Ursodiol

Michele E. I have experienced a sore throat, heart burn, chest pressure, irregular heartbeat and stomach bloating.

I have Chronic Hepatitis C, type 1a, relatively inactive since 1988 from a blood transfusion.   I passed 2 kidney stones and had an emergency cholecystectomy followed by acute pancreatitis in May 2010. My stones were calcium.  By July 2010 I was itching everywhere and my previously stable 90/60 BP went up to an average of 170/110.  The exhaustion was overwhelming.

The Hep C specialist prescribed 300mg Ursodiol B I D  for the itching.  I have taken estrogen 1.25 mg QD since 1976.  I am feeling muscle pains in my calves and nausea and STILL itching....what's wrong with this picture?

I am a Professor of Pediatrics, Cairo University. Egypt.
40 days ago a boy presented to our casulity department by liver cell failure due to ursodeoxycholic acid and silymarin intake. His bilirubin reached 42 mg%, and his prothrombin time was extremely prolonged 26 seconds (control was 12 seconds). He had suffered 3 weeks prior to admission from jaundice, and was prescribed ursodeoxycholic acid and silymarin. Hepatitis A antibody was negative, autoantibodies were negative. Hepatitis C and B viruses were negative by PCR. he had normal ceruloplasmin, and normal urinary copper. Upon withdrawal of medications, bilirubin dropped, it is currently 5 mg%. His initial diagnosis was typhoid. Repeat salmonella antibody titre was negative.
Boy improved spontanously upon withdrawal of all medications. Boy is on healthy diet, and no medications. He has no liver or splenic enlargement, and is doing fine.

Ursodeoxycholic acid is a seriously toxic medicine.