Ursodez is a high-quality and very effective drug for treating the liver.

Liver diseases can suddenly appear in almost every seemingly healthy person. To maintain the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, doctors prescribe various medications to their patients. One such remedy is Ursodez.

It is listed in the standards for the treatment of diseases of the liver and digestive system.

Release form

Today, the drug Ursosan is produced exclusively in the form of capsules, which are sometimes mistakenly called tablets:

1. Gelatin capsules of 250 milligrams (white and opaque, hard, each of which contains white powder. They are packaged in 10 pieces in blister packs, as well as 40, 50, 60, 100 and 120 pieces in plastic bottles or jars. Each jar and bottle, as well as blister packs of 4, 5, 6, 9, 10 or 12 pieces are placed in cardboard boxes.
2. 500 milligram gelatin capsules (hard and opaque, white body with yellow cap). Each capsule contains a white or whitish powder. They are packaged in 10 pieces in blister packs and 30 or 50 pieces in polymer bottles or jars. Bottles and jars, as well as blister packs of 1, 3 or 5 pieces, are placed in cardboard boxes.

The capsule dissolves faster than the tablet, which allows you to eliminate the symptoms of the disease in the shortest possible time.

Indications for use

1. Dissolution of cholesterol stones. Most often, the remedy is used specifically for this disease, because it can almost independently destroy small and medium-sized stones.
2. Biliary reflux gastritis. Helps remove inflammation of the gastric mucosa, and regular use can completely rid a person of this pathology.
3. Primary cirrhosis of the liver. It is worth paying attention to the primary one, because in advanced situations Ursodez will no longer be able to completely restore tissue. This requires stronger drugs.
4. Many types of chronic hepatitis. In this case, it is necessary to consult a doctor on a specific case.
5. Alcoholic liver diseases. Helps to launch restoration processes in an organ that has begun to deteriorate under the constant influence of alcohol.

Storage

Under no circumstances should small children or pets have access to this product.

This medicine should be stored at a temperature that in no case should exceed 25 degrees. This place should also be dry and dark. If these recommendations are followed, the medicine can be stored for no more than five years. After this, it should be disposed of; further use is strictly prohibited.

Did you know that the most common diseases of the 21st century are liver problems? More details:

• How to recognize the first signs of hepatitis and effectively cope with the disease?
• An interesting article about liver cirrhosis, you will learn about the history of the disease and its prevalence in the world.
• Pain or discomfort in the right hypochondrium? Perhaps it's hepatosis! How can it be cured?

Instructions for medical use

Ursodez capsules are intended for oral administration. Do not chew them and wash them down with plenty of water.

The main question from patients is: “How to take the drug correctly, before or after meals?” For almost all diseases, Ursodez is taken once a day after dinner before bed.

The dosage regimen, dosage, and duration of therapy depend on the indications for use of the drug:

• To dissolve cholesterol-type stones, the instructions for use of Ursodeza advise prescribing the drug at a rate of 10 mg per kilogram of weight once a day. The capsules should be taken in the evening, without chewing and with water. The duration of treatment ranges from six months to one year.
• To prevent the recurrence of cholelithiasis, it is recommended to take the drug for several months after the onset of remission.
• For the treatment of bile reflux gastritis, it is recommended to take 1 capsule daily before bed with water. The duration of treatment is usually from 2 weeks to 6 months, and if necessary, up to 24 months.
• For symptomatic treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis, the daily dose is set at 10-15 mg per kilogram of weight.

The doctor determines the more precise dosage and regimen of use of the drug individually, including depending on the patient’s weight.

Contraindications

Taking Ursodez capsules is contraindicated when certain pathological or physiological conditions of the patient’s body are detected, which include:

1. Non-functioning gallbladder.
2. Hypersensitivity to ursodeoxycholic acid or other components of Ursodez capsules.
3. Acute inflammatory pathology of the gallbladder, biliary tract or intestines.
4. The presence of X-ray positive stones in the hollow structures of the hepatobiliary system, which contain a high concentration of calcium salts.
5. Cirrhosis of the liver with a pronounced decrease in the functional activity of the organ.
6. A marked decrease in the functional activity of the liver, kidneys, and pancreas.
7. Pregnancy, lactation period (breastfeeding).
8. Adults or children weighing less than 34 kg.
9. Children up to 3 years old.

