Prescribing overview
Ursodiol is ursodeoxycholic acid, not ursolic acid. Human gallstone labeling does not define a veterinary hepatobiliary regimen.
Key prescribing checks
- Investigate possible biliary obstruction or an acute gallbladder problem before choosing therapy; medication is not a substitute for resolving an obstruction.
- Review the complete hepatobiliary diagnosis and a monitoring plan. The label calls for liver biochemical assessment rather than treating a laboratory result in isolation.
- Check concomitant bile-acid binding medicines and aluminum-containing antacids, which can interfere with absorption. Veterinary use requires the prescriber to interpret human-label information for the patient.
Uses by species
Approval and evidence apply to the named product, species, route and indication. An extra-label use requires its own prescribing assessment; a human indication is not an animal approval.
Veterinary patients: not established by reviewed label
Extra-label veterinary use; reviewed capsules are human-labeledVeterinarian-selected hepatobiliary management
Human cholesterol-gallstone indications must not be generalized to animal gallbladder disease.
Use / indication source ↗Pharmacology & pharmacokinetics
Mechanism and clinical role
Human labeling describes reduced hepatic cholesterol synthesis/secretion and intestinal cholesterol absorption, altering biliary cholesterol saturation.
Absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination
Human-label enterohepatic-circulation and absorption data are not verified veterinary PK; do not extrapolate species-specific exposure.
SAFETY REFERENCE · PRODUCT & SPECIES SPECIFIC
Contraindications & cautions
Contraindications identify circumstances where the source says a product should not be used. Precautions call for assessment or monitoring. Interactions identify combinations to review. They are distinct categories; this summary does not replace a full interaction check or the current product label.
Actigall
Oral capsules; Human product
Contraindications · when not to use
- Bile-acid allergy; calcified/radiopaque or pigment stones; compelling surgical disease including unremitting acute cholecystitis, cholangitis, biliary obstruction, gallstone pancreatitis or biliary-GI fistula.
Precautions & monitoring
- Assess liver tests and intestinal obstruction symptoms; stenosis/stasis predisposes to enteroliths.
Human labeling; this does not establish veterinary approval or animal-specific eligibility.
Safety sources checked: . Selected label information; independent veterinary or veterinary-pharmacy review remains pending. A label for dogs, cats, horses or humans does not establish safety for another species.
Adverse effects
Human-label gastrointestinal complaints include diarrhea and abdominal discomfort; veterinary event rates are unestablished.
These are selected source-reported effects, not incidence estimates or an exhaustive list. Spontaneous postmarketing reports do not by themselves establish frequency or causality.
Dosing & administration
A verified veterinary dose has not been entered for this product. Human-label dosing must not be used as an animal regimen. Consult a current species-specific clinical source and the prescribing veterinarian.
A veterinary dose is not verified. Human gallstone doses and treatment durations are not animal instructions.
Extra-label prescribing and food-animal residue requirements are separate from labeled regimens. FDA extra-label-use guidance ↗
Drug & supplement interactions
This is a selected interaction reference, not an automated or comprehensive combination checker. Reconcile prescription drugs, nonprescription products, supplements and recent treatment changes.
Actigall
Oral capsules; Human product
- Cholestyramine, colestipol and aluminum antacids reduce absorption. Estrogens and clofibrate can oppose gallstone-dissolution effects.
Monitoring
Investigate biliary obstruction and acute gallbladder disease first; follow diagnosis-specific liver chemistry and clinical response.
Client counseling
Report worsening abdominal illness or vomiting. Cholestyramine, colestipol and aluminum antacids can reduce absorption; review administration timing.
This section supports the veterinary team's discharge discussion; it does not replace the product’s Client Information Sheet where one is required.
Storage & handling
Follow exact capsule-container instructions; compounded liquids require their own concentration, storage and beyond-use date.
Brands, formulations & ingredient identity
Active ingredients
Ursodiol
Other searchable names: Ursodeoxycholic acid · UDCA
Ursodiol and ursodeoxycholic acid identify the same active substance. Actigall is a brand name, not a second ingredient.
The referenced Actigall formulation is an oral capsule. Compounded liquids are separate preparations whose concentration and stability must be checked with the dispensing pharmacy.
Shared ingredients do not establish interchangeable concentrations, routes, release properties, species labeling or regional availability.
Actigall
- Formulation
- Oral capsules
- Label / product scope
- Human product
Human prescription label; veterinary use is extra-label and requires an individual veterinary plan.
Product label / source ↗References & review status
Clinical reference updated October 16, 2026. Independent veterinary or veterinary-pharmacy review not yet completed. Evidence gaps remain explicitly identified; this page does not claim equivalence to a comprehensive, professionally reviewed veterinary formulary.