Forum on Hepatitis and HIV Coinfection: Actigall use/ Long term high bilirubin

Please Note: Due to volume considerations, not all questions can be answered. Questions most likely to be answered will be those of general interest to a broad group of visitors to this forum. Questions pertaining to a specific case; requests for diagnosis, medical advice, or second opinion; or requests for opinions about untested alternative therapies will generally not be answered.

The participation of Dr. McGovern in this Forum is made possible in part by an independent educational grant from Roche Laboratories.

		Actigall use/ Long term high bilirubin May 29, 2003 Hello Dr Dieterich: I am getting interesting posts in my lipodystrophy discussion group about the use of Actigall for lowering lipids and bloated stomachs. What can you say about that? A second question: What are the long term implications of having high bilirubin (not jaundiced)for a patient's health. The reason I ask this question is because of the new PI Atazanavir. Thanks! Nelson Vergel lipodystrophy-subscribe@yahoogroups.com


Advertisement> Response from Dr. Dieterich Actigall is ursodeoxycholic acid and is a good drug for lowering bilirubin in cholestatic diseases like PBC. It also can dissolve some gallstones and can relieve itching in some patients. It does not really lower lipids or change stomachs. As for elevated bilirubins like those causeed by atazanavir, there are no long term health issues caused by that in adults. In babies, it can cause brain issues, but in adults it is not a health issue, but a cosmetic one. DTD Want to read more questions and answers on this subject? Our experts have answered many similar questions!

Please remember that this forum is designed for educational purposes only, and experts are not engaged through this forum in rendering legal or medical advice or professional services. Experts appearing on this page are independent and are solely responsible for editing and fact-checking their material. Neither The Body nor any sponsor is the publisher or speaker of posted visitors' questions or the experts' material.

Questions and messages posted to this forum are not statements of advice, opinion, or information of The Body, Body Health Resources Corporation or any sponsor of this forum. While neither The Body nor Body Health Resources Corporation regularly reviews posted content, we reserve the right to delete, move, or edit postings if we deem it appropriate under the circumstances. Visitors submitting questions remain solely responsible for the content of their messages.

Information provided by experts is general only and should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease, or relied upon as legal or other professional advice. This information is not a substitute for professional advice or care. If you have or suspect you may have a health or legal problem, you should consult your own health care provider or your attorney.

Copyright notice.

The Body is a service of Body Health Resources Corporation, 250 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10107. The Body and its logos are trademarks of Body Health Resources Corporation, which owns the copyright of The Body's homepage, topic pages, page designs and HTML code. General Disclaimer: The Body is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice or professional services. The information provided through The Body should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, consult your healthcare provider.