To lower blood fatty substance levels like cholesterol and triglycerides and to increase blood levels of HDL (high-density lipoprotein; a type of fatty substance that lowers the risk of heart disease), fenofibrate is sometimes combined with a low-fat diet, exercise, and other medications. The atherosclerosis process, which involves the accumulation of cholesterol and lipids along artery walls, reduces blood flow to the heart, brain, and other organs, which reduces their ability to receive oxygen. Heart attacks, angina (chest discomfort), strokes, and other cardiovascular diseases are all made more likely as a result.The risk of heart attacks or strokes has not proved to be reduced by fenofibrate, despite the fact that it lowers the levels of fatty compounds in blood. The drug fenofibrate belongs to the group of drugs known as antilipemic agents. It functions by accelerating the body’s normal processes for eliminating cholesterol.

Fenofibrate is available as a tablet, a delayed-release (long-acting) capsule, and a capsule for oral administration. Typically, it is given once day. Fenoglide, Lipofen, and Lofibra are a few fenofibrate products that should be taken with food. Antara, Fibricor, Tricor, Triglide, and Trilipix are examples of other brands that can be taken with or without food. If you are unsure if you should take your prescription with meals, see your doctor or pharmacist. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Fenofibrate should only be used as prescribed. Never take it in larger or less amounts or more frequently than directed by your doctor.

In order to measure the amount of fatty compounds in your blood, your doctor will likely start you on an average dose of fenofibrate. Depending on the findings of these tests, your doctor may then increase or reduce your dose. If your test results do not improve after two months, your doctor might advise you to stop taking fenofibrate.

Do not split, chew, or crush the delayed-release pills; instead, swallow them whole.

Do not use any cracked or chipped Triglide tablets if you are taking them.

Only if you continue taking fenofibrate will it assist reduce the level of fatty compounds in your blood. Even if you are feeling good, keep taking fenofibrate. Without consulting your doctor, do not stop taking fenofibrate.

Other prescriptions for this drug are possible. For more information, consult your physician or pharmacist.

Before taking fenofibrate,

• If you have an allergy to any fenofibrate products, any other drugs, or any of the substances in the fenofibrate product you’re taking, let your doctor and pharmacist know right once. Request a list of the components from your pharmacist.
• Inform your doctor and pharmacist about any vitamins, nutritional supplements, herbal items, and prescription and over-the-counter drugs you are now taking or intend to take. Any of the following should be mentioned: Warfarin (Coumadin), colchicine (Colcrys, in Col-Probenecid), and diuretics (water pills) are examples of anticoagulants (also known as “blood thinners”); atenolol (Tenormin), labetalol (Normodyne), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), nadolol (Corgard), and propranolol (Inderal) are examples of beta blockers; cholesterol-lowering HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors such atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin (Crestor), and simvastatin (Zocor); hormone replacement therapy, hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills, patches, implants, rings, and injections), and immunosuppressants like tacrolimus (Prograf) and cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral) are all examples of hormonal contraceptives.Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects.
• Take bile acid resins such as cholestyramine (Questran), colesevelam (WelChol), or colestipol (Colestid) one hour after or four to six hours before fenofibrate.
• If you have or have previously had kidney, liver, or gallbladder illness, let your doctor know. Most likely, your doctor will advise against using fenofibrate.
• Inform your doctor if you consume considerable amounts of alcohol now or in the past, as well as if you have diabetes or hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland).
• If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, let your doctor know. Call your doctor if you become pregnant while taking fenofibrate.
• If you are breastfeeding, let your doctor know. While taking fenofibrate, breastfeeding should not be done.

Eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. Make sure to abide by all dietary and exercise advice given to you by your physician or nutritionist. For more dietary advice, you can also refer to the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) website at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/chol/chol_tlc.pdf.

If you miss a dosage, take it as soon as you recall. If the next dose is soon due, skip the missed one and carry on with your regular dosing plan. To make up for a missing dose, do not take a second one.

Side effects are possible with fenofibrate. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Heartburn
• Pain in the back, arm, or legs
• Headache
• Joints hurt

Some adverse effects can be very harmful. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

• Muscular discomfort, weakness, or tenderness; fever
• Skin that is swollen or peeling
• Rash, fever, respiratory issues, altered urine patterns, and stomach pain
• Hives
• Stomach ache, particularly in the upper right quadrant of the stomach; nausea; vomiting; pain in the upper back between the shoulder blades or beneath the right shoulder
• Pain, tenderness, swelling, or warmth in one leg
• Breathlessness, breathing pain, and bloody cough
• Difficulty swallowing or breathing; swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, and eyes; and hoarseness

Fenofibrate may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while you are taking fenofibrate.

The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program is available online at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch or by phone at 1-800-332-1088 if you or your doctor notice a serious side effect.

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Keep it at room temperature and out of the bathroom and other places with excessive heat and moisture.

As many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning.http://www.upandaway.org

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilizing a medicine take-back program is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programs in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back program, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Additionally, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Keep all of your appointments with your physician and the lab. To determine how you are responding to fenofibrate, your doctor will request a few laboratory tests.

No one else should take your medication. Any queries you may have regarding medication refills should be directed to your pharmacist.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.