How to treat gallstones? What medicine to take?

After suffering from gallstones, you can relieve symptoms and remove stones through medication, surgery and dietary adjustments. Medication is suitable for mild cases, such as taking ursodeoxycholic acid to dissolve stones, but it cannot cure most cases; surgery is the main choice for moderate to severe gallstones, such as laparoscopic cholecystectomy, endoscopic retrograde pancreaticocholangiopancreatography (ERCP), etc. Avoid high-fat diets and eat more low-fat, high-fiber and vitamin C-rich foods to help protect gallbladder health. The following is an analysis of these treatment methods.

1) Drug treatment: promoting the dissolution of gallstones

Drug treatment is generally suitable for people with small gallstones, mild symptoms, and good gallbladder function. Patients can take the following drugs to assist in dissolving the stones:

① Ursodeoxycholic acid: This prescription drug can dissolve cholesterol stones by lowering the concentration of cholesterol in bile, but it needs to be taken for six months to two years, and the effect varies from person to person.

② Oral deoxycholic acid: In some cases, it can be used in combination with ursodeoxycholic acid to enhance the litholytic effect.

③ Antispasmodics and analgesics: For pain caused by gallstones, your doctor may prescribe medications, such as hydrochlorothiazide, atropine, etc., to relieve spasms and pain symptoms.

The effect of drug lithotripsy is limited, and about 50% of patients may relapse, so it needs to be combined with other treatments or lifestyle adjustments.

2) Surgical treatment: an effective way to remove gallstones

When gallstones cause significant pain, infection, or jaundice, surgery becomes the mainstay of treatment. The following are common surgical options:

① Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC): This technique removes the gallbladder through minimally invasive surgery. It is currently the most commonly used method for treating gallstones, with quick recovery and minimal trauma.

②Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP): It is suitable for patients with common bile duct stones and can remove gallstones through endoscopic instruments.

③ Open surgery: For complex cases that cannot be solved by laparoscopy, traditional open surgery is still applicable, but the recovery period is longer.

Although surgery can cure gallstones, patients need to pay attention to dietary fat control after cholecystectomy to avoid indigestion.

3) Diet adjustment: an important measure combining prevention and treatment

The occurrence of gallstones is closely related to bad eating habits. A healthy diet can reduce symptoms and reduce the risk of recurrence. The following dietary adjustments are recommended:

① Eat more foods rich in dietary fiber: such as oats, brown rice and dark green leafy vegetables, which can regulate bile secretion and promote intestinal peristalsis.

② Control fat intake: Avoid high-fat foods such as fried foods and cream cakes to reduce the burden on the gallbladder.

③ Supplement foods rich in vitamin C: such as citrus, kiwi, etc., which help reduce the risk of cholesterol stones.

Dietary adjustments are not only beneficial for stone treatment, but also can prevent other biliary diseases.

After suffering from gallstones, early diagnosis and treatment are very important. If you feel pain in the right upper abdomen, nausea, vomiting, or jaundice, you should seek medical attention in time. During the treatment process, in addition to actively cooperating with the doctor's advice, you must also maintain healthy eating habits, avoid sitting for long periods of time, and exercise regularly. Even after the surgery, you should also pay attention to long-term recurrence prevention. I hope that every patient can restore a healthy life through scientific and reasonable methods!