Ursodeoxycholic acid

Hi, I've been on urso 2000mg daily for 8 years now, but it seems to give me diarrhoea lately. Does anyone else have this trouble, also does it mean it has stopped working? Thank you for any help.

[Lezley23]

I’m also experiencing the same. I assumed it was my metformin tablets for my diabetes.

[liver-bird in reply to Lezley23]

Metformin definitely causes diarrhoea. The slow release is better

[butterflyEi]

Has the brand been changed, it may be one of the fillers? Not sure which country you are in but if in the UK try to book a consultation with your GP.

[derothmn]

Is your dosage too high? It should be calculated based on your weight, and that can change over the years. Or perhaps malabsorption is occurring. Check with your specialist and all the best.

[Michi1]

Correct me if I’m wrong, DonnaBoll . The proper dosage is 13 to 15 mg (?) per kg of body weight. If you go by pounds, that’s your body weight divided by 2.2. So, a 2000 mg daily dosage is correct only if you weigh between 293 and 338 pounds. If you weigh less than this your dosage range would be less based on the formula.

It can take quite a while for Urso to bring your blood tests into the normal range, if it does. I responded quickly but it took over a year to drop into the normal range, and a few more to get to where I am now. Some people never do, but if you get close you are considered a responder. Based on what I’ve been told, a higher dosage won’t help more and less may not give you the benefits you need that cannot be seen in blood tests, such as preventing or slowing PBC- caused liver damage and possibly correcting imbalances in your microbiome.

Is it possible your doctor has increased the dosage thinking more is better or faster?

If you are not responding to Urso there are now other drugs that may help and, if my experience and that of at least some others in this group merits consideration, significant dietary and lifestyle changes also may help.

[DonnaBoll Administrator in reply to Michi1]

You are absolutely right about the dose ALWAYS being your weight based - 13-15mgs/kg. It is never changed according to your symptoms or lab results. Being on the right dose is crucial. It can often take up to a year to know if you are a 'responder ' or not.

[Cstar1079 in reply to Michi1]

Other drugs? What other drugs?

[Michi1 in reply to Cstar1079]

Ocaliva is the one that's approved.

[Cstar1079]

Yes, it has done that to me since I started it. I used to have problems with constipation and had to use miralax occasionally. Not anymore. When I have to go, I have to go!