The gallbladder is a sac that is located under the liver. Its function is to store and concentrate bile — a fluid that helps in the digestion of fats — produced in the liver. Gallbladder disease arises when the flow of bile out of the gallbladder is slowed or obstructed. Gallbladder disease encompasses two types of conditions: cholecystitis and cholelithiasis. Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder; cholelithiasis a condition that results in gallstones. Symptoms of gallbladder disease include abdominal fullness, gas, abdominal pain, fever, nausea and vomiting, and heartburn, among others.
Acute cholecystitis, also known as gallstones, involves a sudden inflammation of the gallbladder that causes severe abdominal pain. Approximately 90% of acute cholecystitis cases are caused by gallstones in the gallbladder; these gallstones obstruct the duct leading from the gallbladder to the common bile duct. Causes of acute cholecystitis include severe illness, alcohol abuse, and gallbladder tumors. Gallstones are more common in women than men; however, they become more common with age in both males and females. Symptoms include abdominal pain (especially after a fatty meal), nausea, vomiting, or fever.
Commonly Prescribed (On-Label) Drugs: None
Off-Label Prescription Drug Breakthrough Option: Indomethacin
Biliary colic is a condition that is characterized by extreme cramping in the right upper part of the abdomen as a result of gallstones in the gallbladder or bile ducts. Approximately one third of people with gallstones develop biliary colic or other complications. Risk factors include overweight individuals, those with high cholesterol, pregnant women, women taking birth control pills or estrogen replacement therapy, and persons with diabetes, among others. Other symptoms include nausea after eating a fatty meal, indigestion, and gas.
Commonly Prescribed (On-Label) Drugs: None
Off-Label Prescription Drug Breakthrough Option: Diclofenac Sodium
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