-5%
Ursodex is indicated for the management of various hepatobiliary disorders, including:
- Cholestasis (jaundice)
- Viral hepatitis
- Alcoholic fatty liver disease
- Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC)
- Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC)
- Dissolution of cholesterol gallstones
- Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
Ursodex helps reduce the cholesterol content and saturation of bile, promoting the gradual dissolution of cholesterol gallstones. It decreases cholesterol secretion into bile while enhancing bile acid secretion without reducing phospholipid levels. This action improves bile flow and supports liver function in cholestatic liver diseases.
Ursodex contains Ursodeoxycholic Acid, a naturally occurring bile acid used in the treatment of different liver and biliary disorders. It works by lowering cholesterol concentration in bile through several mechanisms:
- Reducing intestinal cholesterol absorption
- Suppressing hepatic cholesterol synthesis
- Altering bile composition from supersaturated to unsaturated
Ursodeoxycholic Acid also promotes the formation of liquid cholesterol crystal complexes, facilitating the removal of cholesterol from the gallbladder into the intestine for elimination.
In cholestatic liver diseases, Ursodeoxycholic Acid exerts protective effects by:
- Protecting cholangiocytes from toxic bile acids
- Stimulating hepatobiliary secretion
- Protecting hepatocytes from bile acid-induced cell damage
After oral administration, it is well absorbed from the upper intestine and undergoes hepatic conjugation before being secreted into bile. Its biological half-life ranges from approximately 3.5 to 5.8 days.