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Ursodiol 300 mg Capsule, 11,210-count — NDC 00591-3159-77 package photo
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Ursodiol 300 mg Capsule, 11,210-count — NDC 0591-3159-77 (Billing 00591-3159-77)

by Actavis Pharma, Inc. · 11210 CAPSULE in 1 CONTAINER

This is a package of 11,210 capsules of Ursodiol 300 mg Capsule from Actavis Pharma, Inc., marketed since Dec 1987 and currently FDA-listed.

NDC 00591-3159-77
🏷️ FDA NDC (as labeled) 0591-3159-77 billing pads the labeler segment with a zero
This package
Contains11,210-count Pack sizes3 compare ↓
Product page 00591-3159-01 Also comes in: 100 capsules 0591-3159-01 12000 capsules 0591-3159-00
On market Non-controlled ⇄ Compare with another NDC
🗂️ FDA directory synced Oct 8, 2026 · this listing last changed Oct 8, 2026 · sources: openFDA · FDA label (DailyMed) · FDA Orange & Purple Book · First Databank · CMS NADAC, ASP, Medicare & Medicaid · RxNorm
📋 All sources & update times →

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Compiled from public FDA, CMS, DailyMed, NADAC, and related drug data sources. Editorial policy

NDC database record

One package, one record: these facts belong to NDC 0591-3159-77 alone.

Record
FDA NDC Directory package listing · Drug for further processing
Code segments
0591 labeler · 3159 product · 77 package
Package marketed since
Sep 1, 2024
Listing certified through
Dec 31, 2027
Barcode (UPC-A, from the NDC)
3 0591315977 8
FDA record last changed
Oct 8, 2026

Identity & classification

Regulatory identifiers FDA, NLM and CMS codes for this package

FDA NDC (as labeled) 0591-3159-77
Product NDC 0591-3159
11-digit billing NDC 00591315977
SPL Set ID a061bb07-a85d-4b08-877f-ce02156f0de7
DEA schedule Non-controlled
Marketing category DRUG FOR FURTHER PROCESSING
Marketing status On market
FDA listing status Listed (active directory)
Marketing start 1987-12-31
Dosage form CAPSULE
Substance URSODIOL

Drug-database identifiers Medi-Span GPI and First Databank GCN / HICL / AHFS classification

GCN Seq No 003095
GCN 01070
HICL code 001370
Ingredient (HICL) Ursodiol
HIC1 code D
Therapeutic class — broad (HIC1) Biliary System/Gastro-Intestinal System
HIC2 code D7
Therapeutic class — intermediate (HIC2) Act Primarily On Liver/Biliary Tract
HIC3 code D7A
Therapeutic class — specific (HIC3) Bile Salts
AHFS code 56:14.00.00
AHFS class Cholelitholytic Agents
FDB label name URSODIOL 300 MG CAPSULE
FDB brand name Ursodiol
Legend status F — Federal legend — prescription drug or device
Quick answers
  • GSN (GCN sequence number): 003095
  • GCN: 01070
  • HICL (First Databank): 001370
  • AHFS class code: 56:14.00.00
Why two NDCs? The FDA registers this code as 0591-3159-77 — a 4-4-2 layout, and that's what's printed on the package and shown on DailyMed. For insurance claims, every NDC is standardized to a uniform 11-digit 5-4-2 format by adding a zero to the labeler segment → 00591-3159-77. Same drug, same package — only the format differs.
Where does this data come from?
Identifiers from the FDA openFDA NDC Directory and Structured Product Labeling; RxCUI from RxNorm (NLM); GPI from Medi-Span; GCN / HIC / AHFS / legend from First Databank.

Clinical

Label name URSODIOL 300 MG CAPSULE Ingredient Ursodiol
📗 Our plain-language guide HelloPharmacist
  • It depends on the product. Ursodiol capsules are used to dissolve certain cholesterol gallstones and to prevent gallstones during rapid weight loss. Urso 250, Urso Forte, and ursod...
  • It’s taken by mouth. For gallstones, capsules are usually divided into 2 or 3 doses a day. For PBC, tablets are taken in two to four divided doses with food. Follow your prescripti...
  • Stomach-related effects are the most common, such as belly pain, diarrhea, constipation, and nausea. Headache and dizziness can also happen. Call your doctor about severe belly pai...
  • Yes. Cholestyramine, colestipol, and aluminum-based antacids may reduce how much ursodiol works. Estrogens, birth control pills, and clofibrate can work against it for gallstones....
📖 Read our full Ursodiol guide →
Where does this data come from?
Plain-language summary from MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine); supplement & herbal interactions and nutrient depletion data from the Natural Medicines database; our full guide is HelloPharmacist editorial content.

Pricing

A drug doesn't have one price. Each row is a different public payment system, and none is what you'd pay at the counter — that depends on your insurance. The ⓘ on each row explains what it measures.

