Medicines are rarely used to treat gallstones. But people who are on very rapid weight-loss diets may be given medicines for pain and nausea and to prevent gallstones from forming.

Medication Choices

Bile acids to dissolve gallstones usually are reserved for people with symptoms of gallstones for whom surgery would be risky or for people who do not want to have surgery. This medicine is rarely, if ever, an option for people who have a sudden inflammation or infection of the gallbladder, a gallbladder that is not working properly, large gallstones, calcified gallstones, or stones in the bile ducts.

What To Think About

Gallstones often come back when treatment with bile acids is stopped, because bile acids do not always dissolve stones completely. Over time, gallstones return in about half of those who stop taking the medicine.²

This form of treatment works better on small gallstones than on large ones. It does not work on calcified gallstones. Tests such as an abdominal X-ray may be used to find out whether gallstones contain calcium.