Fibrates
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 - fibratesFibrates 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.
Triglyceride
The triglyceride level is a blood test to measure the amount of triglycerides in your blood. Triglycerides are a type of fat. Your body makes some t...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleCholesterol
Your body needs cholesterol to work well. But cholesterol levels that are too high can harm you. In the US, blood cholesterol is most often measured...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleHigh triglycerides along with low HDL cholesterol increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
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.
Statins
Statins are medicines that help lower the amount of cholesterol and other fats in your blood. Statins work by:Lowering LDL (bad) cholesterolRaising ...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleSome 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.
Pancreatitis
Acute pancreatitis is sudden swelling and inflammation of the pancreas.
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleFibrates 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:
Fat in your diet
A healthy diet is an important factor in reducing your risk for heart disease.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article- 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.