Price systemPer eachPer package
Retail pharmacies payNADAC · weekly Not in the retail survey — common for institutional, discontinued, or low-volume packs.
Medicaid paysCMS SDUD · 12 mo No recent Medicaid claims on file for this NDC — rare and low-volume NDCs are suppressed in the public data.
Medicare drug plans payPart D · quarterly No Part D plan price is available for this NDC in our data.
ℹ️
No price is published for this exact package yet. CMS surveys NADAC per package size, so a different pack of the same drug often has one.
Try another pack size: 100 capsules 12000 capsules
Where does this data come from?
NADAC (National Average Drug Acquisition Cost) is the CMS weekly pharmacy-acquisition-cost survey — what pharmacies pay. ASP (Average Sales Price) is the CMS Medicare Part B drug-payment file, published quarterly. Medicaid pays is computed by us from CMS State Drug Utilization Data (total reimbursed ÷ units, trailing 12 months) — gross of rebates and inclusive of dispensing fees, so it reflects what Medicaid paid, not an acquisition cost. Medicare drug plans pay is the median negotiated point-of-sale unit cost across plans listing this NDC in the CMS quarterly Prescription Drug Plan pricing files, before rebates. The VA pays is the federal contract price (FSS, and the statutory Big 4 ceiling where listed) from the VA National Acquisition Center pharmaceutical price file. All are free public government data; each measures a different payer, so the figures are not directly comparable.

Packaging — all sizes for this product

Package NDCDescription Per unit Per pack Marketing startMarketing endStatus
00591-3159-01 0591-3159-01 Main listing 100 CAPSULE in 1 BOTTLE $0.4292 / ea $42.92 1987-12-31 — Active
00591-3159-00 0591-3159-00 12000 CAPSULE in 1 BOX — — — — Active
00591-3159-77 You're viewing this 11210 CAPSULE in 1 CONTAINER — — — — Active

You're viewing one of 3 pack sizes for this product.

This pack shows little to no recent Medicaid volume — the 100 capsules pack carries most fills. See all packs ↓

Pack size FAQ

What quantity is in this package?
This is a 11,210-count package — 11210 capsule in 1 container.
How does this package differ from NDC 00591-3159-01?
Both are Ursodiol 300 mg Capsule — the drug itself is identical. This page's package is the 11,210-count one, while NDC 00591-3159-01 is the 100 capsules package.
What NDC number is used to bill for this package of Ursodiol 300 mg Capsule?
Use the 11-digit billing form listed in the identifiers section of this page. Pharmacy and medical claims use the 11-digit form; the FDA label may print a shorter form of the same code.

Prices are the latest CMS NADAC pharmacy acquisition cost per NDC; per-pack figures are per-unit × pack quantity, shown only when the pack is denominated in the same measure NADAC prices.

Therapeutic equivalents

ProductLabelerPackNADAC/unitTEStatusPrice vs. this
Ursodiol 300 mg 50268-0797-15 AvPAK 50 capsules $0.416 — Availability likely —
Ursodiol 300 mg 72664-0217-01 VGYAAN 100 capsules $0.421 AB Availability likely —
Ursodiol 300 mg 00527-1326-01 Lannett 100 capsules $0.429 AB Availability likely —
Ursodiol 300 mg 00904-6221-06 Major 50 capsules $0.429 AB Availability likely —
Ursodiol 300 mg 10702-0237-01 KVK-Tech, 100 capsules $0.429 AB Availability likely —
Ursodiol 300 mg 24658-0780-01 PuraCap 100 capsules $0.429 AB Availability likely —
Ursodiol 300 mg 42385-0946-01 Laurus 100 capsules $0.429 AB Availability likely —
Ursodiol 300 mg 42806-0503-01 Epic 100 capsules $0.429 AB Availability likely —
Ursodiol 300 mg 59651-0421-01 Aurobindo 100 capsules $0.429 AB Availability likely —
Ursodiol 300 mg 60687-0100-01 American 100 capsules $0.429 AB Availability likely —
Ursodiol 300 mg 62135-0430-60 Chartwell 60 capsules $0.429 AB Availability likely —
Ursodiol 300 mg 69238-1540-01 Amneal 100 capsules $0.429 — Availability likely —
Ursodiol 300 mg 70710-1483-01 Zydus 100 capsules $0.429 AB Availability likely —
Ursodiol 300 mg 72603-0613-01 NorthStar 100 capsules $0.429 AB Availability likely —
Ursodiol 300 mgthis 00591-3159-77 Actavis 11210 capsules — — FDA listed —
Ursodiol 300 mg 24658-0999-10 PuraCap 1000 capsules — AB FDA listed —
Ursodiol 300 mg 42291-0923-01 AvKARE 100 capsules — AB FDA listed —
Ursodiol 300 mg 43063-0871-01 PD-Rx 100 capsules — AB FDA listed —
Ursodiol 300 mg 51407-0754-01 Golden 100 capsules — AB FDA listed —
Ursodiol 300 mg 64380-0844-04 Strides 30 capsules — AB FDA listed —
Ursodiol 300 mg 70771-1524-01 Zydus 100 capsules — AB FDA listed —
Ursodiol 300 mg 72162-2168-01 Bryant 100 capsules — AB FDA listed —
Ursodiol 300 mg 72162-2619-01 Bryant 100 capsules — AB FDA listed —
Ursodiol 300 mg 50268-0864-13 AvPAK 30 capsules — AB FDA listed —
About this product: other versions of the same ingredient, strength and form are listed above, least expensive first, with FDA equivalence ratings where available.
Where does this data come from?
Equivalents are other NDCs of the same ingredient, form and route from the openFDA NDC Directory, ranked least-expensive-first by NADAC. Therapeutic-equivalence (AB) ratings come from the FDA Orange Book; biologics use the FDA Purple Book for biosimilar & interchangeable status.

