Gallstones, Cholelithiasis

Cholelithiasis and gallstones medication in Japan

When a stone is formed inside the gallbladder out of bile components, it’s called gallstone. The presence of the gallstones or diseases caused by their presence is called cholelithiasis. On average, the 10-15% of adults in developed countries have gallstones. It often leads to complications, such as:

• inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis),
• inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis),
• jaundice,
• infection of a bile duct (cholangitis).

Basically, there are two ways of treatment for the gallstones: a surgical and a medical one. A surgical way consists in removing the gallbladder. On the one side, this method is highly effective as it has a 99% chance of eliminating the recurrence of cholelithiasis. But on the other side, the surgery leads to high risk of the side effects, including gastrointestinal distress, persistent abdominal pain and chronic diarrhea (Divya Arora, Robin Kaushik et al. “Post-cholecystectomy syndrome: A new look at an old problem”. Journal of Minimal Access Surgery. 2018 Jul-Sep; 14(3): 202–207). That’s why many therapists recommend to try medical treatment first.

At the current moment, there are two scientifically proven medicines against gallstones and cholelithiasis: chenodeoxycholic acid and ursodeoxycholic acid. In our store you can order Chino capsules (chenodeoxycholic acid) and Ursodiol tablets (ursodeoxycholic acid) from Japan. Both are strong and effective medicines but they differ in indications and treatment pattern. Chino capsules are particularly effective against cholesterol gallstones. They improve composition of bile, promote better dissolving of cholesterol and prevent cholesterol crystallization. Ursodiol works in a slower way, it requires more time to dissolve the gallstones.

But it is very effective against different complications of the cholelithiasis. Ursodiol improves liver function indices in both cholestatic and inflammatory chronic liver diseases, improves bile secretion and bile flow, helps to treat disease of biliary system, to improve dyspepsia after small intestine resection and an inflammatory disease of small intestine. Moreover, ursodeoxycholic acid is effective against primary biliary cirrhosis and chronic liver disease due to hepatitis C virus.

Be sure to consult with your doctor when choosing the best method for treating gallstones and cholelithiasis. Read carefully about the contraindications, right dosage and storing conditions.