Ursodeoxycholic Acid Side Effects
Ursodeoxycholic (urso) acid is a prescription medicine. It is used for the treatment gallstones. Gallstones are a digestive condition in which hard deposits (made up of digestive fluid) formulate within the gallbladder. Ursodeoxycholic acid works to stop gallstones from occurring, particularly when obese people are losing weight quickly. This medication is also used to treat a liver disease known as primary biliary cirrhosis. Some side effects of this bile acid are possible.
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Common Side Effects
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Various common side effects of ursodeoxycholic acid are possible. These side effects are usually minor, since they tend to rapidly subside once the body gets used to the bile acid. If you have any of these effects, however, and they don't go away, or actually becoming more severe with time, you need to speak with your physician about them. These common side effects include stomach ache, exhaustion, coughing, swelling, indigestion, dizziness, backache, headache, diarrhea, constipation, loss of hair, metallic taste inside of the mouth, joint or muscle pain, skin rash, nausea, gas and dry skin.
Serious Side Effects
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Serious side effects are significantly less common than minor ones. In these situations, emergency medical attention is necessary, as these effects could be harmful. These severe effects are the feet or the ankles becoming swollen, needing to urinate more often, extreme thirst, infection symptoms (like lingering sore throat and fever) and weakness.
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Allergic Reactions
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Serious allergic reactions to ursodeoxycholic acid are also rare and also can be harmful. If you notice any signs of allergic reaction, get medical help immediately. Some symptoms of allergic reaction to this bile acid include extreme dizziness, itching, difficulty breathing, swelling and skin rash.
Other Considerations
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Ursodeoxycholic acid is not safe or appropriate for everybody. It is essential to discuss the possibility of using this medication with your doctor beforehand. Some types of individuals are advised against using the medicine for safety purposes, namely those with specific kinds of bile duct or gallbladder issues (like cholangitis, acute cholecystitis, gallstone pancreatitis, biliary obstruction and biliary-gastrointestinal fistula).
Warning
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Dizziness is one of the most common side effects of this medication. Therefore individuals taking this medication need to exercise extreme caution when engaging in activities like driving and operating heavy machinery. If you are unsure what effect ursodeoxycholic acid might have on you, abstain from partaking in any activities that require vigilance and alertness while taking it.
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