Gallstones
Medications
Medicines are rarely used to treat gallstones.
Medication choices
Reference Bile acids can be used to dissolve gallstones. They usually are reserved for people who have symptoms of gallstones and for whom surgery would be risky.
What to think about
Gallstones often come back when treatment with bile acids is stopped. Over time, gallstones return in about half of those who stop taking the medicine.Reference 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: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference July 15, 2011 |
| Medical Review: | Reference E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Reference Arvydas D. Vanagunas, MD - Gastroenterology |
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