Quite often, modern doctors treat certain patients with certain diseases with Ukrliv. The instruction for this tool includes a fairly large amount of useful data and for many it is the most important source of information. But at the same time, far from everyone correctly understands what is written there, and what is provided in it is far from a complete list of information about this drug.
Act
Ursodeoxycholic acid in the overwhelming majority of cases is always found in small amounts in human bile. If taken orally, it begins to significantly reduce the overall degree of saturation of bile with cholesterol by slowing its absorption inside the small intestine, as well as reducing the secretion of this element into bile. It is quite obvious that due to the dispersion of this organic compound and the formation of liquid crystals, gallstone cholesterol begins to partially dissolve, which positively affects the general condition of the human body.
In accordance with modern scientific information, it is believed that ursodeoxycholic acid in the event of various liver diseases or cholestatic diseases can achieve an effect due to the relative replacement of lipophilic, similar to detergents of toxic bile acids with hydrophilic non-toxic cytoprotective ursodeoxycholic acid, and also subsequently a noticeable improvement in secretory function hepatic cells and various immunoregulatory processes.
When is it used?
For Ukrliv, the instruction indicates that most often doctors prescribe it if the patient has cholesterol gallstones with a diameter of not more than 15 mm. In most cases, this remedy is prescribed for patients with a functioning gallbladder, which works regardless of the presence of one or several gallstones in it. In particular, for the Ukrliv drug, the instruction says that this tool allows you to completely dissolve X-ray cholesterol gallstones.
Among other things, the use of this drug is often prescribed for the need for symptomatic treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis in the absence of decompensated liver cirrhosis.
Pharmacokinetics
After taking the drug, ursodeoxycholic acid begins to be absorbed quite quickly in the small intestine, as well as in the upper ileum through passive transfer, and in the final ileum by active transfer. In the predominant majority of cases, the degree of absorption is from 60% to 80%, as evidenced by the Ukrliv preparation. After complete absorption, bile acid is exposed to almost complete hepatic conjugation with the amino acids taurine and glycine, as a result of which it is completely excreted along with bile. It is worth noting the fact that the clearance of the primary passage through the liver reaches an indicator of 60%.
Under the influence of various intestinal bacteria, partial degradation to lithocholic and 7-ketolithocholic acid occurs. In this case, lithocholic acid acts as a hypotoxic substance and causes all kinds of damage to the hepatic parenchyma in certain animal species. In humans, only a certain part of the substance is absorbed, which is completely sulfated in the liver and detoxified even before it is excreted with feces and bile.
How is this drug used during pregnancy?
Women of reproductive age can use this drug only if they use sufficiently reliable contraceptives. Before starting treatment, it is extremely important to completely exclude the possibility of pregnancy. In order to ensure the maximum degree of safety, treatment should in no case be carried out during the first trimester of pregnancy. The instruction for Ukrliv (tablets) indicates that an exception is provided in the form of cases when the doctor considers that the benefits of using this drug exceed the possible risks.
There are no exact clinical data on the use of ursodeoxycholic acid by women during breastfeeding, and therefore the use of this drug in this category of patients is not recommended.
Contraindications
To the drug "Ukrliv" (tablets), the instruction notes several basic contraindications to the use of this drug:
- the presence of acute inflammation of the bile ducts or gall bladder;
- the presence in the patient of excessive sensitivity to certain substances in the composition of this drug;
- clogging of the bile duct (this includes both clogging of the common duct, and individual clogging of the bladder);
- cirrhosis of the liver, which is in the stage of decompensation.
Among other things, it is worth noting the fact that this drug should not be prescribed to a patient with a gall bladder who is not visualized by X-ray methods, as well as to patients with impaired contractility of the gall bladder, with calcified stones, or those who have frequent biliary colic , as evidenced by the drug "Ukrliv" (suspension) instruction. Doctors' reviews also confirm this fact, since experts do not prescribe this remedy in the above situations.
