Many people have probably heard about Urdox tablets. "What are they from?" is a frequently asked question by readers. Many users write that they often take it with them on vacation to “heal” their liver. But at the same time, they lose sight of the fact that this is a drug produced to treat serious liver diseases. Therefore, it is so important to know in what cases and how to use the Urdox medicine correctly. Instructions for use, contraindications, side effects - everything can be found in this article.
Composition of the drug and release form
The active substance in this drug is ursodeoxycholic acid, which is, in fact, a less aggressive form of bile acid. Initially, this component was included in the composition of medicines indicated for the treatment of reflux gastritis and the dissolution of gallstones. Nowthe substance is included in many drugs intended for the treatment of cholestatic liver diseases. This drug is produced in the form of gelatin opaque capsules, the contents of which are granules or white powder. The excipients here are colloidal anhydrous silicon dioxide, corn starch, magnesium stearate. The capsule shell contains titanium dioxide, propyl hydroxybenzoate, methyl hydroxybenzoate, gelatin and acetic acid.
Pharmacological action
This medicine is a hepatoprotective drug. It has a cholelitholytic, choleretic, hypocholesterolemic and immunomodulatory effect. The active substance of the Urdox capsule is embedded in the membrane of the structural cells of the liver (hepatocyte), thereby protecting them from the effects of bile s alts. Also, the drug stimulates the formation and secretion of bile, contributes to the complete or partial dissolution of gallstones.
Indications for use
"Urdoksa" instruction, price, reviews - everything will be described in this article. In the meantime, let's get acquainted with the list of indications for use:
• Biliary reflux gastritis. A disease that occurs due to disruption of the biliary system and asynchronous work of sphincters. The cause of the disease can be represented as follows: the acidic contents of the duodenum are regularly thrown into the stomach. As a result, under the influence of bile acids, the gastric mucosa begins to collapse.
• Destruction of liver cells(primary biliary cirrhosis) in the absence of signs of decompensation. The disease is more common in women. It manifests itself in the form of inflammatory changes in the liver, autoimmune destruction of it and the bile ducts. In this case, the secretion of bile is disturbed. Harmful toxic substances are retained in the liver. As a result, liver failure first develops, and later cirrhosis of the liver.
• Used to dissolve small and medium cholesterol stones in the normal functioning of the gallbladder (unfortunately, in this case it helps infrequently). It is known that 80% of all stones that form in the gallbladder are cholesterol. Any changes that occur in the composition of the formed bile lead to the fact that it begins to poorly “dissolve” harmful elements, such as cholesterol. As a result, gallstones form in the gallbladder. They can be very tiny (the size of a grain of sand) and very large (the size of a ping-pong ball). There may be several or just one. Most doctors are inclined to believe that gallstones are formed as a result of the regular consumption of too fatty foods.
Urdoksa drug: instructions for use
This remedy is for oral use. The dosage of the drug depends on the type of disease and the patient's body weight. For the treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis, it should be used like this:
- If body weight is from 34 to 50 kg, then you need to take 2 capsules a day. They are usually taken in the morning andin the evening one thing at a time.
- If body weight is from 51 to 65 kg, then you need to take 3 capsules per day. They are consumed three times a day: morning, afternoon and evening.
- If body weight is from 66 to 85 kg, then you need to take 4 capsules a day. Consume three times a day in this way: 1 in the morning, 1 in the afternoon and 2 in the evening.
- If body weight is from 86 to 110 kg, then you need to take 5 capsules a day. Consume three times a day: 1 in the morning, 2 in the afternoon, 3 in the evening.
- If body weight is more than 110 kg, then you need to take 6 capsules per day. Consume three times a day: 2 in the morning, 2 in the afternoon and 3 in the evening.
For the treatment of biliary reflux gastritis, the remedy should be taken as follows: once a day, 250 mg. The attending physician should determine the duration of therapy with Urdox. Instructions for its use states that, as a rule, it ranges from 10-14 days to six months. In some cases, the Urdox medicine is taken for more than a year.
In order to dissolve cholesterol gallstones, the remedy is usually taken at 250-500 mg per day, which corresponds to 1-2 capsules. In this case, the drug is consumed either after a meal, or during it. The full course of treatment ranges from 4-6 months to a year or more. Maintenance therapy is carried out at a daily dose of 250 mg.
Contraindications and side effects
Not everyone can take Urdox. Instructions for use states that children's age in this case is a contraindication. The tool also hasfollowing usage restrictions:
- x-ray gallstones (visible in the picture due to the high content of calcium in the composition);
- poorly functioning gallbladder;
- acute inflammation of the gallbladder, its ducts and intestines;
- decompensated cirrhosis of the liver (a disease in which the liver is completely scarred and unable to do its job);
- pronounced violations of the functions of the kidneys, liver, pancreas;
- hypersensitivity to medication elements;
- pregnancy and lactation.
Side effects of the drug are as follows:
- back pain;
- abdominal pain;
- diarrhea;
- calcification of gallstones;
- nausea;
- constipation;
- increased activity of hepatic transaminases;
- vomit;
- allopecia (baldness);
- dizziness;
- allergic reactions (urticaria and so on);
- exacerbation of psoriasis that appeared earlier.
Medication prices
The cost of the drug depends on the number of capsules in the package. So, the price of a pack (50 pieces) in different pharmacies varies from 520 to 692 rubles, and 100 pieces - from 980 to 1040 rubles.
