Ursodiol

Ursodiol (ursodeoxycholic acid) is a naturally occurring bile acid that reduces cholesterol saturation in bile, helping to dissolve cholesterol-based gallstones in patients who are not candidates for surgery, and also improves liver enzyme and bile flow abnormalities in primary biliary cholangitis. It is FDA-approved for the treatment of primary biliary cholangitis and for the dissolution of small to medium-sized cholesterol gallstones. Treatment for gallstone dissolution is typically prolonged (months), and periodic ultrasound monitoring is used to assess treatment response; ursodiol is not effective for calcified or pigmented gallstones.