Drug reference
chenodiol
Bile acid
Bile acid
CDSCO approved
EXCRETION
—
not curated
INTERACTIONS
—
none in our sources
PREGNANCY
—
not curated
Mechanism
It decreases cholesterol content of bile. Acts primarily by inhibiting cholesterol synthesis in liver. Reduces cholesterol secretion in bile after prolonged administration. Generates a more litholytic bile acid pool and promotes micellar solubilization of cholesterol.
Indications
dissolve cholesterol gallstones
Side effects
Common
diarrhoea
Serious
- aminotransferase level may rise
- overt liver damage (in 3% patients)
- gastric and esophageal mucosal resistance to acid is impaired favouring ulceration
Related guidelines
Other Bile acid drugs
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Textbook-sourced·Sources: KD Tripathi 7e·Updated: 2026-05-10