Liconor - Syrup Ursodeoxycholic Acid - 250mg/5ml 1 50ml bot(s) / 50ml bot Opsonin Pharma Limited Introduction: Liconor is a medicine used to dissolve certain types of gallstones, to prevent them from forming and to treat a type of liver disease called primary biliary cirrhosis. It is a bile acid which helps break down cholesterol which has formed into stones in your gallbladder. Liconor should be taken after a meal with a glass of milk or water. The dose will depend on what you are being treated for and your body weight. It would be best to swallow it whole. This medicine needs to be taken regularly to get the most benefit and you may have to... Uses of Liconor: Primary biliary cirrhosisGallbladder stones Side effects of Liconor: Abdominal painDiarrheaHair lossItchingNauseaRash How to use Liconor: Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Liconor is to be taken with food. How Liconor works: Liconor is a hepatoprotective medication. It works by reducing the amount of cholesterol in the blood and helps dissolve gallbladder stones that are composed mainly of cholesterol. It also improves liver enzymes, protects liver cells from injury caused due to toxic bile acids, and improves liver function. What if you forget to take Liconor?: If you miss a dose of Liconor, skip it and continue with your normal schedule. Do not double the dose. Indication: Dissolution of cholesterol-rich gallstones, Primary biliary cirrhosis, Prevention of gallstone formation in obese patients experiencing rapid weight loss, Administration: Should be taken with food. Adult Dose: Oral Dissolution of cholesterol-rich gallstones Adult: 8-12 mg/kg once daily at bedtime or in 2 divided doses continued for 3-4 mth after radiological disappearance of gallstones. Duration of treatment: Up to 2 yr. Obese patients: Up to 15 mg/kg daily. Primary biliary cirrhosis Adult: 10-16 mg/kg daily in 2-4 divided doses, may be taken once daily in the evening after the 1st 3 mth. Prophylaxis of gallstones in patients undergoing rapid weight loss Adult: 300 mg bid. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: 13-15 mg/kg/day; Contraindication: Acute inflammation of gallbladder or biliary tract, occlusion of biliary tract, frequent episodes of biliary colic, radio-opaque calcified gallstones, impaired contractility of gallbladder, non-functioning gallbladder, inflammatory bowel disease, hepatic and intestinal conditions interfering w/ enterohepatic recirculation of bile acids, extrahepatic and intrahepatic cholestasis, ileal resection and stoma, regional ileitis, active duodenal and gastric ulcer; acute, chronic or severe hepatic disease. Mode of Action: Ursodeoxycholic acid suppresses hepatic synthesis and secretion of cholesterol and also inhibits intestinal absorption of cholesterol. Precaution: Excessive diatery intake of calories and cholesterol should be avoided. Liver function tests and bilirubin levels should be monitored every month for three months after start of therapy. 50% of successfully treated patients will develop further gallstones within 10 yr. Pregnancy and lactation. Monitoring Parameters Monitor LFTs mthly for the 1st 3 mth and every 6 mth thereafter. Lactation: unknown if excreted in breast milk; use caution Side Effect: >10% Headache,Dizziness,Diarrhea,Dyspepsia,Nausea/vomiting,Back pain,Upper respiratory tract infection 1-10% Alopecia,Rash,Hyperglycemia,Flatulence,Peptic ulcer,Urinary tract infection,Leukopenia,Thrombocytopenia,Cholecystitis >1% Fatigue,Abdominal pain,Thrombocytopenia,Pruritus,Angioedema,Peripheral edema,Biliary pain Interaction: Cholestyramine, charcoal and antacids may reduce effectiveness. Aluminum-based antacids may reduce absorption. Oestrogens and clofibrate may counteract effectiveness of ursodeoxycholic acid by increasing cholesterol elimination in bile. Possible increase in ciclosporin serum concentration. Decreased effectiveness of dapsone. Possible decrease in serum ciprofloxacin and nitrendipine.