How Much Does Ursodiol Cost in Mexico vs the USA?

INDICATIONS AND USAGE Ursodiol is indicated for patients with radiolucent, noncalcified gallbladder stones < 20 mm in greatest diameter in whom elective cholecystectomy would be undertaken except for the presence of increased surgical risk due to systemic disease, advanced age, idiosyncratic reaction to general anesthesia, or for those patients who refuse surgery. Safety of use of ursodiol beyond 24 months is not established. Ursodiol is indicated for the prevention of gallstone formation in obese patients experiencing rapid weight loss.

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Gallstone Dissolution The recommended dose for ursodiol treatment of radiolucent gallbladder stones is 8 - 10 mg/kg/day given in 2 or 3 divided doses. Ultrasound images of the gallbladder should be obtained at 6-month intervals for the first year of ursodiol therapy to monitor gallstone response. If gallstones appear to have dissolved, ursodiol therapy should be continued and dissolution confirmed on a repeat ultrasound examination within 1 to 3 months. Most patients who eventually achieve complete stone dissolution will show partial or complete dissolution at the first on-treatment reevaluation. If partial stone dissolution is not seen by 12 months of ursodiol therapy, the likelihood of success is greatly reduced. Gallstone Prevention The recommended dosage of ursodiol for gallstone prevention in patients undergoing rapid weight loss is 600 mg/day (300 mg b.i.d.).

CONTRAINDICATIONS Ursodiol will not dissolve calcified cholesterol stones, radiopaque stones, or radiolucent bile pigment stones. Hence, patients with such stones are not candidates for ursodiol therapy. Patients with compelling reasons for cholecystectomy including unremitting acute cholecystitis, cholangitis, biliary obstruction, gallstone pancreatitis, or biliary-gastrointestinal fistula are not candidates for ursodiol therapy. Allergy to bile acids.

Drug Interactions Bile acid sequestering agents such as cholestyramine and colestipol may interfere with the action of ursodiol by reducing its absorption. Aluminum-based antacids have been shown to adsorb bile acids in vitro and may be expected to interfere with ursodiol in the same manner as the bile acid sequestering agents. Estrogens, oral contraceptives, and clofibrate (and perhaps other lipid-lowering drugs) increase hepatic cholesterol secretion, and encourage cholesterol gallstone formation and hence may counteract the effectiveness of ursodiol.

ADVERSE REACTIONS The nature and frequency of adverse experiences were similar across all groups. The following tables provide comprehensive listings of the adverse experiences reported that occurred with a 5% incidence level: GALLSTONE DISSOLUTION Ursodiol Placebo 8 - 10 mg/kg/day (N = 155) (N = 159) N (%) N (%) Body as a Whole Allergy 8 (5.2) 7 (4.4) Chest Pain 5 (3.2) 10 (6.3) Fatigue 7 (4.5) 8 (5.0) Infection Viral 30 (19.4) 41 (25.8) Digestive System Abdominal Pain 67 (43.2) 70 (44.0) Cholecystitis 8 (5.2) 7 (4.4) Constipation 15 (9.7) 14 (8.8) Diarrhea 42 (27.1) 34 (21.4) Dyspepsia 26 (16.8) 18 (11.3) Flatulence 12 (7.7) 12 (7.5) Gastrointestinal Disorder 6 (3.9) 8 (5.0) Nausea 22 (14.2) 27 (17.0) Vomiting 15 (9.7) 11 (6.9) Musculoskeletal System Arthralgia 12 (7.7) 24 (15.1) Arthritis 9 (5.8) 4 (2.5) Back Pain 11 (7.1) 18 (11.3) Myalgia 9 (5.8) 9 (5.7) Nervous System Headache 28 (18.1) 34 (21.4) Insomnia 3 (1.9) 8 (5.0) Respiratory System Bronchitis 10 (6.5) 6 (3.8) Coughing 11 (7.1) 7 (4.4) Pharyngitis 13 (8.4) 5 (3.1) Rhinitis 8 (5.2) 11 (6.9) Sinusitis 17 (11.0) 18 (11.3) Upper Respiratory Tract Infection 24 (15.5) 21 (13.2) Urogenital System Urinary Tract Infection 10 (6.5) 7 (4.4) GALLSTONE PREVENTION Ursodiol Placebo 600 mg (N = 322) (N = 325) N (%) N (%) Body as a Whole Fatigue 25 (7.8) 33 (10.2) Infection Viral 29 (9.0) 29 (8.9) Influenza-like Symptoms 21 (6.5) 19 (5.8) Digestive System Abdominal Pain 20 (6.2) 39 (12.0) Constipation 85 (26.4) 72 (22.2) Diarrhea 81 (25.2) 68 (20.9) Flatulence 15 (4.7) 24 (7.4) Nausea 56 (17.4) 43 (13.2) Vomiting 44 (13.7) 44 (13.5) Musculoskeletal System Back Pain 38 (11.8) 21 (6.5) Musculoskeletal Pain 19 (5.9) 15 (4.6) Nervous System Dizziness 53 (16.5) 42 (12.9) Headache 80 (24.8) 78 (24.0) Respiratory System Pharyngitis 10 (3.1) 19 (5.8) Sinusitis 17 (5.3) 18 (5.5) Upper Respiratory Tract Infection 40 (12.4) 35 (10.8) Skin and Appendages Alopecia 17 (5.3) 8 (2.5) Urogenital System Dysmenorrhea 18 (5.6) 19 (5.8) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact AvKARE at 1-855-361-3993; email drugsafety@avkare.com; or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Pregnancy Reproduction studies have been performed in rats and rabbits with ursodiol doses up to 200-fold the therapeutic dose and have revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the fetus at doses of 20- to 100-fold the human dose in rats and at 5-fold the human dose (highest dose tested) in rabbits. Studies employing 100- to 200-fold the human dose in rats have shown some reduction in fertility rate and litter size. There have been no adequate and well-controlled studies of the use of ursodiol in pregnant women, but inadvertent exposure of 4 women to therapeutic doses of the drug in the first trimester of pregnancy during the ursodiol trials led to no evidence of effects on the fetus or newborn baby. Although it seems unlikely, the possibility that ursodiol can cause fetal harm cannot be ruled out; hence, the drug is not recommended for use during pregnancy.