Availability & generic status

🏛️
1987
On the market since
Dec 1987
📍
2026
Currently FDA-listed
39 years listed
🔓
·
Generic versions listed
see equivalents
✅Generic appears available

FDA-approved generic versions are listed, and recent pricing/market data suggests they may be available — see Therapeutic equivalents.

Where does this data come from?
Patents and exclusivity from the FDA Orange Book (small-molecule drugs), refreshed from public FDA data. Generic launch timing is an estimate, not a guarantee.

What it looks like

Color white
ShapeCapsule
ImprintWATSON;3159
Size22 mm
ScoringNot scored
One label can cover several strengths, so colors may be combined — always confirm a loose pill against the dispensed prescription label or a pharmacist.
Where does this data come from?
Physical description (imprint, shape, color, scoring, coating) from this product’s FDA Structured Product Labeling (SPL), mirrored from DailyMed / openFDA.

Inactive Ingredients / Excipients

Inactive ingredients, also called excipients, are components of the drug product other than the active ingredient. They may include fillers, dyes, coatings, preservatives, flavors, or other formulation ingredients.

🧪 Avoiding an ingredient? See Ursodiol inactive ingredients by manufacturer: every current product's list side by side, so you can ask your pharmacy for the version that does not list it.

💡 Tap an ingredient (hover on desktop) to see what it is and why it’s used.

  • UNII XM0M87F357
    A dark iron oxide compound that gives medicines their black or dark color. It's used as a colorant in tablets and capsules to help identify the product and make it visually distinctive.
  • UNII 2G86QN327L
    Gelatin is a protein derived from animal collagen, commonly used in medicines as a gelling agent and capsule material. It helps create soft or hard capsule shells that hold and release medication, and can also thicken liquid formulations.
  • UNII 70097M6I30
    Magnesium stearate is a salt made from magnesium and stearic acid, a fatty substance. It's used in tablets and capsules as a lubricant and glidant to help ingredients flow smoothly during manufacturing and prevent sticking.
  • UNII ETJ7Z6XBU4
    Silicon dioxide is a naturally occurring mineral used as a glidant and anti-caking agent. It helps powder ingredients flow smoothly and prevents clumping during manufacturing and storage.
  • UNII O8232NY3SJ
    A plant-based carbohydrate derived from corn kernels. It acts as a filler to add bulk, a binder to hold ingredients together, and a disintegrant to help the tablet break apart in your stomach for absorption.

5 inactive ingredients listed in the exact product block matched to this NDC.

Where does this data come from?
Data sourced from official FDA Structured Product Labeling (SPL) via DailyMed — ingredient classCode="IACT" elements from the exact product block matched by this NDC. Label-section narrative from DailyMed / the openFDA label index is shown separately when available.

Inactive ingredient FAQ

Are inactive ingredients the same for every manufacturer?
No. Inactive ingredients can differ by manufacturer, dosage form, strength, and package / product version.
Why might an inactive ingredient be missing?
Some SPLs do not provide a complete structured inactive-ingredient list, and older or unusual labels may only include the information in narrative text.
Can inactive ingredients matter?
Yes. They can matter for allergies, intolerances, dyes, gluten / lactose concerns, preservatives, and formulation differences — but confirm with a pharmacist or the manufacturer when it’s clinically important.

Manufacturer & labeler

LabelerActavis Pharma, Inc.
Labeler code00591
First marketedDec 1987
Product typeDrug For Further Processing
Portfolio324 products on file

More NDCs from Actavis Pharma, Inc. labeler code 00591

The labeler markets the product; the application holder owns the FDA approval. They’re often the same company but can differ (e.g. a repackager or an authorized generic). A mailing address / phone appears here when the manufacturer includes it in the product’s FDA label (not all do).
Where does this data come from?
Labeler, application holder and registered establishment from the FDA openFDA NDC Directory and Drugs@FDA; address/contact from the product’s FDA label.

Full FDA label FDA SPL

The complete FDA label for this product, verbatim, section by section. Very long sections are excerpted here and marked; the full text is on DailyMed (linked in the sources below). Jump with a chip, search within the label, or expand everything.
🎯 Indications and Usage ⏱️ Dosage and Administration ⛔ Contraindications ⚠️ Warnings 🤒 Adverse Reactions 🔄 Drug Interactions 🤰 Pregnancy 🧒 Pediatric Use 🧓 Geriatric Use 🆘 Overdosage 🧬 Clinical Pharmacology 📦 How Supplied / Storage and Handling 📋 Description ⚠️ Precautions 🍼 Nursing Mothers 🧬 Pharmacodynamics 📄 Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility 📄 Package Label / Principal Display Panel
🎯 Indications and Usage 79 words ▾

INDICATIONS AND USAGE Ursodiol is indicated for patients with radiolucent, noncalcified gallbladder stones < 20 mm in greatest diameter in whom elective cholecystectomy would be undertaken except for the presence of increased surgical risk due to systemic disease, advanced age, idiosyncratic reaction to general anesthesia, or for those patients who refuse surgery. Safety of use of ursodiol beyond 24 months is not established. Ursodiol is indicated for the prevention of gallstone formation in obese patients experiencing rapid weight loss.

