarding the interaction of ursodeoxycholic acid with Dapsone, which leads to a decrease in the therapeutic effects of the latter. All these observations suggest that ursodeoxycholic acid is capable of induced interaction of isoenzymes.
This is indicated in the instructions for use. Reviews about Ursofalk for newborns will be given at the end of the article.
Dosage and administration of the drug
The drug should be taken orally. People with a body weight of less than forty-seven kilograms, and in addition, patients who are not able to swallow this product in the form of tablets, it is recommended to use it in the form of suspensions. This drug should be taken in the evenings immediately before bedtime, without chewing and drinking with water.
What else does the instructions for Ursofalk 250 mg describe?
The duration of treatment, as a rule, is from six months to twelve months. In the event that after an annual treatment the size of the stones does not decrease, therapy will need to be stopped. In order to prevent the occurrence of repeated cholelithiasis, it is recommended to take the drug within two to four months after getting rid of the stones.
The effectiveness of Ursofalkom therapy should be evaluated every six months through ultrasound or radiography. As part of the interim examinations, it should be assessed whether the calcification of stones has occurred in the past. In cases of calcification, therapy is discontinued.
For the treatment of reflux gastritis, half a tablet (250 milligrams) of the drug should be taken in the evenings before bedtime, washed down with a small amount of water. The duration of treatment is from a week to six months, and if necessary, up to two years. You can also use Ursofalk capsules. Instructions for use with them are in each pack.
In the treatment of primary cirrhosis, the daily dose will depend on body weight and will be from two to three tablets, which should be decided by the doctor. In the first three months of treatment, the use of the drug should be divided into three doses per day. After improving the indicators, the daily dose of the drug is taken only once in the evenings. The use of the drug “Ursofalk” for the treatment of the primary form of cirrhosis can continue for an unlimited time period. In patients with primary cirrhosis, in rare cases, clinical symptoms may worsen at the beginning of therapy, for example, itching may occur.
As part of the symptomatic treatment of chronic hepatitis of various origins, a daily dose of 15 milligrams of the drug per kilogram of weight once a day appears. The duration of therapy should be from six to twelve months. This is confirmed by the instructions for use with Ursofalk capsules.
As part of the treatment of primary sclerosing cholangitis, the dosage is 15 milligrams of the drug per kilogram of weight twice a day. If necessary, the dosage can be increased to 30 milligrams of the drug per kilogram of weight. The duration of therapy should be from six months to several years.
In the treatment of cystic fibrosis, the daily dose for patients is 15 milligrams of the drug per kilogram of weight twice a day. If necessary, the dosage can be increased to 30 milligrams of the drug. The duration of therapy, as a rule, is six months.
In the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, the average daily dose is 15 milligrams of the drug per kilogram of weight twice a day. The duration of therapy should be from six to twelve months.
As part of the treatment of alcoholic liver disease, an average daily dose of 15 milligrams of medicine per kilogram of weight also serves, but three times a day. The duration of therapy should be from six to twelve months.
With a diagnosis of biliary dyskinesia, the dosage is 10 milligrams of the drug twice a day. The course of treatment should be carried out from a week to two months. A more specific duration of therapy is prescribed by the doctor. If necessary, the treatment should be repeated.
Below is the instruction for Ursofalk suspension for children.
Application for children
A single dose for children (15 milligrams per kilogram of weight) with a weight of up to ten kilograms is measured using a syringe. It is necessary to use a 2-milliliter syringe with a graduation of 0.1 milliliters. It must be emphasized that a disposable syringe is not included in the package; it should be purchased at a pharmacy.
According to reviews and instructions, Ursofalk is great for babies.
So, how can you measure the required dosage with a syringe?
- Shake the bottle immediately before opening.
- A quantity of suspension is poured into a measuring cup.
- A slightly larger volume of the drug is injected into the syringe than is required.
- Next, you need to tap the syringe with your fingers in order to remove air bubbles from the collected suspension.
- Then you should make sure that the required volume of medication is present in the syringe. In this case, if necessary, gain or lower excess volume.
- Gently pour the contents into the child's mouth.
After the procedure, do not pour unused medicine from the syringe back into the vial.
All information is in the instructions for the Ursofalk syrup.
Drug overdose
In case of an overdose of this drug in patients, the main symptom may be diarrhea. As a rule, any other symptoms are unlikely, since with an increase in dosing, the absorption of ursodeoxycholic acid decreases, and a greater amount of it comes out with feces. Treatment in this case requires symptomatic, it should be aimed at replenishing the electrolyte balance and the volume of fluid. Any specific measures for an overdose of this drug are not required.
This is confirmed by the instructions for use with Ursofalk 250 mg.
Analogues of the drug
In the event that Ursofalk cannot be found in a pharmacy, you can purchase another replacement medicine. The main requirement in this case is the content in the analogue of the main active ingredient in the form of ursodeoxycholic acid. This substance, in turn, replaces bile acid, which is formed in the human body. It performs a stimulating function of the metabolic processes of liver cells and helps in the presence of problems such as sclerosing cholangitis along with cirrhosis. Ursodeoxycholic acid helps and, if necessary, dissolve the stones formed in the gallbladder.
Thus, when it becomes necessary to replace Ursofalk with another drug, you can choose a less expensive drug called Ursosan. In the event that there are no violations in the normal functioning of the gallbladder, this analogue can also be used to dissolve stones. It can also be used to prevent the re-occurrence of stones after surgery. Among other things, this drug eliminates the manifestations of chronic hepatitis caused by the toxic effects of drugs. In addition to Ursosan, Greenterol, Urdox, Ursodez and others are also analogues of this medicine.
We reviewed the instructions for use with Ursofalk syrup, tablets and capsules.
Reviews
I must say that Ursofalk is a rather expensive drug, since its cost in pharmacies reaches two thousand rubles, which, of course, is not pleasant to consumers and provokes complaints left in reviews. The problem also lies in the fact that, as a rule, it is necessary to be treated with this remedy for a long time, therefore, for example, a very round amount will have to be paid for the annual course. In this regard, many people believe that Ursofalk pursues selfish goals, focusing primarily on earnings and profits.
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