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Gallstones - Medications
SYMPTOMS & TREATMENTS
- Topic Overview
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Health Tools
- Cause
- Symptoms
- What Happens
- What Increases Your Risk
- When To Call a Doctor
- Exams and Tests
- Treatment Overview
- Prevention
- Home Treatment
- Medications
- Surgery
- Other Treatment
- Other Places To Get Help
- Related Information
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Medicines are rarely used to treat gallstones. But people who are on very rapid weight-loss diets may be given medicines for pain and nausea and to prevent gallstones.
Medication Choices
Bile acids to dissolve gallstones usually are reserved for people who have symptoms of gallstones and for whom surgery would be risky. And bile acids may be used by people who do not want to have surgery. This medicine is rarely, if ever, an option for people who have a sudden inflammation or infection of the gallbladder, a gallbladder that is not working properly, large gallstones, calcified gallstones, or stones in the bile ducts.
What To Think About
Gallstones often come back when treatment with bile acids is stopped, because bile acids do not always dissolve stones completely. Over time, gallstones return in about half of those who stop taking the medicine.2
This form of treatment works better on small gallstones than on large ones. It does not work on calcified gallstones. Tests such as an abdominal X-ray may be used to find out whether gallstones contain calcium.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: October 22, 2009 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Peter J. Kahrilas, MD - Gastroenterology | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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