if you have a medical condition and your doctor feels you shouldn't have gallstone surgery he or she may prescribe the medications ursodiol (actigall) or chenodiol (chenix). these drugs work by dissolving cholesterol stones. mild diarrhea is a side effect of both medications. the downside of using either medication is that you may have to take it for years to completely dissolve the stones. in addition the stones may come back after you stop taking the drug.
are there any nonsurgical treatments for gallstones?