⏱️ Dosage and Administration 134 words ▾

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Gallstone Dissolution The recommended dose for ursodiol treatment of radiolucent gallbladder stones is 8 - 10 mg/kg/day given in 2 or 3 divided doses. Ultrasound images of the gallbladder should be obtained at 6-month intervals for the first year of ursodiol therapy to monitor gallstone response. If gallstones appear to have dissolved, ursodiol therapy should be continued and dissolution confirmed on a repeat ultrasound examination within 1 to 3 months.

Most patients who eventually achieve complete stone dissolution will show partial or complete dissolution at the first on-treatment reevaluation. If partial stone dissolution is not seen by 12 months of ursodiol therapy, the likelihood of success is greatly reduced. Gallstone Prevention The recommended dosage of ursodiol for gallstone prevention in patients undergoing rapid weight loss is 600 mg/day (300 mg b.i.d.).

⛔ Contraindications 54 words ▾

CONTRAINDICATIONS Ursodiol will not dissolve calcified cholesterol stones, radiopaque stones, or radiolucent bile pigment stones. Hence, patients with such stones are not candidates for ursodiol therapy. Patients with compelling reasons for cholecystectomy including unremitting acute cholecystitis, cholangitis, biliary obstruction, gallstone pancreatitis, or biliary-gastrointestinal fistula are not candidates for ursodiol therapy. Allergy to bile acids.

⚠️ Warnings 67 words ▾

WARNINGS Enteroliths in Patients with Risk for Intestinal Stenosis or Stasis There have been rare postmarketing reports of ursodiol-treated patients who developed enteroliths (bezoars) resulting in obstructive symptoms that required surgical intervention. These patients had medical conditions that predisposed them to intestinal stenosis or stasis (e.g., surgical enteroanastomoses, Crohn's disease). If a patient presents with obstructive gastrointestinal symptoms, hold Actigall until a clinical evaluation has been conducted.

🤒 Adverse Reactions ~2 min read ▾

ADVERSE REACTIONS The nature and frequency of adverse experiences were similar across all groups. The following tables provide comprehensive listings of the adverse experiences reported that occurred with a 5% incidence level: GALLSTONE DISSOLUTION Ursodiol Placebo 8 - 10 mg/kg/day (N = 155) (N = 159) N (%) N (%) Body as a Whole Allergy 8 (5.2) 7 (4.4) Chest Pain 5 (3.2) 10 (6.3) Fatigue 7 (4.5) 8 (5.0) Infection Viral 30 (19.4) 41 (25.8) Digestive System Abdominal Pain 67 (43.2) 70 (44.0) Cholecystitis 8 (5.2) 7 (4.4) Constipation 15 (9.7) 14 (8.8) Diarrhea 42 (27.1) 34 (21.4) Dyspepsia 26 (16.8) 18 (11.3) Flatulence 12 (7.7) 12 (7.5) Gastrointestinal Disorder 6 (3.9) 8 (5.0) Nausea 22 (14.2) 27 (17.0) Vomiting 15 (9.7) 11 (6.9) Musculoskeletal System Arthralgia 12 (7.7) 24 (15.1) Arthritis 9 (5.8) 4 (2.5) Back Pain 11 (7.1) 18 (11.3) Myalgia 9 (5.8) 9 (5.7) Nervous System Headache 28 (18.1) 34 (21.4) Insomnia 3 (1.9) 8 (5.0) Respiratory System Bronchitis 10 (6.5) 6 (3.8) Coughing 11 (7.1) 7 (4.4) Pharyngitis 13 (8.4) 5 (3.1) Rhinitis 8 (5.2) 11 (6.9) Sinusitis 17 (11.0) 18 (11.3) Upper Respiratory Tract Infection 24 (15.5) 21 (13.2) Urogenital System Urinary Tract Infection 10 (6.5) 7 (4.4) GALLSTONE PREVENTION Ursodiol Placebo 600 mg (N = 322) (N = 325) N (%) N (%) Body as a Whole Fatigue 25 (7.8) 33 (10.2) Infection Viral 29 (9.0) 29 (8.9) Influenza-like Symptoms 21 (6.5) 19 (5.8) Digestive System Abdominal Pain 20 (6.2) 39 (12.0) Constipation 85 (26.4) 72 (22.2) Diarrhea 81 (25.2) 68 (20.9) Flatulence 15 (4.7) 24 (7.4) Nausea 56 (17.4) 43 (13.2) Vomiting 44 (13.7) 44 (13.5) Musculoskeletal System Back Pain 38 (11.8) 21 (6.5) Musculoskeletal Pain 19 (5.9) 15 (4.6) Nervous System Dizziness 53 (16.5) 42 (12.9) Headache 80 (24.8) 78 (24.0) Respiratory System Pharyngitis 10 (3.1) 19 (5.8) Sinusitis 17 (5.3) 18 (5.5) Upper Respiratory Tract Infection 40 (12.4) 35 (10.8) Skin and Appendages Alopecia 17 (5.3) 8 (2.5) Urogenital System Dysmenorrhea 18 (5.6) 19 (5.8) Postmarketing Experience The following adverse reactions, presented by system organ class in alphabetical order, have been identified during post-approval use of ursodiol.

Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. Gastrointestinal disorders : enteroliths (bezoars)

🔄 Drug Interactions 78 words ▾

Drug Interactions Bile acid sequestering agents such as cholestyramine and colestipol may interfere with the action of ursodiol by reducing its absorption. Aluminum-based antacids have been shown to adsorb bile acids in vitro and may be expected to interfere with ursodiol in the same manner as the bile acid sequestering agents. Estrogens, oral contraceptives, and clofibrate (and perhaps other lipid-lowering drugs) increase hepatic cholesterol secretion, and encourage cholesterol gallstone formation and hence may counteract the effectiveness of ursodiol.

🤰 Pregnancy 150 words ▾

Pregnancy Reproduction studies have been performed in rats and rabbits with ursodiol doses up to 200-fold the therapeutic dose and have revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the fetus at doses of 20- to 100-fold the human dose in rats and at 5-fold the human dose (highest dose tested) in rabbits. Studies employing 100- to 200-fold the human dose in rats have shown some reduction in fertility rate and litter size. There have been no adequate and well-controlled studies of the use of ursodiol in pregnant women, but inadvertent exposure of 4 women to therapeutic doses of the drug in the first trimester of pregnancy during the ursodiol trials led to no evidence of effects on the fetus or newborn baby.

Although it seems unlikely, the possibility that ursodiol can cause fetal harm cannot be ruled out; hence, the drug is not recommended for use during pregnancy.

🧒 Pediatric Use 15 words ▾

Pediatric Use The safety and effectiveness of ursodiol in pediatric patients have not been established.

🧓 Geriatric Use 107 words ▾

Geriatric Use In worldwide clinical studies of ursodiol, approximately 14% of subjects were over 65 years of age (approximately 3% were over 75 years old). In a subgroup analysis of existing clinical trials, patients greater than 56 years of age did not exhibit statistically significantly different complete dissolution rates from the younger population. No age-related differences in safety and effectiveness were found.

Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in response in elderly and younger patients. However, small differences in efficacy and greater sensitivity of some elderly individuals taking ursodiol cannot be ruled out. Therefore, it is recommended that dosing proceed with caution in this population.

🆘 Overdosage 76 words ▾

OVERDOSAGE Neither accidental nor intentional overdosing with ursodiol has been reported. Doses of ursodiol in the range of 16 - 20 mg/kg/day have been tolerated for 6 to 37 months without symptoms by 7 patients. The LD 50 for ursodiol in rats is over 5000 mg/kg given over 7 to 10 days and over 7500 mg/kg for mice. The most likely manifestation of severe overdose with ursodiol would probably be diarrhea, which should be treated symptomatically.

🧬 Clinical Pharmacology ~3 min read ▾

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY About 90% of a therapeutic dose of ursodiol is absorbed in the small bowel after oral administration. After absorption, ursodiol enters the portal vein and undergoes efficient extraction from portal blood by the liver (i.e., there is a large “first-pass” effect) where it is conjugated with either glycine or taurine and is then secreted into the hepatic bile ducts. Ursodiol in bile is concentrated in the gallbladder and expelled into the duodenum in gallbladder bile via the cystic and common ducts by gallbladder contractions provoked by physiologic responses to eating.

Only small quantities of ursodiol appear in the systemic circulation and very small amounts are excreted into urine. The sites of the drug’s therapeutic actions are in the liver, bile, and gut lumen. Beyond conjugation, ursodiol is not altered or catabolized appreciably by the liver or intestinal mucosa.

A small proportion of orally administered drug undergoes bacterial degradation with each cycle of enterohepatic circulation. Ursodiol can be both oxidized and reduced at the 7-carbon, yielding either 7-keto-lithocholic acid or lithocholic acid, respectively. Further, there is some bacterially catalyzed deconjugation of glyco- and tauro-ursodeoxycholic acid in the small bowel.

Free ursodiol, 7-keto-lithocholic acid, and lithocholic acid are relatively insoluble in aqueous media and larger proportions of these compounds are lost from the distal gut into the feces. Reabsorbed free ursodiol is reconjugated by the liver. Eighty percent of lithocholic acid formed in the small bowel is excreted in the feces, but the 20% that is absorbed is sulfated at the 3-hydroxyl group in the liver to relatively insoluble lithocholyl conjugates which are excreted into bile and lost in feces.

Absorbed 7-keto-lithocholic acid is stereospecifically reduced in the liver to chenodiol. Lithocholic acid causes cholestatic liver injury and can cause death from liver failure in certain species unable to form sulfate conjugates. Lithocholic acid is formed by 7-dehydroxylation of the dihydroxy bile acids (ursodiol and chenodiol) in the gut lumen.