Ursodez or Ursosan. What is better to choose

Ursosan and Ursodez capsules belong to the same pharmacological group, have the same active ingredient - ursodeoxycholic acid, but differ in auxiliary components, and are also produced by different manufacturers.

Both medications have the ability to protect and repair liver cells, lower cholesterol, and dissolve cholesterol deposits in the gallbladder. These drugs stimulate immune defense, reduce the risk of cysts, and also free the liver from harmful compounds.

The similarity between the two medications is quite large, but Ursosan capsules are more often recommended for use for hepatitis, cirrhosis and other liver lesions, while they are ineffective in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. While Ursodez is recommended for use in the complex treatment of diseases of the stomach and pancreas.

In addition, Ursosan can be used in pediatrics for children from birth, but Ursodez is allowed only for children over 3 years of age. The drug Ursosan is a product of a Czech pharmaceutical company, and Ursodez is a domestic drug. The cost of the two drugs is not much different, ranging from 250 to 350 rubles per pack of 10 capsules.

If the question is what to choose - Ursosan and Ursodez? – you need to consult a doctor who, depending on the individual characteristics of the patient, diagnosis, stage of the disease, will be able to select the necessary remedy, determine the dose and duration of administration.

Side effects

• Intestinal upset (diarrhea).
• Constant nausea after taking the medicine. Sometimes even vomiting may occur.
• Allergic reactions such as rashes, irritation of mucous membranes.
• Calcification of gallstones.

As practice shows, side effects often begin due to the use of Ursodez not as prescribed by a doctor or in cases where the patient has contraindications.

It is worth paying attention to the compatibility of Ursodez and alcohol. Despite the fact that the medicine treats alcohol-related diseases, the simultaneous use of these two components can cause a severe blow to the liver.

After all, they force the organ to work harder, which means that if taken simultaneously, the liver will be heavily “overloaded.”

Use during pregnancy and lactation

The drug is contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation (breastfeeding).

The use of Ursosan during pregnancy and breastfeeding is possible in situations where the benefits of the drug will outweigh the possible risks.

This position is based on the fact that large-scale and full-scale trials of the drug on pregnant women were not carried out for obvious ethical reasons. However, according to experimental data obtained from animal studies, no negative effects of Ursosan on the fetus were identified.

German researchers conducted limited clinical trials of Ursosan, during which the drug was taken by pregnant women with severe disorders of the liver and biliary tract. This group of pregnant women needed Ursosan for health reasons.

The study did not reveal any negative impact on the child's condition.

Due to this circumstance, practitioners in Germany and France have come to the conclusion that Ursosan can be used during pregnancy to treat the following common conditions:

1. Impaired outflow of bile due to compression of the gallbladder by the enlarging uterus
2. Chronic pathologies of the gallbladder in the acute stage (for example, colic due to the movement of stones).
3. Itching of pregnant women caused by impaired bile secretion.
4. Chronic liver pathologies, accompanied by deterioration of health and increased activity of AST, ALT, bilirubin and other laboratory tests.

Composition and action of Ursodez

Ursodeoxycholic acid is an element that is produced in small quantities in every body. Doctors have noticed that when using drugs based on this substance, the functioning of the hepatobiliary system significantly improves. Moreover, UDCA is capable of destroying small cholesterol stones formed in the gallbladder, provided that the stones do not contain large amounts of calcium.

Ursodez is a drug based on ursodeoxycholic acid. 1 capsule contains 250 or 500 mg of active ingredient. The medicine also contains additional components, namely silicon dioxide, starch, magnesium stearate, dyes. Ursodeoxycholic acid has choleretic, hepatoprotective, cholelitholytic, and immunomodulatory effects.

