Urso vs Ursodiol help

[Guest guest]

Hi Lee,

I have been taking the generic urso for a long time. I have also occasionally taken the other and can't see any difference anecdotally.

Merry Christmas,

Ali

Save Life - Be A Live Donor and An Organ and Tissue DonorAli Lingerfelt-Tait180 Blackberry Inn Rd.Weaverville, N.C. 28787also check out :http.//health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Livertx-PSC/It's a new sister site from the PSC Support Group that is for transplant issues.www.pscpartners.orgPSC Partners Support GroupBuy Notecards and Support Research for PSCSee AOL's top rated recipes and easy ways to stay in shape for winter.

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

My son called as I deplaned this morning to say that his new

insurance will not cover his Urso 250's tablets that he has been

taking for the last three years and they want to give him the

Ursodiol capsules. Before we decide whether to appeal this

decision , has anyone here had experience with them both and found

any difference in them ?

Thanks for any input or help.

Lee

PS I am just in the door and have a couple hundred emails to go

through. I see some I know I will need to answer so I will get to

them as soon as I can !

[Guest guest]

Thanks for answering so quickly Ali !!Bill picked up the ursodiol today as just one month, not three turned out to be $800 for the urso 250's.Wow , that's unbelievable. I hope the ursodiol agrees with him.LeeHi Lee, I have been taking the generic urso for a long time. I have also occasionally taken the other and can't see any difference anecdotally. Merry Christmas,AliSave Life - Be A Live Donor and An Organ and Tissue DonorAli Lingerfelt-Tait180 Blackberry Inn Rd.Weaverville, N.C. 28787also check out :http.//health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Livertx-PSC/It's a new sister site from the PSC Support Group that is for transplant issues.www.pscpartners.orgPSC Partners Support GroupBuy Notecards and Support Research for PSCSee AOL's top rated recipes and easy ways to stay in shape for winter.

[Guest guest]

I've taken Urso 250 (same problem with insurance), Actigall and Ursodiol. I have not noticed any difference.

Arne

56 - UC 1977, PSC 2000

Alive and (mostly) well in Minnesota

________________________________

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of leedeubert

Hi All,

My son called as I deplaned this morning to say that his new

insurance will not cover his Urso 250's tablets that he has been

taking for the last three years and they want to give him the

Ursodiol capsules. Before we decide whether to appeal this

decision , has anyone here had experience with them both and found

any difference in them ?

[Guest guest]

There is quite a difference in price with the Urso. And I think it is all good stuff.

Hope is doing well. And you too.

Ali

Save Life - Be A Live Donor and An Organ and Tissue DonorAli Lingerfelt-Tait180 Blackberry Inn Rd.Weaverville, N.C. 28787also check out :http.//health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Livertx-PSC/It's a new sister site from the PSC Support Group that is for transplant issues.www.pscpartners.orgPSC Partners Support GroupBuy Notecards and Support Research for PSCSee AOL's top rated recipes and easy ways to stay in shape for winter.

[Guest guest]

Thanks Arne. I appreciate the feedback. We have to give the Ursodiol a try.LeeI've taken Urso 250 (same problem with insurance), Actigall and Ursodiol.  I have not noticed any difference.Arne 56 - UC 1977, PSC 2000 Alive and (mostly) well in Minnesota________________________________From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of leedeubertHi All, My son called as I deplaned this morning to say that his new insurance will not cover his Urso 250's tablets that he has been taking for the last three years and they want to give him the Ursodiol capsules. Before we decide whether to appeal this decision , has anyone here had experience with them both and found any difference in them ?

[Guest guest]

I've taken both kinds of urso. Can't tell any difference. 900/day--160 lbs. about $100. per month. Don Please be a blood/organ donor

Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.

[Guest guest]

Lee,

I found the generic actigall capsules to cause a bit more stomach irritation and

some brief

but foul chemical-tasting burps, as compared with URSO 250. Take them on a full

stomach and spread them out through the day. called our attention to the

paper

below, which prompted me to ask to switch and I've never had another Actigall

burp. It

compares two tablet formulations (Ursofalk Canadian and USA) vs two capsules.

The

bioavailability of tablets was greater.

My health plan would not pay for me to get URSO 250 from a local pharmacy, but

through

their mail-order plan I get 3 months for $45. Try talking to the insurance

company on the

phone, if necessary send them the paper, and they may end up covering it. Fair

use would

permit you to obtain a copy of the paper legally, for educational purposes, just

as you

would be permitted to make a photocopy in a university library that was open to

you. I

have a copy.

Martha (MA)

UC 1979, PSC 1992

Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2000 Sep;14(9):1133-9.

Bioavailability of four ursodeoxycholic acid preparations.

CN, Al-Knawy B, Blanchard W.

Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Dalhousie University,

Halifax, Nova

Scotia, Canada. gicnw@...

