fenofibrate

fen-oh-FYE-brate

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Antara


• Fenoglide


• Lipofen


• Lofibra


• Tricor


• Triglide

Available Dosage Forms:

• Tablet


• Capsule

Therapeutic Class: Antihyperlipidemic

Chemical Class: Fibric Acid

Uses For fenofibrate

Fenofibrate is used together with a proper diet to treat high cholesterol and triglyceride (fat-like substances) levels in the blood. This may help prevent the development of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) caused by high levels of triglycerides in the blood.

fenofibrate is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before Using fenofibrate

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For fenofibrate, the following should be considered:

In addition to its helpful effects in treating your medical problem, this type of medicine may have some harmful effects. Results of large studies using other agents that are similar to fenofibrate seem to suggest that fenofibrate may increase the patient's risk of cancer, pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), gallstones, and problems from gallbladder surgery. Studies with fenofibrate in rats found an increased risk of liver and pancreatic tumors when doses up to 6 times the human dose were given for a long time. Be sure you have discussed this with your doctor before taking fenofibrate.

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to fenofibrate or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of fenofibrate in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of fenofibrate in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving fenofibrate.

Pregnancy

	Pregnancy Category	Explanation
All Trimesters	C	Animal studies have shown an adverse effect and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR no animal studies have been conducted and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking fenofibrate, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using fenofibrate with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Acenocoumarol


• Anisindione


• Atorvastatin


• Cerivastatin


• Dicumarol


• Fluvastatin


• Lovastatin


• Phenindione


• Phenprocoumon


• Pitavastatin


• Pravastatin


• Rosuvastatin


• Simvastatin


• Warfarin

Using fenofibrate with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Colchicine


• Colestipol


• Cyclosporine


• Ezetimibe


• Glimepiride


• Rosiglitazone

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of fenofibrate. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Diabetes or


• Hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid)


• Kidney disease—Use with caution. May cause side effects to become worse.

• Blood clotting problems (e.g., deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism), history of or


• Muscle pain or tenderness, history of or


• Muscle weakness, history of—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

• Breastfeeding mothers or


• Gallbladder disease, or history of or


• Kidney disease, severe or


• Liver disease (including cirrhosis) or


• Liver enzymes, persistently elevated—Should not be used with these conditions.

Proper Use of fenofibrate

Use fenofibrate only as directed by your doctor. Do not use more of it, do not use it more often, or do not use it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.

In addition to fenofibrate, your doctor may change your diet to one that is low in fat, sugar, and cholesterol. Carefully follow your doctor's order about any special diet.

fenofibrate is usually taken once a day. Take the medicine at the same time each day to maintain the medication's effect.

Fenoglide®, Lipofen®, and Lofibra™ should be taken with a meal. Antara™, Tricor®, and Triglide™ can be taken with or without a meal.

Swallow Tricor® tablet whole. Do not break, crush, or chew it.

Dosing

The dose of fenofibrate will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of fenofibrate. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For oral dosage form (capsules):
  
  • For high cholesterol:
    
    • Adults—
      
      • Antara™: 130 milligrams (mg) once a day with a meal.
      
      
      • Lipofen®: At first, 150 mg once a day with a meal. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
      
      
      • Lofibra™: 200 mg once a day with a meal.
      
      
    
    
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    
    
  
  
  • For high triglycerides or fats:
    
    • Adults—
      
      • Antara™: At first, 43 milligrams (mg) once a day with a meal. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed.
      
      
      • Lipofen®: At first, 50 to 150 mg once a day with a meal. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 150 mg per day.
      
      
      • Lofibra™: At first, 67 mg once a day with a meal. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed.
      
      
    
    
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    
    
  
  

• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  
  • For high cholesterol:
    
    • Adults—
      
      • Fenoglide®: At first, 120 milligrams (mg) per day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
      
      
      • Tricor®: At first, 145 mg once a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
      
      
      • Triglide®: 160 mg once a day.
      
      
    
    
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    
    
  
  
  • For high triglycerides or fats:
    
    • Adults—
      
      • Fenoglide®: At first, 40 to 120 milligrams (mg) per day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 120 mg per day.
      
      
      • Tricor®: At first, 48 to 145 mg once a day. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed.
      
      
      • Triglide®: At first, 50 to 160 mg once a day. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed.
      
      
    
    
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    
    
  
  

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of fenofibrate, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Precautions While Using fenofibrate

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly to lower your cholesterol and triglyceride (fat) levels and to decide if you should continue to take it. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Check with your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if you also have unusual tiredness or a fever. These could be symptoms of a serious muscle problem called myopathy.

Stop using fenofibrate and check with your doctor right away if you have dark-colored urine, diarrhea, a fever, muscle cramps or spasms, muscle pain or stiffness, or feel very tired or weak. These could be symptoms of a serious muscle problem called rhabdomyolysis, which can cause kidney problems.

Pancreatitis may occur while you are using fenofibrate. Tell your doctor right away if you have sudden and severe stomach pain, chills, constipation, nausea, vomiting, fever, or lightheadedness.

fenofibrate may increase your risk of having gallstones. Check with your doctor right away if you have severe stomach pain with nausea and vomiting.

Serious skin reactions can occur with fenofibrate. Check with your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms while using fenofibrate: blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin; chills; diarrhea; itching; joint or muscle pain; rash; red skin lesions, often with a purple center; sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips; or unusual tiredness or weakness.

Check with your doctor right away if you have signs of a fever, chills, or sore throat. These could be symptoms of an infection resulting from low white blood cell counts, which may be caused by fenofibrate.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

fenofibrate Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common

• Chills


• fever


• hives


• itching


• muscle aches and pains


• nausea or vomiting


• skin rash

Rare

• Bloating or pain of the stomach


• chronic indigestion


• cough


• dark urine


• general ill feeling


• loss of appetite


• muscle cramps, pain, stiffness, swelling, or weakness


• shortness of breath or troubled breathing


• sore throat


• unusual bleeding or bruising


• unusual tiredness


• yellow eyes or skin

Incidence not known

• Bloody urine


• constipation


• decreased frequency or amount of urine


• difficulty with moving


• fast heartbeat


• general tiredness and weakness


• increased blood pressure


• increased thirst


• indigestion


• light-colored stools


• lower back or side pain


• muscle cramps or spasms


• pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back


• pale skin


• swelling of the face, fingers, or lower legs


• swollen joints


• troubled breathing


• troubled breathing with exertion


• upper right abdominal or stomach pain


• vomiting


• weight gain


• yellow eyes or skin

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

• Chest congestion


• difficulty with breathing


• runny nose


• sneezing


• sore throat


• stuffy nose

Less common

• Back pain


• belching


• decreased sexual drive


• diarrhea


• dizziness


• eye irritation


• gas


• headache


• increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight


• lack or loss of strength


• nausea

Incidence not known

• Lack or loss of strength

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: fenofibrate side effects (in more detail)

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More fenofibrate resources

• Fenofibrate Side Effects (in more detail)
• Fenofibrate Dosage
• Fenofibrate Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Drug Images
• Fenofibrate Drug Interactions
• Fenofibrate Support Group
• 16 Reviews for Fenofibrate - Add your own review/rating

• Fenofibrate Monograph (AHFS DI)


• Fenofibrate Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Fenofibrate MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Fenofibrate Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)


• Antara Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Fenoglide Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Lipofen Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Lipofen MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Lofibra Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Tricor Consumer Overview


• Tricor Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Triglide Prescribing Information (FDA)

Compare fenofibrate with other medications

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• Hypertriglyceridemia