Gemfibrozil
Brand names
- Apo-Gemfibrozil
- Gemcor
- Gem-Gemfibrozil
- Lopid
- Med-Gemfibrozil
- Novo-Gemfibrozil
- Nu-Gemfibrozil
- PMS-Gemfibrozil
Usage
To treat high levels of
blood
triglyceride. Usually prescribed after other
treatments-including diet, weight
loss, exercise, and control of
diabetes (when present)-fail
to lower triglyceride levels
adequately.
How it works
Gemfibrozil speeds the
removal of triglycerides from
the lipoprotein known as
very-low-density lipoprotein
(VLDL), which is converted to
low-density lipoprotein (LDL).
In some people total and LDL cholesterol levels may rise
while triglycerides fall.
Side effects
- Serious
- Muscle aches and tenderness; crampy abdominal pain,
especially in the area under the ribs on the right side, with
nausea and vomiting (this is an uncommon, serious side
effect that may indicate gallbladder disease); decreased
urine output.
- Common
- Diarrhea, nausea,
gas, abdominal discomfort.
- Less common
- Decreased sexual ability; headache; weight gain; feelings
similar to the flu, with muscle aches or
cramps, weakness,
and unusual tiredness; inflammation of mouth and lips;
heartburn.
Possible interactions
- Other medicaments:
Gemfibrozil taken concurrently with:
- ritonavir (Norvir) may risk gemfibrozil toxicity.
Gemfibrozil may increase the effects of:
- glyburide (Micronase) and other oral antidiabetic medicaments.
- lovastatin and HMG-CoA type medicaments, which may increase
muscle damage risk (myopathy) if taken at the same time.
- warfarin (Coumadin) and increase the risk of
bleeding; increased frequency
of INR (prothrombin time or protime) measurements and dose changes
based on results are critical.
Gemfibrozil may decrease the effects of:
- chenodiol (Chenix), reducing its benefit in
gallstone therapy.
- colestipol (Colestid); separate doses by two hours.
- Foods:
- Follow the diet prescribed by your physician.
- Herbal medicines or minerals:
- No data exist from well-designed clinical studies
about garlic and gemfibrozil combinations and can not presently be
recommended. The FDA allowed one dietary supplement called Cholestin to
continue to be sold. This preparation actually contains lovastatin. Since
use of an HMG-CoA inhibitor with gemfibrozil may increase risk of
rhabdomyolysis or myopathy, the combination is not advised. One study found
that niacin (Niaspan form) worked to increase HDL levels more than gemfibrozil.
This may represent a complementary combination.
- Discontinuation:
- If triglyceride lowering does not occur after 3 months, this
medicament should be stopped.
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