The present disclosure relates to methods and compositions to offset, ameliorate and/or alleviate one or more unwanted and/or adverse gastrointestinal effects. For example, in some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to compositions that include a bile acid, a carbohydrate and/or a pharmaceutical compound, wherein the pharmaceutical is associated with an adverse gastrointestinal effect in a subject (e.g., mammal or human). Non-limiting examples of pharmaceutical compounds may include a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, a gastric irritating drug (e.g., an antibiotic, an adrenal cortocoid steroid and an anti-cancer drug) and combinations thereof. The disclosure further relates to methods of ameliorating or eliminating at least one adverse gastrointestinal effects of a composition, comprising administering to a subject an aqueous solution comprising a bile acid and a carbohydrate.