Note when using pain relievers in the treatment of gallstones

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is expertly consulted by a Doctor of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital.
The process of using gallstone pain relievers and oral gallstone dissolving drugs is a medical treatment that requires a long time. The method of using specific drugs to treat gallstones is often applied to patients who cannot have surgery.

1. Treat gallstones with pain relievers

1.1. Gallstone pain relievers

The pain is caused by stones causing constriction of the bile ducts and gallbladder. According to doctors, patients can take gallstone pain relievers to limit symptoms. The mechanism of pain relief by antispasmodic of some drugs has a few differences, such as:
Alverine and atropin gallstone pain relievers: These drugs have a muscle-directing effect, canceling the spasms. produced by a chemical mediator called acetylcholine (anticholinergic).
3rd degree gallstone pain reliever Papaverin: Helps to prevent smooth muscle spasms and interferes with muscle contraction, exerts a direct effect on muscles. Papaverin is not neuromuscularly dependent and has little effect on the central nervous system, except in cases of extremely high doses.
Visceralgin (tiemonium): Patients can self-administer this antispasmodic drug for initial pain relief, avoiding shock.

1.2. Note when taking gallstone pain relievers

Some notes when using pain relievers in the treatment of gallstones include:
Do not use opiate pain relievers for gallstones, because although they work, they will reduce the characteristic symptoms , thereby making diagnosis difficult; Each type of gallstone pain reliever is appropriate for different levels of pain, from mild pain to severe cramping. Therefore patients should consult a doctor before use; After taking the drug, you should still go to the hospital to check, in case the patient feels less pain, he should skip medical examination and treatment. If gallstones are left for a long time, there is a greater risk of complications, making it more difficult to treat later.

2. Note when taking the drug Ursodeoxycholic Acid

2.1. Point

In nature, ursodeoxycholic acid is an acid present in the composition of bile. In medical treatment, ursodeoxycholic acid is the main active ingredient used to prepare drugs for the treatment of gallstones. This drug is indicated for the treatment of gallstones in the following cases:
Gallstones are small in number; Gallstones without X-ray contrast; Gallstones < 15mm in diameter; Gallbladder function is good.

2.2. Mechanism of action

Ursodeoxycholic acid has the following effects:
Causes the liver to reduce cholesterol production; Prevent the intestines from absorbing cholesterol; Create favorable conditions to dissolve stones formed by cholesterol accumulation.

2.3. Side effects

On the other hand, this drug also comes with some side effects, including:
Digestive disorders: Vomiting, nausea, diarrhea,...; Causes itching, skin rash; Make the patient tired, dizzy...

2.4. Contraindications

Ursodeoxycholic acid gallstone treatment is contraindicated in the following cases and subjects:
Pregnant and lactating women; The patient has physical damage to the liver, stomach, or intestines; Do not use concurrently with antacid, charcoal, colestipol, colestyramine... to limit interactions and decrease activity.

3. Be careful with folk remedies when treating gallstones

Besides the method of treating gallstones with Western medicine, there are also many patients who rely on oral folk experience to use oral medicine to dissolve gallstones made from natural ingredients, namely:
Pineapple: Yes known for reducing swelling, inflammation and helping wounds heal faster after surgery; Papaya: There have been studies showing that the active ingredient papain in green papaya fruit has a good effect on inflammatory cases; Figs: The extract from figs is considered helpful for the liver, relieves pain, reduces fever, and has antibacterial properties; Olive oil: Many patients believe that using olive oil with lemon juice works as an oral drug to dissolve gallstones and stones will be excreted in the stool. However, up to now, there has not been any experimental scientific evidence or any research referring to the stone-dissolving effect in the gallbladder of the above-mentioned "oral gallstone-dissolving drugs".
Even medical experts have confirmed that drinking olive oil and lemon juice only excretes bile salts made up of oil and other substances, this green mixture is not actually gallstones.

4. Refer to Oriental medicine to treat gallstones

According to the Vietnam Association of Oriental Medicine, the cause of gallstone disease is the convergence of many factors, including:
Abnormalities in the production of bile; Prolonged stagnation of bile; Cholangitis; Bile fluid infection; Geological factors. Therefore, in order to treat stones at the root, it is necessary to address the following factors:
Improve liver function to improve the quality of bile, thereby preventing the development of stones; Increased biliary activity makes it easier to erode stones; Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. In Oriental medicine, there are a number of precious herbs that respond well to gallstone disease and are considered as safe and effective gallstone dissolving drugs, such as: Ut Kim, Chi Tu, Nhan Tran, Diep Ha Chau , Only the body, Sai Ho, Hoang Ba, Kim Tien Thao.... Patients can refer to more specific remedies for gallstones with Oriental medicine to both help relieve symptoms and affect the cause of their formation. gravel.
Overall, prevention is very important for gallstone disease. A healthy diet, regular exercise and weight control will contribute to minimizing the factors that cause gallstone disease. When you have the disease, your doctor may prescribe some gallstone pain relievers or oral medications to dissolve gallstones if the condition does not require surgery. Patients need to talk with a specialist to use specific drugs for treating gallstones in Western or Eastern medicine safely and effectively.

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