Actigall

I recently started taking Actigall which prevents the formation of gallstones. I have noticed that my blood sugar went up to around 180 which is not good since i'm Diabetic and my weight loss has slowed down considerably. I hade my surgery on 08/25. My starting weight was 276 and now down to 217 lbs. and I feel the need to stop taking this medication??..just curious of any adverse side effects??...anyone taken or taking this medicaton??

Hi Raul, I had surgery the same day as you. I take Actigal 2x per day and have since after one week post op. I have been forgetting to take the second pill everyday so I am taking only one. Maybe that would help, but I would check with the Doctors. You would not want to go in for another surgery!! Diana 263/209/130

Hi Raul! Congratulations on your weight loss!!! I've been taking Actigall since 1-month post-op. My surgeon told me that I would probably experience "pouch disturbance", AKA nausea. The prescription calls for taking it 2x a day, but my surgeon told me that in the beginning, just take it 1x a day until I get used to it. In the beginning, I was getting very nauseous and would from it. That went on for about a week or so. Then, when that side effect disappeared, a new one showed up...itchy, dry skin. I couldn't stop scratching it either, and had a pretty nasty looking rash on my neck. I would slather hydrocortisone cream on it all day long, but to no use...it was still itchy! That lasted for about 2 weeks, then mysteriously stopped. I guess my body grew accustomed to the Actigall in my system or something! At any rate, I'm still not up to the 2x/day yet...I keep forgetting to take the second one! My mom knows someone that had the surgery back in May, and she did very well. However, her doctor never put her on Actigall, AND she still had her gallbladder! Well, she was in a restaurant and had to be taken out by an ambulance to the ER because she started experiencing sharp pains...an ultrasound at the hospital showed that she had gallstones. My surgeon told me that Actigall helps to prevent gallstones, but might not necessarily prevent them totally. I suggest that you contact your surgeon and speak with him about your issues, as you don't want to land in the hospital for gallstones OR high blood sugar either! Best of luck to you, and Happy Thanksgiving! Take care! Wendy

Thanks Wendy and Diana for your replies!! I spoke to my PCP today and he claims that the increase in my blood sugar has nothin to do with Actigall since it is not a documented side effect of the drug but i beg to differ since i did my own research on the net and i read that nausea and high blood sugar are side effects. He claims that there is another factor that is related to my diet that is making my blood sugar high and to stop or limit any food intake that is high in sugar, and finally, to continue with the Actigall. I never did experience nausea, just a stall in the weight loss and the high blood sugar.