ursodeoxycholic acid at a glance
Medicine class
Bile acid preparation
Available forms
Tablets, hard capsules and oral suspension; administration differs by product
Monitoring
Liver blood tests are required; imaging is used for gallstone dissolution
What is ursodeoxycholic acid used for?
The selected products cover the following licensed uses. Eligibility and licensed ages vary by formulation.
Primary biliary cholangitis in people without decompensated cirrhosis.
Dissolving suitable radiolucent cholesterol gallstones when the gallbladder functions and surgery is not indicated.
Hepatobiliary disease associated with cystic fibrosis.
Specialists may also use it for intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. It may slightly reduce itching for some people but does not prevent stillbirth.
How does ursodeoxycholic acid work?
It replaces some potentially damaging bile acids, promotes a less toxic bile-acid pool and reduces cholesterol saturation in bile. This can help suitable cholesterol stones dissolve and improve biochemical markers of cholestasis.
ursodeoxycholic acid preparations and strengths
Capsule
Route: Oral
Strengths: 250 mg
Oral suspension
Route: Oral
Strengths: 250 mg/5 mL
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 150 mg, 250 mg, 300 mg, 450 mg, 500 mg
How to take ursodeoxycholic acid
Follow the instructions for your prescribed product, as administration differs by indication and formulation.
Swallow tablets or capsules whole with liquid.
Shake oral suspension well before measuring.
Use the supplied measuring device or an appropriate oral syringe.
The suspension may be given through a suitable feeding tube when clinically required, following product instructions.
Take it regularly and do not stop without discussing this with your prescriber.
ursodeoxycholic acid side effects
Common or expected effects
- Soft, loose or pasty stools
- Diarrhoea; report persistent diarrhoea promptly
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe right-sided upper abdominal pain
- Hives, especially with swelling or breathing difficulty
- New jaundice or worsening liver function
- Very rare worsening of advanced cirrhosis
ursodeoxycholic acid in pregnancy
Product information advises use in pregnancy only when clearly necessary. A specialist may recommend it for liver or gallbladder disease, including intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. Available evidence has not identified harm to the baby, but decisions and monitoring should remain specialist-led.
ursodeoxycholic acid interactions
Check all prescribed, non-prescribed and complementary products. Important interactions include:
Colestyramine or colestipol
They bind ursodeoxycholic acid in the gut and reduce absorption; do not take them simultaneously.
Aluminium-containing antacids or smectite
They can reduce its effect; ask a pharmacist how to separate administration.
Common questions about ursodeoxycholic acid
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is it licensed to treat?
Selected products are licensed for primary biliary cholangitis, suitable cholesterol gallstones and cystic-fibrosis-associated hepatobiliary disease. Exact ages and restrictions differ by product.
Can it dissolve every gallstone?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.