CHENODIOL

Brand & Generic Names

Chenix

Basic Information

• Habit forming? No
• Prescription needed? Yes
• Available as generic? No
• Drug class: Anticholelithic

Uses

Treats cholesterol gallstone disease in patients who, for any reason, can't have surgery.

Dosage & Usage Information

How to take:
Tablets--Swallow with liquid. If you can't swallow whole, crumble tablet and take with liquid or food. Instructions to take on empty stomach mean 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating.

When to take:
Usually twice a day (morning and night) with food or milk.

If you forget a dose:
Take as soon as you remember up to 2 hours late. If more than 2 hours, wait for next scheduled dose (don't double this dose).

What drug does:
Reduces cholesterol saturation in blood and dissolves gallstones.

Time lapse before drug works:
1 to 2 hours.

Don't take with:
Any other medicines (including over-the-counter drugs such as cough and cold medicines, laxatives, antacids, diet pills, caffeine, nose drops or vitamins) without consulting your doctor.

Overdose

SYMPTOMS:
None expected.

WHAT TO DO:

Overdose unlikely to threaten life. If person takes much larger amount than prescribed, call doctor, poison-control center or hospital emergency room for instructions.

Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects

Life-threatening:

None expected.

Common:

Mild diarrhea.

Infrequent:

Constipation, indigestion, appetite loss, abdominal pain, gaseousness.

Rare:

Severe diarrhea.

Warnings & Precautions

Don't take if:

• You have hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis).
• You are jaundiced.

Before you start, consult your doctor:

• If you have pancreatitis.
• If you have bile duct disease.
• If you have liver disease.
• If you have spastic colitis.

Over age 60:
No special problems expected.

Pregnancy:
Not recommended.

Breast-feeding:
No problems expected. Consult doctor.

Infants & children:
Effect not documented. Consult your pediatrician.

Prolonged use:
Talk to your doctor about the need for follow-up medical examinations or laboratory studies to check continued presence of gallstones (sonograms or cholecystograms), liver function and serum cholesterol levels (every 6 months).

Skin & sunlight:
No problems expected.

Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
No problems expected.

Discontinuing:
No special problems expected.

Others:

• Advise any doctor or dentist whom you consult that you take this medicine.
• May affect results in some medical tests.

Possible Interaction with Other Drugs

GENERIC NAME OR DRUG CLASS	COMBINED EFFECT
--------------------------	---------------
Antacids with magnesium*	Severe diarrhea.
Laxatives*	Decreased chenodiol effect.

Possible Interaction with Other Substances

INTERACTS WITH	COMBINED EFFECT
---------------	---------------
Alcohol:	Decreased chenodiol effect.
Beverages:	No special problems expected.
Cocaine:	No special problems expected.
Foods:	No special problems expected.
Marijuana:	No special problems expected.
Tobacco:	No special problems expected.