Do you know the Ursosan drug? Side effects of this medication, indications for its use and instructions for use will be presented in this article. You will also learn about the form in which such a medicine goes on sale, what is included in its composition, whether it has analogues and contraindications.
The form of the medicinal product and its composition
If you have been prescribed Ursosan treatment, then you should know in what form it can be purchased. Currently, this drug is sold in stores only in the form of gelatin hard capsules. They are opaque and white.
What do the capsules we are considering contain? Their contents are white or almost white powder. Pieces of light mass may be present in it. Also, the powder is compressed into a column. When pressed, the tablet disintegrates.
Now you know in what form the medicine "Ursosan" is issued. Side effects of this drug are related to its composition. One capsule of this product contains 250 mg of ursodeoxycholic acid. The preparation also includes auxiliary elements in the form of corn starch, magnesium stearate, titanium dioxide, colloidal silicon dioxide and gelatin.
The drug is delivered to the pharmacy in a cardboard box, which can contain 10, 50 or 100 capsules.
Pharmacological properties of a medical product
What is the drug "Ursosan", the side effects of which will be described a little further? This is a hepatoprotector that has cholelitolytic, choleretic, hypocholesterolemic, hypolipidemic and immunomodulatory effects.
The medication has high polar properties. The active element (ursodeoxycholic acid) forms apolar (toxic) bile acids with mixed non-toxic micelles. As a result, the ability of gastric reflux to damage cell membranes is reduced in pathologies such as reflux esophagitis and reflux gastritis (biliary).
It cannot be said that the active substance is able to form double molecules that are part of cholangiocytes, cell membranes of hepatocytes, epithelial cells of the digestive tract, stabilizing them and making them immune to the effects of cytotoxic micelles.
The principle of action of the drug
How does the drug Ursosan (its analogues) act on the body? This medication lowers the concentration of bile acids, toxic to hepatocytes, and stimulates bicarbonate-rich choleresis. It should be especially noted that the active element of the drug effectively helps in the treatment of intrahepatic cholestasis. It lowers the saturation of bile with cholesterol. This happens due to inhibition of absorption of the substance in the intestine, suppression of synthesis in the liver, as well as a secretory decrease in bile.
The drug increases the solubility of cholesterol in bile. In this case, it forms liquid crystals with it , and also reduces the lithogenic index of bile.
The result of treatment with this medication is the complete dissolution of gallstones (cholesterol). Also, the drug prevents the formation of new calculi.
The immunomodulating effect of Ursosan is due to inhibition of the expression of HLA antigens of class 2 on cholangiocytes and HLA of class 1 on hepatocyte membranes. In addition, the drug normalizes the natural killer activity of lymphocytes.
Experts have proven that the drug delays the development of fibrosis in patients with cystic fibrosis, biliary cirrhosis (primary) and alcoholic steatohepatitis. At the same time, it reduces the risk of varicose veins of the esophagus.
The active substance of the drug we are considering slows down the processes of premature death and aging of cells (cholangiocytes and hepatocytes).
Pharmacokinetics of the drug
Due to passive diffusion (about 90%), ursodeoxycholic acid is absorbed from the small intestine. In the ileum, absorption occurs due to active transport. The concentration of the active element when taken orally in a dosage of 50 mg after half an hour, 60 minutes and an hour and a half is respectively: 3.8 mmol per liter, 5.5 mmol per liter and 3.7 mmol per liter. The maximum concentration of the drug is achieved after about 1-3 hours.
The binding to plasma proteins in this medication is quite high (about 97-99%). The active substance is able to penetrate the placenta. With regular use of the drug, the active element becomes the main bile acid in the blood.
The drug in the liver is metabolized. About 55-70% of the drug comes out with bile. A small amount of non-absorbable acid enters the large intestine, where it is cleaved.
The drug "Ursosan": indications for use
The medication considered by us is prescribed if the patient is affected by the following pathologies:
- uncomplicated gallstone disease (with biliary sludge, to dissolve bile cholesterol stones in the gallbladder, if it is impossible to remove them endoscopically or surgically, as a prevention of relapse of stone formation after cholecystectomy);
- chronic active hepatitis ;
- toxic, including drug, liver damage;
- non-alcoholic steatohepatitis;
- alcoholic liver diseases;
- primary sclerosing cholangitis;
- acute hepatitis;
- primary cirrhosis of the liver (biliary);
- cystic fibrosis (or so-called cystic fibrosis) of the liver;
- dyskinesia and other diseases of the biliary tract;
- atresia of the biliary intrahepatic tract, including congenital atresia of the bile ducts;
- dyspeptic biliary syndrome (with dyskinesia and cholecystopathy);
- biliary reflux esophagitis and reflux gastritis;
- prevention of liver diseases that developed after the use of cytostatics and hormonal contraceptives.
Contraindications to the use of the medication
Now you know what Ursosan is intended for (indications for use have been described above). As for contraindications, the following factors include them:
- disruption of the gallbladder;
- X-ray positive gallstones (high in calcium);
- gastric, biliary or intestinal fistula;
- acute cholangitis;
- acute cholecystitis;
- hypersensitivity to the elements of the drug;
- decompensated liver cirrhosis;
- renal failure;
- infectious diseases (usually acute) of the bile ducts and gall bladder;
- liver failure;
- obstruction of the biliary tract;
- empyema of the gallbladder.