Side effects
The following side effects may occur during the administration of this drug:
- all kinds of violations in the gastrointestinal tract;
- in extremely rare cases, in the process of treating primary biliary cirrhosis, patients experienced quite severe abdominal pain in the right hypochondrium;
- in the course of clinical studies, it was determined that a certain group of patients had loose stools or diarrhea during treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid;
- all kinds of disturbances in the work of the gallbladder and liver;
- again, in extremely rare cases, during treatment with this drug calcification of gallstones was manifested;
- during treatment of the developed stages of biliary primary cirrhosis in extremely rare situations, patients had decompensation of cirrhosis of the liver, which partially regressed after treatment was discontinued.
Among other things, doctors often note in their reviews the fact that side effects from taking this drug can be expressed by all kinds of hypersensitivity reactions or rashes. People allergic to allergies are prescribed it with caution.
How is it used?
There are no age restrictions regarding the use of this drug, as evidenced by the Ukrliv (tablets) instruction. The price of this product, respectively, is the same regardless of which particular patient group requires treatment.
For patients who have a body weight of less than 47 kg or who have difficulty in swallowing tablets, it is possible to use this drug in the form of a suspension, which is often noted by doctors. Depending on the specific indications of the attending physician, the possibility of using this drug in the following doses is provided.
Dissolution of bile cholesterol stones
- Weight: from 47 to 60 kg. Two tablets per day.
- Weight: from 61 to 80 kg. Three tablets per day.
- Weight: from 81 to 100 kg. Four tablets per day.
- Weight: more than 100 kg. Five tablets per day.
Tablets should be used once a day, they must be swallowed whole and washed down with a small amount of liquid. The Ukrliv preparation (tablets) contains instructions for use that it is best to use this drug in the evening before bedtime, and at the same time, it should be taken regularly to achieve the desired effect.
Features
The time required for the complete dissolution of gallstones, in the vast majority of cases, is from 6 to 24 months. In the event that a decrease in the total size of gallstones is not observed after 12 months of active use of this drug, continued therapy is not recommended.
For Ukrliv (syrup), the instruction says that the success of treatment should be checked every 6 months using x-ray or ultrasound. Additional studies should be conducted on whether the patient has calcification of stones during treatment. If this happens, then the treatment procedure should be completely discontinued.
Symptomatic treatment of PBC
In the event of primary biliary cirrhosis in a patient, the patient’s mass directly affects how much Ukrliv should be used. The instruction says that, depending on the mass, the daily dose may vary from 3 to 7 tablets.
During the first three months of therapy, tablets should be used throughout the day, while the daily dose should be divided into several doses. In the event that the liver indicators during this period have been improved, it will be possible to take a daily dose only once in the evening.
The tablets must be swallowed whole, they must be washed down with liquid, and in this case it is also important to observe regularity. It is worth noting the fact that the Ukrliv drug (suspension), the instructions for use indicate that its use when the patient develops primary biliary cirrhosis is provided for a long period, if necessary during the treatment process.
Features
It is worth noting the fact that in patients with this diagnosis, at first, in rare cases, worsening of clinical symptoms may occur, and, in particular, some have an increase in pruritus. As indicated by the Ukrlyv preparation, the instruction, suspension or tablets in this case should be used further, but the daily dose should be reduced, and then gradually increased to the required value over time. Thus, you need to increase the daily dose every week until the desired dosage regimen is reached.
Overdose
The extremely low risk that an overdose will provoke any serious side effects. In particular, it provides for the possibility of diarrhea, which is why it is highly recommended to periodically monitor the main indicators of liver function. In the event of diarrhea, it will be necessary to reduce the dosage, and if this does not help, completely stop using this remedy, as indicated by the Ukrliv drug, instructions for use. The price of this product (from 460 rubles, depending on the type of drug) allows almost everyone to use it in the right dosage.
In this case, no specific countermeasures are required, and any consequences of diarrhea should be treated only symptomatically, with careful balance of electrolytes and fluids. This is important enough to achieve maximum effect with the utmost degree of security.