The 7-dehydroxylation reaction appears to be alpha-specific, i.e., chenodiol is more efficiently 7-dehydroxylated than ursodiol and, for equimolar doses of ursodiol and chenodiol, levels of lithocholic acid appearing in bile are lower with the former. Man has the capacity to sulfate lithocholic acid. Although liver injury has not been associated with ursodiol therapy, a reduced capacity to sulfate may exist in some individuals, but such a deficiency has not yet been clearly demonstrated.

Pharmacodynamics Ursodiol suppresses hepatic synthesis and secretion of cholesterol, and also inhibits intestinal absorption of cholesterol. It appears to have little inhibitory effect on synthesis and secretion into bile of endogenous bile acids, and does not appear to affect secretion of phospholipids into bile. With repeated dosing, bile ursodeoxycholic acid concentrations reach a steady-state in about 3 weeks.

Although insoluble in aqueous media, cholesterol can be solubilized in at least two different ways in the presence of dihydroxy bile acids. In addition to solubilizing cholesterol in micelles, ursodiol acts by an apparently unique mechanism to cause dispersion of cholesterol as liquid crystals in aqueous media. Thus, even though administration of high doses (e.g., 15 - 18 mg/kg/day) does not result in a concentration of ursodiol higher than 60% of the total bile acid pool, ursodiol-rich bile effectively solubilizes cholesterol.

The overall effect of ursodiol is to increase the concentration level at which saturation of cholesterol occurs. The various actions of ursodiol combine to change the bile of patients with gallstones from cholesterol-precipitating to cholesterol-solubilizing, thus resulting in bile conducive to cholesterol stone dissolution. After ursodiol dosing is stopped, the concentration of the bile acid in bile falls exponen… [Excerpted — this section continues on DailyMed.]

📦 How Supplied / Storage and Handling 79 words ▾

HOW SUPPLIED Ursodiol Capsules USP, 300 mg are opaque white capsules imprinted WATSON on one half and 3159 on the other half of the capsule in black. Bottles of 100 (NDC 0591-3159-01) are supplied with child-resistant closures. Store at 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F). [See USP controlled room temperature.] Dispense in a tight container (USP).

Keep out of reach of children. Rx only Manufactured for: Teva Pharmaceuticals Parsippany, NJ 07054 © 2023 Teva Pharmaceuticals, Inc. URS-001 Rev.

7/2023

📋 Description 126 words ▾

DESCRIPTION Ursodiol is a bile acid available as 300 mg capsules suitable for oral administration. Ursodiol USP (ursodeoxycholic acid) is a naturally occurring bile acid found in small quantities in normal human bile and in the biles of certain other mammals. It is a bitter-tasting, white powder freely soluble in ethanol, methanol, and glacial acetic acid; sparingly soluble in chloroform; slightly soluble in ether; and insoluble in water.

The chemical name for ursodiol is 3α,7β-Dihydroxy-5β-cholan-24-oic acid (C 24 H 40 O 4 ). Ursodiol, USP has a molecular weight of 392.57. Its structure is shown below: Inactive Ingredients: Colloidal silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate, and starch (corn).

Gelatin capsules contain gelatin and titanium dioxide. The capsules are printed with edible ink containing black iron oxide. structural formula

⚠️ Precautions ~3 min read ▾

PRECAUTIONS Liver Tests Ursodiol therapy has not been associated with liver damage. Lithocholic acid, a naturally occurring bile acid, is known to be a liver-toxic metabolite. This bile acid is formed in the gut from ursodiol less efficiently and in smaller amounts than that seen from chenodiol.

Lithocholic acid is detoxified in the liver by sulfation and, although man appears to be an efficient sulfater, it is possible that some patients may have a congenital or acquired deficiency in sulfation, thereby predisposing them to lithocholate-induced liver damage. Abnormalities in liver enzymes have not been associated with ursodiol therapy and, in fact, ursodiol has been shown to decrease liver enzyme levels in liver disease. However, patients given ursodiol should have SGOT (AST) and SGPT (ALT) measured at the initiation of therapy and thereafter as indicated by the particular clinical circumstances.

Drug Interactions Bile acid sequestering agents such as cholestyramine and colestipol may interfere with the action of ursodiol by reducing its absorption. Aluminum-based antacids have been shown to adsorb bile acids in vitro and may be expected to interfere with ursodiol in the same manner as the bile acid sequestering agents. Estrogens, oral contraceptives, and clofibrate (and perhaps other lipid-lowering drugs) increase hepatic cholesterol secretion, and encourage cholesterol gallstone formation and hence may counteract the effectiveness of ursodiol.

Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility Ursodeoxycholic acid was tested in 2-year oral carcinogenicity studies in CD-1 mice and Sprague-Dawley rats at daily doses of 50, 250, and 1000 mg/kg/day. It was not tumorigenic in mice. In the rat study, it produced statistically significant dose-related increased incidences of pheochromocytomas of adrenal medulla in males (p = 0.014, Peto trend test) and females (p = 0.004, Peto trend test).

