title: Urolithiasis--medical therapies.
abstract: This review paper provides a summary of medical therapies available for urolithiasis. The summary includes general medical advice, prophylactic medications, dissolution therapy and medical expulsion therapy. The paper is designed to provide a management strategy for all physicians who treat urolithiasis, from general practitioners, to emergency physicians, to urologists.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  • To provide an up to date review of the literature in relation to the medical management of stone disease. This will encompass prophylaxis, dissolution therapy and medical expulsion therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  • First-time stone formers do not regularly have a full urine and electrolyte evaluation due to the low incidence of a reversible metabolic cause. • However, stone disease is common and over a lifetime urolithiasis can affect up to 10-15% of the population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  • Medical management of stone disease encompasses preventative measures, medical dissolution and medical expulsion therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • Recurrent stone formers should have dietary optimization to decrease the risk of further stones. • Furthermore, the correct use of prophylactic and therapeutic medications can decrease the morbidity associated with ureteric calculi.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Monash Medical Centre, Victoria, Australia. spernat1@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Spernat
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kourambas
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D052878:Urolithiasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control