BACKGROUND: Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is the drug of choice for treating

primary

biliary cirrhosis and dissolving cholesterol gallstones. OBJECTIVES: The

objective of this

study was to compare the bioavailability of four commercially available

ursodeoxycholic

acid formulations in standardized doses. METHODS: Twenty-four healthy subjects

were

studied in groups of four, and received each of the different UDCA preparations

in random

order, with a 1-week washout or more in-between. Serum UDCA levels were

determined

for a 6-h period. The mean area under the curve (AUC), Cmax and Tmax were

determined

for each drug formulation, and the results compared. Dose proportionality was

determined using the Canadian Ursofalk tablet using either 250 mg, 500 mg or 750

mg

dosing. The intraparticipant variability was assessed by asking each participant

to repeat

the last drug that they took the second time, 1 week later. RESULTS: The mean

AUC was

68.99 micromol/1.6 h-1 for the USA UDCA tablet, 59.34 micromol/1.6 h-1 for the

Canadian UDCA tablet, 55.55 micromol/1.6 h-1 for Ursolvan capsules, and 46.66

micromol/1.6 h-1 for Actigall capsules. The mean Cmax values were 24.29, 17.85,

16.63

and 413.32 nmol/mL, respectively. The mean Tmax was 1.82, 2.3, 2.79 and 3.39 h,

respectively. Linear aggression analysis assessing the direct proportionality of

AUC on the

dose for the Canadian UDCA tablet gave an estimate of 0.063 + 0.0164 (standard

error,

P-value=0.0117), e.g. if the dose increases from 250 mg to 500 mg, the serum

ursodeoxycholic acid increases by 250 x 0.063=15.75. There was excellent

reproducibility

for the AUC for the North American tablets (0.97, 0.88) compared to the two

capsules

(0.32, 0.15). CONCLUSIONS: The significantly higher AUC and Cmax and shorter

Tmax for

the Canadian Ursofalk tablets compared to the UDCA capsule preparations supports

better

bioavailability.

[Guest guest]

Thanks Don.Bill's was $110 but I don't know for how long.LeeI've taken both kinds of urso. Can't tell any difference. 900/day--160 lbs.about $100. per month. 

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much Martha. He has the ursodiol and if there are any problems, I will save this email to go to bat for him.LeeLee,I found the generic actigall capsules to cause a bit more stomach irritation and some brief but foul chemical-tasting burps, as compared with URSO 250. Take them on a full stomach and spread them out through the day. called our attention to the paper below, which prompted me to ask to switch and I've never had another Actigall burp. It compares two tablet formulations (Ursofalk Canadian and USA) vs two capsules. The bioavailability of tablets was greater.My health plan would not pay for me to get URSO 250 from a local pharmacy, but through their mail-order plan I get 3 months for $45. Try talking to the insurance company on the phone, if necessary send them the paper, and they may end up covering it. Fair use would permit you to obtain a copy of the paper legally, for educational purposes, just as you would be permitted to make a photocopy in a university library that was open to you. I have a copy.Martha (MA)UC 1979, PSC 1992Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2000 Sep;14(9):1133-9. Bioavailability of four ursodeoxycholic acid preparations. CN, Al-Knawy B, Blanchard W.Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. gicnw (AT) qe2-hsc (DOT) ns.caBACKGROUND: Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is the drug of choice for treating primary biliary cirrhosis and dissolving cholesterol gallstones. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to compare the bioavailability of four commercially available ursodeoxycholic acid formulations in standardized doses. METHODS: Twenty-four healthy subjects were studied in groups of four, and received each of the different UDCA preparations in random order, with a 1-week washout or more in-between. Serum UDCA levels were determined for a 6-h period. The mean area under the curve (AUC), Cmax and Tmax were determined for each drug formulation, and the results compared. Dose proportionality was determined using the Canadian Ursofalk tablet using either 250 mg, 500 mg or 750 mg dosing. The intraparticipant variability was assessed by asking each participant to repeat the last drug that they took the second time, 1 week later. RESULTS: The mean AUC was 68.99 micromol/1.6 h-1 for the USA UDCA tablet, 59.34 micromol/1.6 h-1 for the Canadian UDCA tablet, 55.55 micromol/1.6 h-1 for Ursolvan capsules, and 46.66 micromol/1.6 h-1 for Actigall capsules. The mean Cmax values were 24.29, 17.85, 16.63 and 413.32 nmol/mL, respectively. The mean Tmax was 1.82, 2.3, 2.79 and 3.39 h, respectively. Linear aggression analysis assessing the direct proportionality of AUC on the dose for the Canadian UDCA tablet gave an estimate of 0.063 + 0.0164 (standard error, P-value=0.0117), e.g. if the dose increases from 250 mg to 500 mg, the serum ursodeoxycholic acid increases by 250 x 0.063=15.75. There was excellent reproducibility for the AUC for the North American tablets (0.97, 0.88) compared to the two capsules(0.32, 0.15). CONCLUSIONS: The significantly higher AUC and Cmax and shorter Tmax for the Canadian Ursofalk tablets compared to the UDCA capsule preparations supports better bioavailability.

[Guest guest]

I should add that I took the powder-in-capsule formulation as Actigall and later

as generic

for about 14 years, first at low dose (15 mg/kg) and then at high dose (30

mg/kg). The

occasional freakish burp was a small price to pay compared to the $180/mo when

my

insurance didn't cover it at the beginning!

Martha (MA)

>

> Thanks so much Martha. He has the ursodiol and if there are any

> problems, I will save this email to go to bat for him.

> Lee