ursodiol

[Guest guest]

http://home.eznet.net/~webtent/ursodiol.html

[Guest guest]

Hi Clara and Elaine,

My only income is from my previous employer for LTC. I researched and found Ursodiol 250 mg tabs can be obtained for very few dollars through the manufacturer, AXCAN Scandipharm ASSIST Program. Along with your prescription from your PCP, your pharmacist will submit a claim to McKesson Health Solutions. Their phone number is 1-866-292-2679. You may call them and have the application sent to you or your PCP.

Re: [ ] Re: Clara

In a message dated 10/22/2004 1:28:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time, cshelton33@... writes:

.. I am taking only Ursodiol for my liver

Everyone gets your messages Clara. Ursodiol is mainly for itching and won't have much (if any) effect on your liver function. Man is that stuff expensive!

Regards

Elaine

Long Island NY

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/22/2004 11:17:32 PM Eastern Daylight Time, dagelo@... writes:

Ursodiol 250 mg tabs can be obtained for very few dollars through the manufacturer,

Thank you , that's good to know. In fact, I'm learning that several drugs can be obtained through manufacturers' special programs. Another one is Zofran which is given to chemo patients for nausa.

Regards

Elaine

[Guest guest]

I am glad you pressed "send" instead of "post". (I am not sure if that is an option in the way you receive the email,like individually or per digest, or it is an option in Outlook Express, I do not seem to have that choice), because now I was able to read a very informative explanation translated into language I can understand.

Thanks,

clara

[ ] ursodiol

Hey all..Okay, so I had typed a LONG email about ursodiol and then hit "post" instead of "send" so now I am thinking a Very Bad Word.Here is what came up on www.medicinenet.com/ursodiol/article.htm:DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Ursodiol is a naturally-occurring bile acid that is made by the liver in humans and is secreted in small quantities in bile. It is used to dissolve and prevent cholesterol gallstones and to treat primary biliary cirrhosis, a disease of the liver. Ursodiol blocks the enzyme in the liver that produces cholesterol and thereby decreases production of cholesterol by the liver and the amount of cholesterol in bile. It also reduces the absorption of cholesterol from the intestine. By decreasing the concentration of cholesterol in bile, ursodiol prevents the formation and promotes the dissolution of cholesterol-containing gallstones. The mechanism by which it acts in primary biliary cirrhosis is not clear.[Did you know it was originally from bear bile? Hence the urso. Poor bear. Also, I wonder who was sitting around in the woods and thought "I wonder what would happen if we ate bear liver?" Okay, maybe that's not so unrealistic.]The GI I have seen for the last year through the xp program (he does my EGD's/bandings and ERCPs) suggested I take it. But when I asked my regular GI and the xp heps, the consensus was that I was okay without it and that it wouldn't do me very much good, considering that my bilirubin levels were normal. But anyway, the short explanation (it was very rudimentary the first time I got it b/c it was immediately following an EGD and I was drugged out to oblivion) I got from all of them is that the drug acts as a thinner for bile. If you're itching, it's because your body isn't getting rid of all the gunk in bile appropriately. With PBC and PSC (which I theoretically have) your bile ducts are narrowed, damaged, clogged, etc. so thinner bile makes sense. For AIH, I am guessing that docs try it to ease the burden on an otherwise-stressed liver. Anyhoo, I am looking forward to seeing what other people have to say about the stuff.Have a great (rest of) your weekend.Shirl (WA)