Urso and weight gain

[pjfort]

I was diagnosed with PBS in Dec of 17. I have been followed for years due to my LFT's being extremely high and was just told it was fatty liver. Finally I was sent to a hepatologist who diagnosed me. I was immediately started on Urso. Since being on it, I have gained weight. Has anyone else experienced this? What can you do to help get if off? Thank you

[Angel_b]

Hi. I was similar in the first few months. I put on a few pounds. After the first couple of months it came back off again. I’ve no idea what causes it but once I adjusted to the medication it settled. I’ve read that you can have up to 6lb weight gain when going on urso in the first year.

[Pin44 in reply to Angel_b]

During the first two years when I was asymptomatic I was fine, but in the last year since various symptoms have inconvenienced my life to varying degrees, I've noticed my appetite and food intake has increased and I've probably put on about 3 or 4 kilos. I'm so very tired so much of the time that I'm drawn to sweet food to give me energy, which I know are not good for me but have, as yet, not found a way to sort this out. Any suggestions, please?

PIN44

[periwinkle88]

I've gained over 20 pounds due to urso in the past year and a half, unfortunately. I've cut way back on how much I eat, and still can't lose it. It's been extremely frustrating.

[Evaibrahim60]

I have gained weight too but never related to Urso and I was the skinniest amongst my relative and friends! But I have no idea what to do my Gastro has denied it has anything to do with Urso!

[Ellyne]

I have been on Urso for 3 weeks and have gained about 5 lbs. In my case, this is happening because I am eating more out of fear that I will get a bad reaction from the Urso acid. I never ate breakfast before and now I am. Fitting in these 3 pills in the course of the day is very challenging for me. I am trying to navigate just how much I need to eat with this pill to be OK. I am not even hungry half the time and just force myself to eat as if it was also medicine.

[Hidden in reply to Ellyne]

Ellyne,

You don't have to take the Urso at each meal - I am assuming that is what you meant. You could take 1 at lunch time (before or after you eat) and then the other 2 at dinner time - or, you can take them all at one time (many people do this).

I have been diagnosed 29 years and have over the years increased the number of Urso capsules - I am stage 4 now and take 5 capsules per day, 2 with breakfast (sometimes before or sometimes after I eat) and the other 3 after dinner. I have also taken them without eating (this mostly due to having to have an empty stomach for ultrasounds, endoscopes, etc.), and have had no problem with that either.

As with all medicines Urso may cause a few issues when first beginning to take them, but after a while things usually settle down - if they don't, and you have continuous issues with the med. talk to your doctor about it, as there are other meds you can take. One thing though, some people have noted that they have issues with one brand of Urso and not with another brand (mainly this has something to do with the different 'fillers' each manufacturer uses).

Hope this helps

Di

[Ellyne]

Yes. It helps tremendously. I will have to play around with the meds.

[Alley27]

I can't or rather wont take urso. I have AIH/PBC and the reason I refuse to take it is that it boats me out so badly that I can't wear anything around my stomach area and yes it puts weight on within days and I am still trying to get weight off after 3.5 years of steroid use. I have no reason to believe urso helps at all and there is no definitive proof that it does. Sorry I posted negative regarding this I am just so fed up at the moment x

[mjk98 in reply to Alley27]

I agree with you I am on 1000 mg a day and started to gain weight I feel like crap on the medicine I also weeded myself off the 40mg of predisone I'm sick of this medicine considering I feel worse on it yes my numbers went down but I'm not staying on this crap it has other effects