Cautious use of the drug
In what cases should the Ursosan preparation be used with caution? Indications for the use of this tool say that children from 2 to 4 years of age are allowed to take the medication only under the supervision of adults. This is due to the fact that there is a possibility of difficulty swallowing the capsules. In general, the active element of the drug has no age restrictions in use.
The medicine "Ursosan": application
We will describe the reviews about this drug at the very end of the article. Now we’ll tell you how to take it.
Capsules of the drug must be swallowed whole, washed down with plain water.
How to take "Ursosan" for various deviations? Instructions for its use contain the following information in this regard:
- In case of gallstone disease and diffuse liver pathologies, the medicine is prescribed for a long time (continuously) in a daily dosage of 2-5 capsules (depending on body weight). With diffuse deviations, the daily volume of the drug should be divided into 3 doses. When to take Ursosan capsules: before meals or after? The medicine must be used while eating food.
- In gallstone disease, the daily dosage is taken once before bedtime. The duration of therapy (for dissolving stones) is 3 months, and then a few more weeks to prevent relapse.
- With such abnormalities as reflux esophagitis and biliary reflux gastritis, the medication is prescribed one capsule at night. The course of treatment can be both 15 days and 7 months (if necessary, 2 years).
- After a cholecystectomy, the recommended dosage is 250 mg twice a day for several months.
- For drug and toxic liver lesions, as well as atresia of the biliary tract and alcoholic illness, the drug is prescribed at the rate of 10-15 mg per 1 kg of body weight, drink in 3 divided doses. The duration of therapy is 6-12 months and longer.
- With biliary cirrhosis (primary), the medication is taken at the rate of 10-15 mg per 1 kg of patient weight per day (but not more than 20 mg per kg) in 3 divided doses. The duration of treatment is from 6 months to several years.
- With sclerosing cholangitis (primary), the drug is taken in a dosage of 12-15 mg per 1 kg of body weight per day (up to 20 mg per kg) in 3 divided doses. The duration of treatment is from 6 months to several years.
- With non-alcoholic steatohepatitis - 13-15 mg per 1 kg of body weight per day (in 3 doses). The duration of therapy is from 6 months to several years.
- With cystic fibrosis, the dosage is prescribed at the rate of 20-30 mg per 1 kg of weight (on the day of 3 doses). The duration of treatment is from 6 months to several years.
- For children from 2 years old, the amount of medication consumed is set individually (but not more than 10-20 mg per 1 kg of body weight per day).
Side effects
Can the drug “Ursosan” adversely affect the body? Side effects of this medication really are. Let's consider them in more detail.
- Digestive tract: vomiting, diarrhea, calcification of gallstones, nausea, constipation, increased activity of hepatic transaminases.
- Other: exacerbation of psoriasis, back pain, allergies, alopecia.
Lactation and pregnancy
Is it possible to use the drug “Ursosan” during gestation? The use (reviews of the drug will be presented later) of ursodeoxycholic acid during pregnancy is allowed only if the expected benefit to the expectant mother significantly exceeds the risk to the fetus.
There is no information on the allocation of the active substance of the drug with breast milk.
Directions for use of the medicine
The drug "Ursosan" (including analogues of the drug) should be used only for the purpose of dissolving gallstones (cholesterol), the size of which does not exceed 15-20 mm.
With prolonged use of the drug (longer than one month), a blood test (biochemical) is necessary every five weeks.
How long after dissolving the stones should I take Ursosan? Reviews of patients and doctors say that after treatment it must be used for about three more months.
The cost of the drug and its analogues
Many are interested in how much Ursosan is worth. The cheaper analogs will be presented later, as for the mentioned means, it can hardly be called budgetary. In pharmacies for 10 capsules you will have to give about 200 rubles. Given the duration of therapy with this medication (several months or even years), we can conclude that treating patients is expensive.
What can replace the Ursosan medicine? There are cheaper analogues in every pharmacy. But before purchasing them, it is recommended to consult a doctor.
Among the analogues of the drug we are considering, we would like to single out the following drugs: Livodex, Ursodeoxycholic Acid, Urdox (50 tablets - 600 rubles), Ursodez (50 tablets - 500 rubles), Ursoliv (50 tablets - 500 rubles) ) Other analogs are more expensive: Ursofalk, Ursolit, Ursorom Rompharm, Holudeksan, Ursodeks, Exhol and others.
Patient Reviews
What do they say about Ursosan? Reviews of patients say that in general this medication copes with the task. It dissolves stones well and prevents the re-development of the disease. As a rule, this happens after three months after the start of therapy (sometimes a longer intake is also required).
Also, the drug we are considering has negative reviews. Very often they are associated with side effects (nausea, diarrhea) that occur after taking the medication. In addition, quite a few patients are dissatisfied with the price of the drug. Due to the fact that it takes a long time to drink the medicine, the treatment is too expensive. However, experts argue that this drug is very effective in the treatment of gallstone diseases. If you look at the problem from this point of view, its price is fully justified.