Side effects of urso

[meandmypbc]

I started urso on the full dose 1000mg a day, had awful nausea and vomiting, the gp has taken me off for 4 days to reintroduce at a slower pace. Hs anyone out there had similiar experiences of this ? And how did you manage the nausea etc. ?

[Hidden]

Hello meandmypbc.

My only side-effects at the start of urso were heartburn of an evening plus some bloating and also constipation. I'm currently suffering heartburn again at night due to a recent recall of the 300mg x 2 tablets I used to take, have now to take 4 x 150mgs per day.

You didn't state how long you have been suffering from nausea and have actually vomited but I know on my old Urdox patient leaflet, these side-effects were actually noted (there is only diarrhoea mentioned on the current Ursogal tablet leaflet).

I was prescribed 10mgs urso to 1kg body weight at diagnose Dec 2010. I am still on that (600mgs per day). What was your dosage?

It might be a better idea to perhaps drop the urso down a bit, I expect you are on 2 x 500mg tablets daily perhaps? You can get urso in 250mg tablets so maybe you might just be better starting off at 750mg and seeing how that goes first? Have you tried taking urso about half hour after having breakfast to see how you feel before it is time to take another urso.

Sorry I can't be of much more help. It's not nice feeling nauseous and then being sick, I recall back to the first few months of 2 pregnancies, not nice at all.

[cavi]

Hi Meandmypbc I am also taking 1000 mg urso I took mine 250mg 4 times a day they are capsules when I first went on them Jan 2013 Im sure that helped with side affects after being on them a while I then took 2 250mg 2 times a day and now I take the 4 250mg all at the same time I would rather have the 250mg capsules because you can change them around to what time of day you want to take them if you are not feeling to good with nausea or stomach problem's as long as I take 1000mg a day that's all that matter's my biggest problem at the moment is the itching it's absolute torture how are you with that . Take Care

[littlemo in reply to cavi]

Hi Cavi have you tried Questran Light sachets for the itch they do help. I take one in am before breakfast and one after breakfast and this plus a few other little tricks such as drinking plenty of water one to two litres a day, eat small and often at least every 3hrs, avoid too much caffeine, and foods high in fat, sugar or spices and this all helps keep it at mild tolerable levels during the day at least. Night time can be worse but again I do take the Questran Light during the night if itch is bad. Hope this advice helps. Bfn. x

[Rockie in reply to cavi]

Cavi. I had to change from Ursotan, which I was being used for 8 Years, and has been costing me a small fortune, to Ursofalk, as the Medical Aid is willing to pay for them on Chronic. I battle with constipation and itch. Have been an itcher for many years, but since going on this Ursofalk it has been much worse,. I take 750mg, divided in 3 x 250mg , morning, lunch and evening. I thought it would get better. I am using it now for 4 weeks. but will go crazy

[meandmypbc]

Hi thanks for your replies, I do take them after food, but I will biuld them up gradually .. I take the 250mg capsules..ursofalk . Cavi..I get no itching at all and was diagnosed at a routine bloodtest !! 1000mg is what I have to aim for and was what I was taking initially.so I had no symptoms at all ..only stress and taking the blinking capsules !!!

I will try to space them out a bit though.

So I guess I am one of the lucky ones ?? If you can call it lucky !!!

Thanks

[Hidden in reply to meandmypbc]

Hello meanmypbc.

Just a thought, you state you take capsules in Ursofalk, have you tried having them in white tablet form instead? Could possibly be the plasticky outer of the capsule that is causing what might be temporary side-effects yet.

The make-up of the capsule shell is normally different to white tablets. Might be worth a try if you do not succeed with the capsules. Apparently sometimes switching to something different can have a different response.

Cavi I used to cut my urso in half in the early days of taking urso (on 600mgs per day, used to be 2 tablets at 300mg, now I take 4 x 150mgs daily), just to see if I could alleviate the itching. It has taken almost 3yrs for the itch to subside in my case. I tend to itch at night time, sometimes it isn't as bad as others now. Of course I know I'm on a roll at the moment, there is no guarantee long-term with this PBC.

[meandmypbc]

In wiltshire england, where I live...my only option is ursofalk, strange that it is a different dose when taking the tablets...I am on 1000mg a day, at 58kg..which is correct dose for my weight.some of you lovely ladies are on 600mg a day of other brands, same drug, different brands?

[Oidra]

I also take Ursofalk and find these are the best for me. I take 3 x250 after breakfast with no after effects

Hope you can get the right urso and dosage that suits you . I weigh 9 stone 3 whatever that is in kg!

[Oidra]

PS breakfast is fruit (prunes and peaches) followed by porridge. Do you think makes a difference what you eat before you take Urso? I hadn`t thought of this.

[meandmypbc]

What you eat before taking these tablets may make a difference !! What do others think of this ? I will try anything.

[Hidden]

I take ursofalk caps and I used to have a problem with mine, I stopped taking the full dose ( 750mg for me) and then started with one a day and then two a day and then the three, I take them all at the same time ( 3 at once) with my evening meal at 8 to 8.30, not after or before it but while I am actually eating it after every few mouthfuls I have a sip of water and a cap. and I now feel fine and don't have any side effects from the actual ursofalk on it, someone on here told me to try this and I am very grateful to her.

[Rockie in reply to Hidden]

Hidden. Did it ever make you itch more than usual using the Ursofalk. For me it is a non stop itch after the switch from Ursotan to Ursofalk. Had to do this as I had to pay for the Ursotan and get the Ursofalk through the Chronic division.

[meandmypbc]

Thanks very much for that I will try it as you have and see what happens...can I ask how much you weigh ? I am curious about your dose ? Thanks shirley

[Hidden in reply to meandmypbc]

8 and a half stone ( 119lbs) at the moment, I think thats about 53 Kilo but have been as low as 49Kilo

edited to say I am only 5ft

[meandmypbc]

I am 58k..and 5 foot 2, so sounds about right , good things are made in small packages x

I will let you know how I get on x

[Hidden in reply to meandmypbc]

Good luck, i hope it works for you.......Just been looking and unless i am reading wrong the dose for both of us should be 2 a day, I read it on the leaflet, I get more confused as time goes on :o)

edited to say i was reading the wrong bit it's 3, must learn how to read one day.

[meandmypbc]

My dose just tips over 3 caps and is nearer to 4 , but I will keep that in mind when I see consultant x I will let you know how I go x

[Hibbsy]

Hi there, just wondering, how soon did you get side effects with the Urso, was it immediately? 

I am a 46 yr old mother of two, diagnosed with PBC in November 2015, so I'm v new to this.

I have been on Ursofalk 250mg 3 times a day since November for Pbc. Ive had a couple of episodes of pain upper right side just under ribs over the last few months. This last episode resulted in me having a day in hospital last weekend. Nausea pain and exhaustion. Lfts were about the same as normal, blood count normal, nothing to explain the pain.

Dr's said pain was from the liver or gall bladder. Ultrasound scan showed nothing untoward. Today, almost a week later, I still have the pain and started being sick. Dr says he is stumped as to what it can be as my blood tests and scan are clear! 

I've been given antibiotics to be certain it's not the gallbladder inflamed?

Just wondering, could it be a side effect of the Urso meds?  I would really appreciate some advice as I just don't know what to think!

Thank you to anyone who may be able to advise.

Wishing you good health 

Hibbsy