Fibrates

Description

Fibrates are medicines prescribed to help lower high triglyceride levels. Triglycerides are a type of fat in your blood. Fibrates also may help raise your HDL (good) cholesterol.

High triglycerides along with low HDL cholesterol increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Alternative Names

Antilipemic agent; Fenofibrate (Antara, Fenoglide, Lipofen, Tricor, and Triglide); Gemfibrozil (Lopid); Fenofibric acid (Trilipix); Hyperlipidemia - fibrates; Hardening of the arteries - fibrates; Cholesterol - fibrates; Hypercholesterolemia - fibrates; Dyslipidemia - fibrates

How Fibrates Help

Lowering cholesterol and triglycerides can help protect you from heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.

Statins are thought to be the best drugs to use for people who need medicines to lower their cholesterol.

Some fibrates may be prescribed along with statins to help lower cholesterol. However, some studies show that using certain fibrates along with statins may not help reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke more than using statins alone.

Fibrates may also be used to help lower very high triglycerides in people at risk for pancreatitis.

Fibrates are prescribed only to adults.

How to Take Fibrates

Take your medicine as directed. It is generally taken 1 time per day. Do not stop taking your medicine without first talking with your health care provider.

The medicine comes in liquid-filled capsule or tablet form. Do not open capsules, chew, or crush tablets before taking.

Read the instructions on your medicine label. Some brands should be taken with food. Others may be taken with, or without food.

Store all of your medicines in a cool, dry place.

Follow a healthy diet while taking fibrates. This includes eating less fat in your diet. Other ways you can help your heart include:

  • Getting regular exercise
  • Managing stress
  • Quitting smoking

Know Your Risks

Before you start taking fibrates, tell your provider if you:

  • Are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. Nursing mothers should not take this medicine.
  • Have allergies.
  • Are taking other medicines.
  • Plan to have surgery or dental work.
  • Have diabetes.

If you have liver, gallbladder, or kidney conditions, you should not take fibrates.

Tell your provider about all of your medicines, supplements, vitamins, and herbs. Certain medicines may interact with fibrates. Be sure to tell your provider before taking any new medicines.

Regular blood tests will help you and your provider:

  • See how well the medicine is working
  • Monitor for side effects, such as liver problems

Side Effects

Possible side effects may include:

  • Headache
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Dizziness
  • Stomach pain

When to Call the Doctor

Contact your provider if you notice:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Muscle pain or tenderness
  • Weakness
  • Yellowing of the skin (jaundice)
  • Skin rash
  • Other new symptoms

References

American Heart Association website. Cholesterol medications. www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/prevention-and-treatment-of-high-cholesterol-hyperlipidemia/cholesterol-medications. Updated February 20, 2024. Accessed March 5, 2024.

Arnett DK, Blumenthal RS, Albert MA, et al. 2019 ACC/AHA Guideline on the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on clinical practice guidelines. Circulation. 2019;140(11):e596-e646. PMID: 30879355 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30879355/.

Genest J, Mora S, Libby P. Lipoprotein disorders and cardiovascular disease. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 27.

Ginsberg HN. Special patient populations: diabetes and metabolic syndrome. In: Ballantyne CM, ed. Clinical Lipidology: A Companion to Braunwald's Heart Disease. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 31.

Grundy SM, Stone NJ, Bailey AL, et al. 2018 AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA guideline on the management of blood cholesterol: executive summary: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2019;73(24):3234-3237. PMID: 30423391 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30423391/.

Nambi V, Ballantyne CM, Jones PH. Overview of general approach to management of dyslipidemias. In: Ballantyne CM, ed. Clinical Lipidology: A Companion to Braunwald's Heart Disease. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 11.

Review Date: 2/27/2024
Reviewed By: Thomas S. Metkus, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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