Gallstone solubilizing agents

What are Gallstone solubilizing agents?

Gallstone solubilizing agents are used to dissolve small non-calcified gallstones. They suppress the amount of cholesterol synthesized by the liver or inhibit the amount of cholesterol absorbed from the intestines.

They are used to breakdown gallstones in patients, who do not need to have surgery.

Gallstone solubilizing agents are used to dissolve small non-calcified gallstones. They suppress the amount of cholesterol synthesized by the liver or inhibit the amount of cholesterol absorbed from the intestines. They are used to breakdown gallstones in patients, who do not need to have surgery.

Ursodiol link (Actigall) and chenodiol link (Chenix) are medicines that contain bile acids that can break up gallstones. These medicines work best to break up small cholesterol stones. You may need months or years of treatment to break up all stones.

Ursodeoxycholic acid, and, more recently, a combination of ursodeoxycholic and chenodeoxycholic acids have been shown to be both effective and safe in dissolving gallstones that are predominantly composed of cholesterol.

Ursodiol is used to dissolve gallstones in people who do not want surgery or cannot have surgery to remove gallstones. Ursodiol is also used to prevent the formation of gallstones in overweight people who are losing weight very quickly.