Therapeutic effects of Ursodez:

1. Protecting hepatocytes from the destructive effects of free radicals and toxins. Ursodeoxycholic acid also has a membrane-stabilizing effect, stimulates the production of essential phospholipids and other bioactive substances that help restore damaged liver cells.
2. Reducing cholesterol synthesis in the liver. There is also a decrease in the saturation of bile with cholesterol, due to which the formation of cholesterol stones in the gallbladder can be avoided.
3. Stabilization of the physicochemical properties of bile, in particular the lithogenicity index decreases. In view of this, during treatment the synthesis and passage of bile is stabilized, and it is also possible to easily prevent the re-formation of stones.
4. Increased pancreatic and gastric secretion, which stabilizes the functioning of the digestive system. Moreover, ursodeoxycholic acid has a mild hypoglycemic effect, that is, it lowers blood sugar levels.
5. Dissolution of cholesterol stones, provided that they are small in size and do not have a large amount of calcium accumulated in them.
6. Prevention of complications. It is noted that UDCA significantly reduces the likelihood of developing fibrosis and cirrhosis, and liver failure.
7. Influence on immunological reactions. The abstract mentions that Ursodez increases the body's resistance to infections, affects the number of T-lymphocytes and the formation of IL-2, and also reduces the number of eosinophils.
8. Reducing the toxicity of bile acids. Also, under the influence of ursodeoxycholic acid, the damaging effects of reflux on the cells of the gastrointestinal tract can be reduced.

The active component of the drug is absorbed directly in the small intestine by passive diffusion. The maximum concentration in the blood serum is observed 30-90 minutes after administration. UDCA can cross the placental barrier.

The binding rate to plasma proteins is high - about 96-99%. A small amount of UDCA enters the large intestine, where it is broken down by beneficial bacteria. As a result of splitting, lithocholic acid is formed, which is absorbed from the colon.

Drug interactions

Colestipol, Cholestyramine, and antacids containing aluminum hydroxide or aluminum oxide impair the intestinal absorption of ursodeoxycholic acid and, as a result, reduce its effectiveness. It is recommended to take a two-hour break between taking Ursodez and similar drugs.

Ursodeoxycholic acid stimulates the absorption of Cyclosporine from the digestive system.

In some cases, Ursodez reduces the absorption of Ciprofloxacin.

Lipid-lowering drugs, estrogens, gestagens and Neomycin increase the cholesterol content in bile and may weaken the ability of the drug to dissolve cholesterol-type gallstones.

Pharmacology

When the medicine enters the digestive system, it is well absorbed in the intestinal tract and performs several actions in the body:

1. Cholesterol synthesis decreases. As a result, the concentration of the substance in the blood is reduced.
2. The production of bile and its removal are activated in the liver.
3. The lithogenicity of bile is reduced.
4. The work of the pancreas and stomach increases.
5. Under the influence of the drug “Ursodez”, the resistance of liver cells to the negative influence of external factors increases.

The bioavailability of capsules is more than 90%. Metabolism of the active component occurs in the liver and is excreted through bile.

Analogs

If necessary, you can replace Ursodez with an analogue of the active substance - these are the following drugs:

• Livodex,
• Ursofalk,
• Urdoxa,
• Ursosan,
• Ursolite,
• Ursoliv,
• Exhol.

When choosing substitutes, it is important to understand that the instructions for use of Ursodez, the price and reviews of drugs with similar effects do not apply. It is important to consult a doctor and not change the drug yourself.

special instructions

To achieve maximum therapeutic effect and reduce the risk of side effects, several important recommendations must be followed:

1. Instructions for use of “Ursodeza 500 mg” (or 250 mg) contain all the important information, so you should study it carefully before starting treatment.
2. It is strictly not recommended to take the medicine on your own. The selection of medications and dosage should be carried out exclusively by the attending physician.
3. If stones are detected in the patient, then before prescribing therapy it is necessary to conduct an ultrasound diagnosis. This will allow you to determine the size of the stones and their exact location. In some cases, drug treatment is not prescribed due to its low effectiveness.
4. Long-term use increases the risk of kidney and liver dysfunction and changes in the peripheral blood picture. To monitor the patient's health, laboratory tests must be performed regularly. The recommended inspection frequency is 3 months.
5. Severe negative reactions sometimes occur with sclerosing cholangitis.