Poll: Were you given Ursodiol/Actigall

Yes for 6 months

My surgeon even gave it to me for my band, had to mix it in applesauce and lawd that was nasty until I could take the pill whole. Since I only lost 20 lbs with the band it really wasn't necessary. Oh and last year guess who had to have their gall bladder taken out! Yup so don't know how much good it does.

Yes, it is standard protocol for my surgeon to prescribe it for the first six months post-op. 

My surgeon doesn't prescribe it. My doctor at home was willing to although hesitant, and wrote the scrip for me, but asked me to do some research about possible side effects before filling the prescription. (This is how we work - I do a lot of reading in medical journals etc, and he knows that I prefer to inform myself.)

Ursodiol has the small chance of causing liver disease, and I chose not to take it, figuring that I would rather take a risk on my gall bladder than my liver.

So far so good, although I did have one episode after eating a treat dinner that was fairly high carb AND high fat where I felt like I was either having a gall bladder attack, or a very nasty sugar crash / hypoglycemia. It hasn't ever happened again, but I am aware that I may be at risk of gall bladder problems.

I had read about it here and had asked my doctor about it. He prescribed it for me but all the nurses and dieticians knew nothing about it and were surprised that such a pill existed.  Based on my age, the fact that both parents had to have theirs removed I thought it was worth trying it.  I am on it for 6 months too.

I have taken it since 2009 for other issues.  My problem was when I went to the hospital they kept trying to tell me I didn't need to take as much as I was.  They couldn't get it thru their heads that I have other issues as the reason for taking it.  I finally had to have my husband bring in my prescription meds so I could take them while in the hospital. 

No.

No. But he did write me an Rx because I currently don't have health insurance and I was worried about this.

Yes, my doctor prescribed Ursodiol for 6 months post op for me. Because my grandmother and my sister have had to have their gall bladders removed and because I had about 250 pounds to loose it made sense for me to reduce my odds of developing gall stones. My Ursodiol is a white capsule. No taste to it that I've ever noticed.