User:Mr. Ibrahem/Ursodeoxycholic acid

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), also known as ursodiol, is a naturally occurring bile acid, used for several conditions of the liver and bile ducts. This includes treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis and to prevent or breakdown gallstones. It is taken by mouth.

Common side effects include diarrhea and pale stool. Other side effects may include abdominal pain, vomiting, and a rash. Following use in a small number of pregnancies, it appears to be relatively safe. Ursodeoxycholic acid normally occurs in people in small amounts. It is believed to work in part by blocking the release and uptake of cholesterol.

Ursodeoxycholic acid was approved for medical use in the United States in 1987. It was first clearly identified in bear bile in 1927, though had been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine. It is available as a generic medication. In the United Kingdom 100 tablets of 500 mg costs the NHS about £50 as of 2021 while this amount in the United States costs about 180 USD.