Anyone heard of or taking "Actigall"?

giveyouthemoon · August 18, 2005

So when I got my fill yesterday my doctor fully expects that weight loss will speed up now so he prescribed me something called "Actigall". It's basically a medicine for people who have gall stones. He gave it to me because losing weight fast can be hard on a gallbladder.

Anyone taken this or something like it? There was quite the list of mild to scary side effects. I started it this morning so we'll see how it goes. The pharmicist said "your dr will need to monitor your liver while you are on this."

Mita · August 18, 2005

I thought that was taken only if you had the RNY?? I could be wrong but will check my notes.

giveyouthemoon · August 18, 2005

I thought that was taken only if you had the RNY?? I could be wrong but will check my notes.

Yeah, my drs give it to everyone. They do a ton of bands.

I found a webpage on line that listed under "uses":

"Actigall is also used to prevent gallstones in people on rapid-weight-loss diets."

The lap band would qualify for that.

Mita · August 18, 2005

Cool if it can prevent you from gettin Gall Stones then it is worth it.

itsyvonne · August 19, 2005

Yes, please do take it as a preventative measure. It works wonderfully and has very little to no side effects, usually.

giveyouthemoon · August 19, 2005

itsyvonne - are you on it as well?

shirley rohr · August 19, 2005

I had mine removed years ago, but I heard rapid weight loss is hard on everything, so it's poop if you do and poop if you don't. I still want to be free from the fat!!!!!!

itsyvonne · August 20, 2005

I got gallstones as a result of 6 months on a very low calorie diet (many years ago; long before I got the band). If only I had been prescribed Actigall during that diet - perhaps I never would have developed gallstones.

I put off getting my gallbladder out for several years after that, and one way I was able to stave off attacks was by taking Actigall. The hope was that the Actigall would dissolve the stones already there, but my stones were already too large & calcified. I did not ever have gallbladder attacks during the 2 years I took Actigall..it really seemed to have a positive effect even though I already had gallstones. That's why I really believe in the drug and believe that it really does help prevent gallstones.

My doctor didn't allow me to continue on the Actigall beyond the 2 years, because the stones didn't dissolve noticeably. I stopped taking it, eventually had a few attacks and decided that this was for the birds and I had my gallbladder removed!!