Gallstones
1 medicine
Gallstones are hardened deposits in the gallbladder that can cause sudden pain and digestive symptoms. Small cholesterol stones can sometimes be dissolved with medicine instead of surgery.
Key facts
- Gallstones are solid deposits that form inside the gallbladder, ranging from a grain of sand to a golf ball. Many cause no symptoms until one blocks a bile duct.
- Most are cholesterol stones, formed when bile holds more cholesterol than it can keep dissolved. Risk rises with age, a high-fat diet, rapid weight loss, and certain metabolic conditions.
- Small cholesterol stones in a functioning gallbladder can sometimes be dissolved with ursodeoxycholic acid; larger or calcified stones generally need surgery.
- Seek medical attention promptly for sudden intense pain, fever, or yellowing of the skin, which can signal a blocked duct or infection.
Why they form and who is affected
Most gallstones are cholesterol stones, produced when bile contains more cholesterol than it can keep dissolved. Others form from excess bilirubin and are more common in people with liver disease or blood disorders. Risk rises with age, a high-fat diet, rapid weight loss, pregnancy, and certain metabolic conditions, and gallstones have become more common as obesity rates have climbed.
Symptoms to watch for
Many gallstones stay silent for years. When one moves and blocks the cystic or bile duct, it typically causes biliary colic: a steady, gripping pain in the upper right abdomen or between the shoulder blades, often triggered by a fatty meal and lasting from thirty minutes to a few hours. Nausea and vomiting frequently accompany an episode.
Dissolving stones without surgery
For small cholesterol stones in a functioning gallbladder, ursodeoxycholic acid offers a non-surgical route. It reduces the amount of cholesterol secreted into bile, gradually making the stones dissolve over months of regular use. It is not suitable for all stone types, and larger, calcified, or symptomatic stones generally need surgical removal of the gallbladder. More general support for the digestive system is covered under digestive health.
Lifestyle changes that help
Losing weight gradually rather than rapidly, eating regular meals instead of skipping them, and limiting saturated fat can reduce the risk of new stones forming.
When to see a doctor
If you experience sudden intense pain, fever, or yellowing of the skin, seek medical attention promptly, as these can signal a blocked duct or infection.
This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.