Hi... my wife was diagnosed with PBC last year and started on URSO 9 months ago. Her first results were excellent, but her recent blood test showed a small elevation in her ALK/ALT. IS it normal for your readings to fluctuate on URSO? Are there foods or medications that interact with URSO that we should avoid?
Still trying to navigate all the information out there.
thanks in advance.
I believe readings can fluctuate and it is better to take a look at readings over a longer period of time. Do you have a print out of your wife's blood test results? From the print out it is possible to see what the readings are and what the parameters are for those results. If not highly elevated then it may be at the next blood draw the results will be lower. Your wife's consultant will know best when he/she looks at the whole picture. If you are concerned though try to speak to the GP who can interpret the results for you. The only medication to my knowledge that interacts with URSO is Colestyramine (Questran). If this medication has been prescribed then it is best to take it 4-6 hours before taking the URSO.
There are no foods that are on a forbidden list relative to the PBC however most of us over the years learn what does and does not work. Some find cutting gluten from their diet helps with reflux whilst others find dairy. It is however good to cut out/reduce salt and sugar intake. Avoid all processed foods as they contain a lot of hidden salt and drinks such as cola with high sugar content.
here is a link you can look at for diet, hope it is helpful to you
Hi, results do tend to vary throughout the pbc journey, and your wife’s consultant should be keeping a monitor on whether she is responding to Urso. I started off being a non responder but then suddenly changed to responding.
Most people with any form of liver disorder, including pbc, will benefit from monitoring what they’re eating. If the liver is struggling to carry out all its functions, then give it less work to do. Less fatty meals, definitely less salt, less alcohol.
I’m not aware of specific foods to eat, someone may come along with some idea. Also keep an eye on weight and fitness. Should the journey progress further, your fitness will become a real advantage.
Good luck, Andy.
What should I avoid while taking ursodiol?
Ask your doctor before using an antacid, and use only the type your doctor recommends. Some antacids can make it harder for your body to absorb ursodiol.
If you also take cholestyramine or colestipol, avoid taking ursodiol at the same time. Ask your doctor how many hours apart you should take your medicines.
I found my levels first fluctuated in the beginning of my use of URSO but have generally levelled out over the years. I always request copies of my blood work results so I can compare them, which is helpful for me. Take care.
A small difference is perfectly normal. Please remember if you are tracking your blood results (and we hope you are) you can use the free PBC Foundation App to record them and to create graphs over the years.
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