A 78-week rat study employing intrarectal instillation of lithocholic acid and tauro-deoxycholic acid, metabolites of ursodiol and chenodiol, has been conducted. These bile acids alone did not produce any tumors. A tumor-promoting effect of both metabolites was observed when they were co-administered with a carcinogenic agent.

Results of epidemiologic studies suggest that bile acids might be involved in the pathogenesis of human colon cancer in patients who had undergone a cholecystectomy, but direct evidence is lacking. Ursodiol is not mutagenic in the Ames test. Dietary administration of lithocholic acid to chickens is reported to cause hepatic adenomatous hyperplasia.

Pregnancy Reproduction studies have been performed in rats and rabbits with ursodiol doses up to 200-fold the therapeutic dose and have revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the fetus at doses of 20- to 100-fold the human dose in rats and at 5-fold the human dose (highest dose tested) in rabbits. Studies employing 100- to 200-fold the human dose in rats have shown some reduction in fertility rate and litter size. There have been no adequate and well-controlled studies of the use of ursodiol in pregnant women, but inadvertent exposure of 4 women to therapeutic doses of the drug in the first trimester of pregnancy during the ursodiol trials led to no evidence of effects on the fetus or newborn baby.

Although it seems unlikely, the possibility that ursodiol can cause fetal harm cannot be ruled out; hence, the drug is not recommended for use during pregnancy. Nursing Mothers It is not known whether ursodiol is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when ursodiol is administered to a nursing mother.

Pediatric Use The safety and effectiveness of ursodiol in pediatric patients have not been established. Geriatric Use In worldwide clinical studies of ursodiol, approximately 14% of subjects were over 65 years of age (approximately 3% were over 75 years old). In a subgroup analysis of existing clinical trials, p… [Excerpted — this section continues on DailyMed.]

🍼 Nursing Mothers 33 words ▾

Nursing Mothers It is not known whether ursodiol is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when ursodiol is administered to a nursing mother.

🧬 Pharmacodynamics 212 words ▾

Pharmacodynamics Ursodiol suppresses hepatic synthesis and secretion of cholesterol, and also inhibits intestinal absorption of cholesterol. It appears to have little inhibitory effect on synthesis and secretion into bile of endogenous bile acids, and does not appear to affect secretion of phospholipids into bile. With repeated dosing, bile ursodeoxycholic acid concentrations reach a steady-state in about 3 weeks.

Although insoluble in aqueous media, cholesterol can be solubilized in at least two different ways in the presence of dihydroxy bile acids. In addition to solubilizing cholesterol in micelles, ursodiol acts by an apparently unique mechanism to cause dispersion of cholesterol as liquid crystals in aqueous media. Thus, even though administration of high doses (e.g., 15 - 18 mg/kg/day) does not result in a concentration of ursodiol higher than 60% of the total bile acid pool, ursodiol-rich bile effectively solubilizes cholesterol.

The overall effect of ursodiol is to increase the concentration level at which saturation of cholesterol occurs. The various actions of ursodiol combine to change the bile of patients with gallstones from cholesterol-precipitating to cholesterol-solubilizing, thus resulting in bile conducive to cholesterol stone dissolution. After ursodiol dosing is stopped, the concentration of the bile acid in bile falls exponentially, declining to about 5% to 10% of its steady-state level in about 1 week.

📄 Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility 165 words ▾

Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility Ursodeoxycholic acid was tested in 2-year oral carcinogenicity studies in CD-1 mice and Sprague-Dawley rats at daily doses of 50, 250, and 1000 mg/kg/day. It was not tumorigenic in mice. In the rat study, it produced statistically significant dose-related increased incidences of pheochromocytomas of adrenal medulla in males (p = 0.014, Peto trend test) and females (p = 0.004, Peto trend test).

A 78-week rat study employing intrarectal instillation of lithocholic acid and tauro-deoxycholic acid, metabolites of ursodiol and chenodiol, has been conducted. These bile acids alone did not produce any tumors. A tumor-promoting effect of both metabolites was observed when they were co-administered with a carcinogenic agent.

Results of epidemiologic studies suggest that bile acids might be involved in the pathogenesis of human colon cancer in patients who had undergone a cholecystectomy, but direct evidence is lacking. Ursodiol is not mutagenic in the Ames test. Dietary administration of lithocholic acid to chickens is reported to cause hepatic adenomatous hyperplasia.

📄 Package Label / Principal Display Panel 25 words ▾

PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL NDC 0591-3159-01 Ursodiol Capsules, USP 300 mg Rx only 100 Capsules teva NDC 0591-3159-01 Ursodiol Capsules, USP 300 mg 100 Capsules teva

Source: FDA Structured Product Labeling, mirrored from DailyMed / openFDA. Prefer the government’s original formatting? View this label on DailyMed ↗

Medicaid utilization by pack size

Medicaid (SDUD) totals over the four most recent reported quarters for every package size of this drug — handy when a specific package (e.g. a starter/titration pack) carries little or no Medicaid volume on its own.
100 capsules00591-3159-01 4,033 Rx · $189,410
12000 capsules00591-3159-00 No Medicaid data
11210 capsules this page00591-3159-77 No Medicaid data
Drug total (last 4 qtrs): 4,033 Rx · 302,611 units · $189,410 gross reimbursed
Tap a pack size to open its page. Source: CMS State Drug Utilization Data, last 4 quarters.

