The drug "Ursodez" - instructions for use. Tablets "Ursodez": analogues and reviews

The drug "Ursodez" is a hepatoprotective drug. The drug has choleretic, lipid-lowering, cholelithic effect, has hypocholesterolemic and insignificant immunomodulating effect. The active substance is ursodeoxycholic acid. The drug does not have a dosage form of "pill". "Ursodez" is made in the form of capsules.

The mechanism of activity

The active substance of the drug has the ability to be built into the membranes of hepatocytes, stabilizing their structure. As a result, the cells are protected from damaging factors, the activity of acid bile salts. The therapeutic effect of the medication is thus manifested in a decrease in the cytotoxic effect. Against the background of cholestasis activated Ca2 + dependent alpha protease, stimulated exocytosis. The agent "Ursodez" (instructions for use indicates this) significantly reduces the content of bile toxic acids (desoxycholic, lithocholic, chenodeoxycholic and others) with their increased concentration in patients with liver pathologies in chronic course.

When taking medication, there is a decrease in secretion and synthesis of cholesterol, suppression of absorption of it in the intestine. Due to this, the saturation of bile is reduced by this compound. The drug has the ability to competitively reduce the absorption in the intestine of lipophilic acids, increase their fractional turnover on the basis of enterohepatic circulation. The drug stimulates the excretion of toxic acids, an increase in passage.

The mechanism of action of the drug is also based on the screening of nonpolar bile acids. Due to this, non-toxic mixed micelles are formed. The agent enhances the cholestylin solubility in the biliary system, stabilizes the production and release of bile. The drug also reduces its lithogenicity, increases the concentration of acids, thereby provoking an increase in the activity of pancreatic and gastric secretion.

When taking capsules, complete or partial dissolution of the stones is noted. By reducing the saturation of bile, the mobilization of cholesterol from the stones is intensified. Immunomodulating activity is manifested through the influence on the corresponding reactions in the liver. The drug helps to reduce the expression of a number of histocompatibility antigens. The drug also affects the level of T-lymphocytes, reduces the number of eosinophils.

Pharmacokinetics of the agent

Absorption of the drug "Ursodez" (instructions for use indicates this) in the small intestine is due to the process of passive diffusion. Approximately 90% of the active component is absorbed. In the ileum, the substance is absorbed by active transport. The active ingredient reaches its maximum content in about an hour. The compound has a high percentage of binding to proteins - up to 99%. Ursodeoxycholic acid is able to penetrate the placental barrier.

The therapeutic effectiveness of the drug depends on the concentration of the active component in the bile. With regular systematic admission, this bile acid becomes the main in serum. The concentration of ursodeoxycholic acid is about 48%.

The compound is metabolized by passing through the liver cells. As a result, glycine and taurine conjugates are formed. Decay products are secreted into bile. About 50-70% of the taken medicine is excreted with calories. A small amount of the medicine is transported to the large intestine. There is its splitting under the action of bacteria (7-dehydroxylation).

Lithocholic acid, which is formed as a result of this process, undergoes partial absorption from the large intestine, but passes through the sulfation in the liver and is excreted as a sulfolithochololitaurine or sulfolitocholylglycine conjugate.

Indications

The drug "Ursodez" is recommended as a symptomatic therapy for biliary primary cirrhosis without signs of decompensation. The agent for dissolution of medium and small cholesterol stones with an active gallbladder is shown. Assign a medicine for biliary reflux gastritis.

Contraindications

The agent "Ursodez" instructions for use does not allow for the appointment if the patient has X-ray positive (with increased concentration of Ca2 +) gallstones, intolerance to the components of the medication. Contraindications include cirrhosis of the liver at the stage of decompensation, expressed disorders of the pancreas, kidneys. It is not recommended for people with dysfunctional gallbladder, acute pathologies of inflammatory nature, as well as with diseases of the intestine and bile ducts. Do not prescribe medication for pregnant and lactating. Contraindicated for adults and children weighing less than 34 kg.

Side effects

In some cases, unwanted effects develop with the use of the drug "Ursodez". Instruction for use warns of the likelihood of nausea, diarrhea, vomiting. On the basis of treatment, calcified gallstones can form. Increased activity of liver transaminases, abdominal pain, allergic manifestations (urticaria including) also relate to the undesirable consequences of the drug "Ursodez".

The patients' testimonies indicate a good tolerability of the drug. Side effects are unlikely to occur if prescribed by a doctor. In some cases, during the treatment of biliary cirrhosis, transient decompensation was noted. As a rule, after stopping the medication, this phenomenon is independently eliminated.

The drug "Ursodez". Price. Instructions

Means take in the evening. The daily dosage for dissolving stones is on average 10 mg / kg. For individuals weighing up to 60 kg, it corresponds to 2 capsules per day, up to 81 kg-3-m, up to 100 kg-4, more than 100 -5 capsules. Duration of admission - from six months to 12 months. After the dissolution of the stones to prevent the formation of new ones, the administration is recommended for a few more months.

Treatment of biliary cirrhosis is carried out at a dose of 250 mg / day. The duration of the course is from 10-14 days. Up to six months. In some cases, the duration of therapy is increased to two years. As a symptomatic treatment, the medication is prescribed at 10-15 mg / day. At a weight of up to 34 kg, a suspended form of the agent is recommended. The cost of the drug in the form of capsules is from one hundred rubles.

Does "Ursodez" have analogues?

Preparations that contain the same active substance are produced quite a lot. Among them, it is worth mentioning such means as "Ursodoksa", "Ursoliv". One of the most popular is the drug Ursosan. Indications for the use of this drug is somewhat wider. In particular, it is prescribed for cystic fibrosis of the liver, sclerosing cholangitis of a chronic type.

Many patients are interested in what is better: the drug "Ursodez" or "Ursosan". It should be said that the doctor selects this or that remedy in accordance with the nature, course of the pathology and patient's tolerability of the drug. In diseases of the liver, the gallbladder, self-medication is not highly recommended. Before taking any medication, a specialist examination and consultation is necessary.

Control of the effectiveness of therapy should be carried out every 6 months. In connection with this, regular ultrasound and X-ray examination are appointed during the first year of treatment. If in the first six months of the dissolution of the stones did not happen, then, most likely, the continuation of the course is inexpedient due to inefficiency.

Additional Information

To ensure the successful dissolution of stones, it is necessary that the stones are only cholesteric, and their size does not exceed 15 or 20 millimeters. At the same time, the gallbladder is filled with no more than half, and the bile ducts must retain their full function.

In the case of the appointment of prolonged treatment, exceeding a month, biochemical analysis should be performed to assess the activity of transaminases in the liver. In addition, the concentration of bilirubin and other compounds should be monitored. With the preservation of high indicators, the reception of the Ursodez funds is stopped. The reviews of many specialists, however, are positive regarding the effectiveness of the drug.

Conclusion

In the absence of a result, another medication can be prescribed or the treatment strategy revised completely. Before using the drug, you should read the annotation.