Tuesday's Tip

[DonnaBoll]

Urso is very safe and overall interacts very well with other drugs. The one drug it can interfere with is when someone also takes cholestyramine for the itch.

This drug is the first line treatment for itch. Its action is that it binds to the bile acids in the bowel and carries them out of the body. Since bile acids irritate the nerves in the skin causing the itching, then the binding of the bile acids and eliminating them from the body helps the itching.

But.. Urso is a bile acid itself. It can also bind with the cholestyramine and both be eliminated. Dr. Jones recommends that the Urso be a single dose taken in the evening and the cholestyramine be taken in intervals throughout the day.

[genj65]

I've taken Ursodiol 300mg daily for last seven years. When I was first diagnosed with PBC after 2 liver biopsies. I suffered from terrible itching and tried Colestyramine and it didn't help my itching. I went through sessions of Plamaheresis no success, I actually started getting sick and vomiting so discontinued. I was then referee to a dermatologist and she started UV light treatment (photography) and after several sessions no success for my itching. So December 2022 dermatologist had me start Rinvoq 15mg it worked to calm my itching attacks for 2 years then itching returned. So as of March 5, 2025 I am taking Cibinqo 15mg and after a month my itching is really calming down. I get some itching at night and I take children's liquid Benadryl that's helped me for many years. Sorry, I'm rambling on just hope to help others suffering from horrible itching that I've experienced from PBC liver disease. I'm also seeing a nutritionist and with my hepatologist permission taking semaglutide to try loosing weight gained in hopes of feeling healthier soon as I will be 60 this July 4th and I no longer can work or as mobile due to swelling in legs, less mobility dye to knee pain, back pain, brain fog. It's been a ride but I will continue to LIVE 🌎 LOVE 💖 LAUGH 😊Be blessed!!!

[DonnaBoll Administrator in reply to genj65]

I love your attitude but I am so sorry to all you've been thru. We just really have to keep trying to find what works for each of us. I, too, am currently trying to lose weight for many reasons - overall health, help my knees, and know I need to. I started taking Zepbound 2 months ago for weight loss thru a health care system weight management program. Best of luck to both of us. Let me know how you're doing.

[genj65 in reply to DonnaBoll]

Great, will have to keep each other posted😊Have a great day!!

[Michi1]

Wow! That's a pretty crucial detail to know about, and in 10 years after my diagnosis this is the first I've heard of it. Thanks for sharing!

[DonnaBoll Administrator in reply to Michi1]

Amazing how often the 'simple' tips aren't related by our doctors. 😏

[Michi1 in reply to DonnaBoll]

I don’t experience itching thankfully, so my doctor hasn’t prescribed anything for it.

[DonnaBoll Administrator in reply to Michi1]

You are blessed. Some never experience the itch or the fatigue.

[Michi1 in reply to DonnaBoll]

Apparently I also have the blessing of lesser bone density. The horrible cold I got about a month ago resulted in breaking 3 ribs coughing! It’s been a rough month.

[DonnaBoll Administrator in reply to Michi1]

Oh no! I've had one broken rib and that was enough. I do take medicine for my bone density. Hopefully it helps next time I get one done. I hope you feel better soon though. Colds are awful...

[JaneEyre55]

I am on both medications, have been for years. Because of the binding factor with Cholestyramine I worked with a Pharmacologist to come up with a schedule that allowed me to take both medications and others. I take 500mg of Ursodiol at 7am; 250mg of Ursodiol at 11am; 1 packet of Cholestyramine with water at 3pm; 250 mg of Ursodiol at 7pm; and another packet of Cholestyramine at 11pm. I have had no adverse reactions from either drug. I hope this information helps.

Marla Terrell

[DonnaBoll Administrator in reply to JaneEyre55]

Thanks for sharing what you're doing.