Medicare Part D spend CMS · PART D · 2026 (Q1)

Medicare Part D (outpatient prescription) spending for Ursodiol (matched by generic name) — the program that covers self-administered drugs. 18 manufacturers.
⚠️ Drug-level data: CMS publishes Part D spending by drug, not by NDC — these figures combine every manufacturer, strength and package size sold under the name Ursodiol. CMS lists 2 products for this generic; we show the highest-spend one. That’s a different level of aggregation than the Medicaid card above, which is specific to this exact 11-digit NDC (pack size included), so the two aren’t directly comparable.
Period
Total Part D spend
$19.22M
Claims incl. refills
135.9K
Beneficiaries
83.7K
Spend / beneficiary
$229.71
Spend / claim
$141.44
Trend by period
💵 About the dollar figures: spending is what Part D plans paid before confidential manufacturer rebates, so the program’s real net cost is lower. A blank patient count means fewer than 11 people — CMS hides counts that small to protect privacy. Source: CMS Medicare Quarterly Part D Spending by Drug (data.cms.gov), updated quarterly.

About this NDC listing & data coverage

Listed for further processing / repackaging

What "drug for further processing" means

FDA lists this package under the "drug for further processing" marketing category: Actavis Pharma, Inc. supplies it to other companies for further processing or repackaging (blister cards that are later repackaged or co-packaged are a common example). The units themselves are a finished dosage form — which is why pricing or Medicaid data can still appear — but this exact package code may not be the presentation a retail pharmacy dispenses.

What data is (and isn’t) available for this NDC — tap to expand
NDC identity (package / product / labeler codes) ✓ Available
Labeler ✓ Available
Product & package description ✓ Available
Marketing category & status ✓ Available
Active ingredient / dosage form / route ✓ Available
FDA label (SPL via DailyMed) ✓ Available
Package photos ✓ Available
Inactive ingredients (structured) ✓ Available
NADAC pharmacy acquisition price (CMS) — Not published for this NDC CMS publishes NADAC only for NDCs reported in its retail-pharmacy survey.
Orange Book / therapeutic-equivalence data — Not published for this NDC Applies only to products approved under an NDA/ANDA; many listings are out of scope.
HCPCS J-code billing crosswalk — Not published for this NDC Most self-administered / retail products have no J-code — that is normal.
Medicaid utilization (CMS SDUD) — Not published for this NDC CMS reports utilization only for NDCs with Medicaid claims above its privacy threshold.
“Not published” reflects what the public FDA / CMS / NLM sources provide for this exact package code — it is a property of the data feeds, not a judgment about the product.

Questions about this listing

Is this NDC FDA-approved?
An NDC listing does not by itself establish FDA approval — the NDC Directory records that a product is listed with FDA, not that it was reviewed and approved. This listing's marketing category is "Drug For Further Processing". Products approved under an application carry an NDA, ANDA, or BLA number.
Why is there no price listed?
The pricing shown on our NDC pages comes from CMS NADAC, a voluntary survey of retail community pharmacy invoices. CMS does not publish a NADAC for every NDC — packages outside the retail survey (institutional and hospital products, bulk packages, discontinued items, and many OTC items) may never receive one. A missing price reflects the survey's scope, not this product's actual cost, and does not mean the product is free or unavailable.
Is the NDC printed on the package the same as the 11-digit billing NDC?
Yes, they identify this exact package in different formats. The form printed on the packaging and shown on DailyMed is the one the FDA registered. Insurance claims use a fixed 11-digit 5-4-2 format, so the short segment is padded with a leading zero and the dashes are dropped. The Identity section at the top of this page lists each form of this code.
Is this package still being marketed?
Yes, per the latest FDA NDC Directory data on this page: this package is listed as actively marketed, with no marketing end date reported by Actavis Pharma, Inc.. Listing status can change — the directory data on this page refreshes weekly.
Does this product come in other package sizes?
Yes — the FDA directory lists 2 other package presentations of this same product, including 100 capsules (00591-3159-01), 12000 capsules (00591-3159-00). Each has its own NDC and its own page — see the package list near the top of this page.
Who lists this product with the FDA?
Actavis Pharma, Inc. is the labeler of record for this NDC — the company under whose FDA-assigned code the package is listed. The labeler may be the manufacturer itself or a distributor marketing the product under its own code.
This page identifies an FDA-listed package (the NDC) and reports public regulatory and pricing data about the listing. It is reference information, not a medical recommendation — talk to your pharmacist or prescriber about your own medication.
Where does this data come from?
Listing facts (marketing category, packager status, marketing dates) from the FDA openFDA NDC Directory; label availability from DailyMed; pricing coverage from CMS NADAC; equivalence scope from the FDA Orange Book.
← 00591-3153-01 · Actavis 00591-3216-30 · Actavis →
For educational and professional reference only — not medical advice. Pricing reflects published NADAC and CMS ASP (free public data) and may differ from your acquisition cost; always verify before billing or dispensing.