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Can You Dissolve Gallstones?

Stones sometimes develop in the gallbladder, an organ that aids in the digestive process by storing bile. In some cases, medications may be used as a treatment to dissolve gallstones.

  1. Identification

    • Two different medications, chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA, also known as ursodiol), may be used to dissolve gallstones.

    Features

    • Medications to dissolve gallstones may be given in pill form or may in some cases be passed into the gallbladder through a catheter, according to the health information website Medline Plus.

    Warning

    • The drawbacks of using medications to dissolve gallstones include the length of time it takes the drugs to work (up to two years) and that gallstones commonly come back, according to the Mayo Clinic and Medline Plus.

    Potential

    • The Mayo Clinic notes that an experimental therapy injects medications directly into the gallbladder as a potential way to more quickly dissolve stones. As of 2010, this treatment is still being researched.

    Considerations

    • Gallbladder removal is a better treatment option for most people. The Mayo Clinic reports that using medications to dissolve gallstones occurs only for people who cannot have surgery.

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