Ursodesoxycholic acid

Ursodesoxycholic acid is indicated in the treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and for the dissolution of radiolucent gallstones in patients with a functioning gall bladder.

Paediatric population

Hepatobiliary disorders associated with cystic fibrosis in children aged 6 to 18 years.

There are no age restrictions on the use of Ursodesoxycholic acid 250mg hard capsules in the treatment of PBC and for the dissolution of radiolucent gallstones. For patients weighing less than 47 kg or patients who are unable to swallow Ursodesoxycholic acid capsules, Ursodesoxycholic acid suspension is available.

The following daily dose is recommended for the various indications:

For primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC)

The daily dose depends on body weight, and ranges from 3 to 7 capsules (14 ± 2 mg UDCA per kg of body weight).

For the first 3 months of treatment, Ursodesoxycholic acid capsules should be taken divided over the day. With improvement of the liver values the daily dose may be taken once daily in the evening.

The capsules should be swallowed whole with some liquid. Care should be taken to ensure that they are taken regularly.

The use of Ursodesoxycholic acid capsules in PBC may be continued indefinitely.

Dissolution of Gallstones:

Adults: The usual dose is 8-12mg/kg/day to be taken in the evening, e.g. 750mg, daily in the evening.

The time required for dissolution of gallstones is likely to range from 6 to 24 months depending on stone size and composition.

Follow-up cholecystograms or ultrasound investigation may be useful at 6 month intervals until the gallstones have disappeared.

Treatment should be continued until 2 successive cholecystograms and/or ultrasound investigations 4-12 weeks apart have failed to demonstrate gallstones. This is because these techniques do not permit reliable visualisation of stones less than 2mm in diameter. The likelihood of recurrence of gallstones after dissolution by bile acid treatment has been estimated as up to 50% at 5 years. The efficiency of Ursodesoxycholic acid in treating radio-opaque or partially radio-opaque gallstones has not been tested but these are generally thought to be less soluble than radiolucent stones. Non-cholesterol stones account for 10-15% of radiolucent stones and may not be dissolved by bile acids.

Older people

There is no evidence to suggest that any alteration in the adult dose is needed but the relevant precautions should be taken into account.

Paediatric population

Cholesterol rich gallstones and PBC are very rare in children but when they occur, dosage should be related to bodyweight. There are no adequate data on the efficacy and safety in this population.

Hepatobiliary disorders associated with cystic fibrosis:

Paediatric population

Children with cystic fibrosis aged 6 to 18 years: 20 mg/kg/day in 2-3 divided doses, with a further increase to 30 mg/kg/day if necessary.

Ursodesoxycholic acid 250mg hard capsules should not be used in patients with:

- Acute inflammation of the gall bladder or biliary tract

- occlusion of the biliary tract (occlusion of the common bile duct or a cystic duct)

- frequent episodes of biliary colic

- radio-opaque calcified gallstones

- impaired contractility of the gall bladder

- hypersensitivity to bile acids or any excipient of the formulation

When used in hepatobiliary disorders associated with cystic fibrosis in children aged 6 to 18 years.

- Unsuccessful portoenterostomy or without recovery of good bile flow in children with biliary atresia

Ursodesoxycholic acid capsules should be taken under medical supervision.

During the first 3 months of treatment, 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 PBC, this monitoring would also enable early detection of potential hepatic deterioration, particularly in patients with advanced stage PBC.

When used for treatment of advanced stage of primary biliary cirrhosis:

If diarrhoea occurs, the dose must be reduced and in cases of persistent diarrhoea, the therapy should be discontinued.

When used for 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, Ursodesoxycholic acid should not be used.

Female patients taking Ursodesoxycholic acid for dissolution of gallstones should use an effective non-hormonal method of contraception, since hormonal contraceptives may increase biliary lithiasis

UDCA has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines.

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)

Hepatobiliary disorders:

During treatment with UDCA, calcification of gallstones can occur in very rare cases.

During therapy of the advanced stages of PBC, in very rare cases decompensation of hepatic cirrhosis has been observed, which partially regressed after the treatment was discontinued.

Gastrointestinal disorders:

In clinical trials, reports of pasty stools or diarrhoea during UDCA therapy were common.

Very rarely, severe right upper abdominal pain has occurred during the treatment of PBC.

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders:

Very rarely, urticaria can occur.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the national reporting scheme:

United Kingdom

Yellow Card Scheme

Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard

Diarrhoea may occur in cases of overdose. In general, other symptoms of overdose are unlikely because the absorption of UDCA 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.

Additional information on special populations:

Long-term, high-dose UDCA therapy (28-30 mg/kg/day) in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (off-label use) was associated with higher rates of serious adverse events.

Pharmacotherapeutic group/ATC code

Group: Bile acid preparations

Code: A05AA02 and A05B

UDCA is a bile acid which effects a reduction in cholesterol in biliary fluid primarily by dispersing the cholesterol and forming a liquid-crystal phase.

Cystic fibrosis - Paediatric population

From clinical reports long-term experience up to 10 years and more is available with UDCA treatment in paediatric patients suffering from cystic fibrosis associated hepatobiliary disorders (CFAHD). There is evidence that treatment with UDCA can decrease bile duct proliferation, halt progression of histological damage and even reverse hepatobiliary changes if given at early stage of CFAHD. Treatment with UDCA should be started as soon as the diagnosis of CFAHD is made in order to optimise treatment effectiveness.

UDCA occurs naturally in the body. When given orally it is rapidly and completely absorbed. It is 96-98% bound to plasma proteins and efficiently extracted by the liver and excreted in the bile as glycine and taurine conjugates. In the intestine some of the conjugates are deconjugated and reabsorbed. The conjugates may also be dehydroxylated to lithocholic acid, part of which is absorbed, sulphated by the liver and excreted via the biliary tract.

a) Acute toxicity

b) Chronic toxicity

Subchronic toxicity studies in monkeys showed hepatotoxic effects in the groups given high doses, including functional changes (e.g. liver enzyme changes) and morphological changes such as bile duct proliferation, portal inflammatory foci and hepatocellular necrosis. These toxic effects are most likely attributable to lithocholic acid, a metabolite of UDCA, which in monkeys - unlike humans - is not detoxified. Clinical experience confirms that the described hepatotoxic effects are of no apparent relevance in humans.

c) Carcinogenic and mutagenic potential

In vitro and in vivo genetic toxicology tests with UDCA were negative.

The tests with UDCA revealed no relevant evidence of a mutagenic effect.

d) Toxicity to reproduction

In studies in rats, tail malformations occurred after a dose of 2000 mg of ursodeoxycholic acid per kg of body weight. In rabbits, no teratogenic effects were found, although there were embryotoxic effects (from a dose of 100 mg per kg of body weight). UDCA had no effect on fertility in rats and did not affect peri-/post-natal development of the offspring.

None known.

No special requirements