Use during pregnancy and lactation
This drug has many restrictions in use. The period of pregnancy and lactation is one of them. It's no secret that so many drugs can have a negative impact on the unborn child. Atthis raises the risk of developing various malformations in the embryo and fetus. Many drugs, along with the milk of a breastfeeding mother, enter the baby's body. They can have the most detrimental effect on him. The drug "Urdox" during pregnancy and lactation is prohibited for use. This rule must be strictly observed. In any case, all medications taken by women during this critical period of their lives should be prescribed by their doctor.
Special Instructions
We found out what indications and limitations for use the drug we are considering has, and also examined in detail how to take Urdox. Now it remains to mention the special instructions noted in his instructions. So, this medication is not recommended to be used in conjunction with medications that increase biliary cholesterol elimination. These, as a rule, include contraceptives, estrogens, some lipid-lowering agents. It is also forbidden to drink alcohol during treatment.
Urdoksa drug: analogues
When using any drug, it is useful to know the names of drugs that have a similar effect. The drug "Urdoksa" has the following analogues:
- "Livodex";
- "Urso 100";
- Ursodez;
- "Ursodeoxycholic acid";
- Ursodex;
- Ursoliv;
- Ursorom Rompharm;
- Ursor C;
- "Ursofalk";
- Ursosan;
- "Exhole";
- Choludexan.
IfIf we analyze the cost of all these medicines, we can conclude that Urdoxa is somewhere in the middle of the price range. Consumer feedback suggests that in some cases they preferred this product to its expensive counterparts as more effective.
Urdoksa or Ursosan? Which is better?
Why is it important to know if any medicine has analogues? The most significant argument here is the price of the drug. It's no secret that at present, doctors in polyclinics often prescribe very expensive advertised drugs, instead of prescribing cheaper analogues. The drug we are considering has a lot of drugs similar in composition and action.
Let's try, for example, to compare it with one of its analogues. Let's find out which is better: "Urdoksa" or "Ursosan"? In both cases, ursodeoxycholic acid acts as the active substance. Its concentration in both preparations is the same and is 250 mg per 1 capsule. The release form is also the same. Medicines are produced in the form of gelatin capsules. If we compare their cost, we can come to the conclusion that the Urdoksa tool costs an order of magnitude cheaper than its counterpart. So, its cost is on average 550-600 rubles for a 50-piece package. And the price of the drug "Ursosan" is an order of magnitude higher. It averages 750-800 rubles. The difference in cost is significant. Therefore, it may make sense to purchase a cheaper analogue of Ursosan.
The difference between these twomedicines is observed only in the list of indications for use. At means "Ursosan" it is a little more. This, in addition to primary cirrhosis of the liver and biliary reflux gastritis, includes diseases such as primary sclerosing cholangitis, cholelithiasis, viral hepatitis in acute and chronic forms, autoimmune hepatitis, various liver damage as a result of toxicosis (including alcohol and drugs), cystic fibrosis, biliary dyskinesia. And even in the instructions for the drug "Ursosan" it is said that pregnant women can use it for treatment, if only the expected benefit to the mother outweighs the possible risk of complications in the fetus. While the drug "Urdox" is strictly prohibited for this category of women. In any case, you should not hesitate to ask your doctor for advice on whether the drugs he prescribes have cheaper analogues. There is no need to solve the questions on your own: which is more effective, "Urdoksa" or "Ursosan" - which is better in a particular situation? A competent specialist will dispel all doubts of his patients.
Reviews of doctors
There are not so many comments from experts about this drug. Most of them boil down to advising consumers not to self-diagnose or self-prescribe medications. This can only be done by a doctor competent in this matter. Also, experts warn that you should not buy cheaper analogues of drugs without consulting doctors. After all, it is fraught with consequences. The fact is that, despite the similarity in composition and principleactions, there are drugs that are supplemented with various components that mitigate their side effects. Only a doctor can determine which remedy is suitable for a patient in a particular situation.
Patient testimonials
There is a lot of information on the forums about where people write that the attending physician prescribed Urdox medicine for them. Their reviews about this tool vary greatly. Someone writes that it helps a lot and does not cause any unpleasant moments. But there are a lot of comments where people complain about the side effects of this medication. So, for example, one of the most frequently heard claims from consumers is the exacerbation of existing psoriasis, nausea, diarrhea and flatulence. The last of this list, according to gastroenterologists, is most likely associated with the occurrence of dysbacteriosis in the course of treatment. Correcting the situation here is easy.
Nowadays, there are many different effective drugs in pharmacies that can eliminate dysbacteriosis. All these side effects are present in the list of side effects. Therefore, their occurrence is not sudden. If they do not go away within a few days after starting the drug, experts recommend canceling it, replacing it with another medication prescribed by the attending physician. There are people who claim that this remedy helped them completely get rid of gallstones. The results of treatment were confirmed by the results of ultrasound of the biliary tract. In addition, many patients noted an improvement in well-being already in the second week of use.facilities. They noted that the bitterness in the mouth disappeared, the pain under the ribs on the right side disappeared. However, there are also those consumers who are sure that this drug is too ineffective in this regard. Some users write that they often take it with them on vacation to protect their liver from adverse external factors. They say that on vacation they indulge in excesses in the form of strong drinks and high-calorie foods. And "Urdoksa" simply "saves" them, protecting their liver from overload. Here it is worth recalling only that this drug has some contraindications and special instructions. Only a doctor can take them into account. Therefore, without his advice, it is unreasonable to take the Urdox medicine on your own.
We reviewed one of the drugs for the treatment of certain liver diseases and found that it is widely known and in demand by the population.
