Any implications taking Ursofalk without food

[amt50]

The medication advises to take with food, anyone know of any implications of taking Ursofalk without food?  Any side effects etc? 

Thanks

[Karaliz]

Hi amt50. I was diagnosed with PBC nearly 13 years ago at age 38. I take 1gm - 4 capsules - all at once on my way to bed ( so hours after eating) and have zero issues. I am also take the trial drug OCA first thing in the morning without food and have no problems with it either. What works for you is what's important! 

Cheers from Downunder

Karaliz

[Betonarme in reply to Karaliz]

Hi Karaliz,

may I ask: Since how long do you take OCA? What dosis?

Thanks

[Karaliz in reply to Betonarme]

Hi Betonarme. This is my 4th year on the OCA trial although for the first year I was on the placebo. I was switched to the active arm of 5mg after that first year and then to 10 mg- my daily dose now for over two years.

Hope you're keeping well. 

[Betonarme in reply to Karaliz]

Hi Karaliz,

thanks for your information...my wife is PBC diagnosed 2 years ago....and I think she responds somehow to Urso. But it's always better feeling to have other options if one should not work.

So, would you say OCA improves your condition? I assume since you take it 4 years long and still take it...it helps somehow.

On 29th May FDA will say some opinion on OCA.

Thank You!

[Karaliz in reply to Betonarme]

Apologies for delay Betonarme...I am in Australia.

As I am part of the trial I must keep taking it but yes, it has definitely improved my blood chemistry, particularly ALP and GGT. I became a non responder to Urso after 7 years of taking it and was fortunate to be recruited into the OCA trial.

As I mentioned I was randomised to the placebo arm for a year which saw my LFTs become more and more deranged. However once I started taking the active OCA, they very quickly improved. As you would know, the damage to my liver cannot be reversed as I have cirrhosis but my consultant feels OCA has slowed the disease process down somewhat.

All the very best to you and your wife.

Karaliz

[Betonarme in reply to Karaliz]

I knew that you are in AU so there is a time lag....I thought you went to sleep or something

Good to hear that OCA works for you

Was there also a decrease in your Bilirubin levels after taking OCA?

Cheers

Beton

[Karaliz in reply to Betonarme]

My bilirubin has always been within normal range which is great. Even though I have widespread cirrhosis , bilirubin has never been elevated.

Cheers from down under ! 

[Becca75]

I just was diagnosed this past week, and started this past Thursday on the medication, and the first few days were not easy on my stomach, even though I took it with food. It seems to have balanced out a bit - as I don't feel nauseous all the time today. I would definitely stick to taking it with food.

[Louedwards]

I find that eating with food is easier. I take halfway through meal. Helps push tablet down.  I have taken it without food and I get acid coming into my mouth!!! Feels like I can feel it floating 😮

[Hidden in reply to Louedwards]

Hello Louedwards.

I never used to have a problem with my urso after diagnosis as the tablets were film-coated but after these were withdrawn a few years ago (been taking urso over 5yrs now), the ones I have are a dull chalky surface.  If I don't take mine with food or during the evening my final with a biscuit I too can taste that awful acid in my mouth from the urso.  I find that drinking water doesn't help either, far better with food.

[amt50 in reply to Hidden]

Have you not tried the capsule ones, brand names Ursofalk?  Ive never had chalky tablets?

Just a thought

[Hidden in reply to amt50]

Hello amt50.

I take 600mgs a day in the urso and the Ursofalk do not come in those denominations.

[Hidden]

I can't take it without food it gives me dreadful heartburn, and I can feel it repeating on me. if your unsure you could check with the pharmacy if there are any implications of doing so. 

[butterflyEi]

Hi amt50

Because of other medication I take during the day I take all my Ursofalk just before bed around 10 p.m. (the leaflet suggests this is okay).  As I do not want to eat at that time of night I generally take them with milk which seems to work okay for me but when I only take them with water I find it more difficult to get them to stay down!  Then I have to eat a small piece of bread or something else.

Hope this helps

best wishes

[58goose]

I found out when first taking them that if I didn't have them with food I felt sick afterwards so I always take them with my evening meal. Everyone reacts differently to them so really it's what works for you but might be best to check with the pharmacist as to why they say take them with food. 

[janetfolley]

I was diagnosed with PBC 12 yrs ago and take 3x 250mg every morning before breakfast of Urso never had any side effects. Hope that's put your mind at rest.