Additional contraindications:
- acute inflammation of the gall bladders or biliary tract.
- occlusion of the biliary tract (occlusion of the common bile duct or a cystic duct)
- frequent episodes of biliary colic
- impaired contractability of the gall bladder
- hypersensitivity to bile acids or any excipient of the formulation
- pregnant or breastfeeding
4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use
Ursodeoxycholic acid should be taken under medical supervision.
During the first 3 months of treatment, the liver function parameters AST (SGOT), ALT (SGPT) and γ-GT should be monitored by the physician every 4 weeks, thereafter every 3 months. Apart from allowing for identification of responders and non-responders in patients being treated for primary biliary cirrhosis, this monitoring would also enable early detection of potential hepatic deterioration, particularly in patients with advanced stage primary biliary cirrhosis.
When used for the dissolution of cholesterol gallstones:
In order to assess therapeutic progress and for timely detection of any calcification of the gallstones, depending on stone size, the gall bladder should be visualised (oral cholecystography) with overview and occlusion views in standing and supine positions (ultrasound control) 6-10 months after the beginning of treatment.
If the gall bladder cannot be visualised on X-ray images, or in cases of calcified gallstones, impaired contractility of the gall bladder or frequent episodes of biliary colic, ursodeoxycholic acid should not be used.
When used for treatment of advanced stage of primary biliary cirrhosis:
In very rare cases decompensation of hepatic cirrhosis has been observed, which partially regressed after the treatment was discontinued.
If diarrhoea occurs, the dose must be reduced and in cases of persistent diarrhoea, the therapy should be discontinued.
Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactose deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicine.
4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
Urdox tablets should not be administered with oral contraceptives, oestrogenic hormones and other drugs which reduce the blood cholesterol level and increase the bile cholesterol level. Antacids bind bile acids in the gut. Drugs such as charcoal, colestipol and cholestyramine bind bile acids in vitro. All the above should be avoided during bile acid therapy as they may limit the effectiveness of therapy. Ursodeoxycholic acid may increase the absorption and serum levels of ciclosporin in some patients.
Ursodeoxycholic acid should not be administered concomitantly with charcoal, colestyramine, colestipol or antacids containing aluminium hydroxide and/or smectite (aluminium oxide), because these preparations bind ursodeoxycholic acid in the intestine and thereby inhibit its absorption and efficacy. Should the use of a preparation containing one of these substances be necessary, it must be taken at least 2 hours before or after ursodeoxycholic acid.
Ursodeoxycholic acid can increase the absorption of ciclosporin from the intestine. In patients receiving ciclosporin treatment, blood concentrations of this substance should therefore be checked by the physician and the ciclosporin dose adjusted if necessary.
In isolated cases ursodeoxycholic acid can reduce the absorption of ciprofloxacin.
Ursodeoxycholic acid has been shown to reduce the plasma peak concentrations (Cmax) and the area under the curve (AUC) of the calcium antagonist nitrendipine. An interaction with a reduction of the therapeutic effect of dapsone was also reported. These observations together with in vitro findings could indicate a potential for ursodeoxycholic acid to induce cytochrome P450 3A enzymes. Controlled clinical trials have shown, however, that ursodeoxycholic acid does not have a relevant inductive effect on cytochrome P450 3A enzymes.
Oral contraceptives, oestrogenic hormones and blood cholesterol lowering agents such as clofibrate may increase biliary lithiasis, which is a counter-effect to ursodeoxycholic acid used for dissolution of gallstones.
4.6 Pregnancy and lactation
This product should not be used during pregnancy or lactation. Measures should be taken to prevent pregnancy if given to women of childbearing age. A non-hormonal contraceptive should be used.
There are no adequate data on the use of ursodeoxycholic acid, particularly in the first trimester of pregnancy. Animal studies have provided evidence of a teratogenic effect during the early phase of gestation. Ursodeoxycholic acid must not be used during pregnancy. Treatment should be discontinued immediately if pregnancy occurs and medical advice sought.
Women of childbearing potential should be treated only if they are using reliable contraception: non-hormonal or low-oestrogen oral contraceptive measures are recommended. However, in patients taking ursodeoxycholic acid for dissolution of gallstones, effective non-hormonal contraception should be used, since hormonal oral contraceptives may increase biliary lithiasis. The possibility of a pregnancy must be excluded before beginning treatment.
It is not known whether ursodeoxycholic acid passes into breast milk. Therefore, ursodeoxycholic acid should not be taken during lactation. If treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid is necessary, breastfeeding must be discontinued.
4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines
None known. No effects on ability to drive and use machines have been observed.
4.8 Undesirable effects
The evaluation of undesirable effects is based on the following frequency data:
Very common (≥ 1/10)
Common (≥ 1/100 to < 1/10)
Uncommon (≥ 1/1,000 to < 1/100)
Rare (≥ 1/10,000 to < 1/1,000)
Very rare / Not known (< 1/10,000 / cannot be estimated from available data)
Gastrointestinal disorders:
In clinical trials, reports of pasty stools or diarrhoea during ursodeoxycholic acid therapy were common.
Very rarely, severe right upper abdominal pain has occurred during the treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis.
Ursodeoxycholic acid may give rise to nausea, and vomiting. The frequency of these effects are not known.
Hepatobiliary disorders:
During treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid, calcification of gallstones can occur in very rare cases making them unable to be dissolved by bile acid therapy and resulting in surgery for some patients.
During therapy of the advanced stages of primary biliary cirrhosis, in very rare cases decompensation of hepatic cirrhosis has been observed, which partially regressed after the treatment was discontinued.
Skin and subcutaneaous disorders:
Very rarely, urticaria can occur.
Ursodeoxycholic acid may give rise to pruritus. The frequency of this effect is not known.
Urdox may give rise to nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and pruritus. A calcified layer may develop on the surface of the stone making it unable to be dissolved by bile acid therapy, resulting in surgery for some patients.
4.9 Overdose
Diarrhoea may occur in cases of overdose. In general, other symptoms of overdose are unlikely because the absorption of ursodeoxycholic acid decreases with increasing dose and therefore more is excreted with the faeces.
No specific counter-measures are necessary and the consequences of diarrhoea should be treated symptomatically with restoration of fluid and electrolyte balance.
Bile acids are removed in the faeces either unchanged or as bacterial metabolites. It is unlikely therefore that serious toxicity would occur following overdose. The most likely result is diarrhoea which should be treated symptomatically and supportively.
