A fibrate that lowers blood fats
Gemfibrozil
A fibrate medicine used to lower high levels of blood fats, especially triglycerides.
What is Gemfibrozil?
Gemfibrozil is a fibrate, a medicine that lowers fats in the blood, particularly triglycerides, and can also improve cholesterol levels. It is used when high blood fats are not controlled by diet and lifestyle alone, often in people at risk of complications from very high triglycerides. It is taken by mouth before meals. The most important safety points are a risk of muscle problems, which is greater if it is combined with a statin, a risk of gallstones, and stomach upset, so certain statin combinations are avoided.
Education and reference only. This is a plain-language guide to Gemfibrozil — it deliberately contains no doses. Doses depend on the person, the brand and the reason for treatment, and belong with your prescriber. Always check the BNF, the product labelling (SmPC) and follow medical advice.
What it is
Gemfibrozil is one of the fibrate medicines, used to lower raised levels of fats in the blood. It is especially good at bringing down triglycerides, a type of blood fat that, when very high, can increase the risk of problems such as inflammation of the pancreas, and it can also raise the helpful type of cholesterol. It is generally used when diet, exercise and weight management have not been enough, sometimes in people who cannot get their blood fats under control with other treatments. It is taken by mouth as a tablet or capsule, usually before food, under a prescriber's guidance.
How it works
Gemfibrozil acts on the way the body handles fats, helping it break down and clear triglyceride-rich particles from the blood while also nudging up the helpful type of cholesterol. By lowering triglycerides in particular, it reduces the risks linked to very high levels, such as inflammation of the pancreas. Because it changes fat handling in the liver and affects how some other medicines are processed, it interacts with certain treatments, most importantly some statins, where the combination raises the risk of muscle problems. It is taken regularly as part of a wider plan that also includes diet and lifestyle changes.
Company & origin
Originated / developed by: Generic manufacturers.
A medicine used in the UK to lower high levels of blood fats, particularly triglycerides, usually when other measures are not enough.
What it treats
Conditions Gemfibrozil is used for
Practical use
How to take Gemfibrozil
General, dose-free guidance — always follow your prescriber's and the leaflet's specific instructions.
- Take it by mouth as prescribed, usually shortly before meals.
- Continue with the diet, exercise and weight changes you are advised, as the medicine works alongside them.
- Report any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness straight away, especially with dark urine.
- Give your prescriber a full list of your medicines, as gemfibrozil must not be combined with certain statins.
- Mention any tummy pain, as gemfibrozil can increase the chance of gallstones.
Weighing it up
Advantages & disadvantages of Gemfibrozil
Advantages
- An effective way to lower high triglycerides and reduce the risks linked to very high levels.
- Can also raise the helpful type of cholesterol.
- Taken by mouth and used when diet and lifestyle alone are not enough.
Disadvantages
- Carries a risk of muscle problems, which is much greater if combined with a statin.
- Must not be used together with certain statins.
- Can increase the chance of gallstones and commonly causes stomach upset.
Practical use
Good to know
The single most important safety point with gemfibrozil is the risk of muscle problems. On its own this risk is small, but it rises sharply when gemfibrozil is combined with a statin, and for that reason gemfibrozil must not be used with certain statins at all. Any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness, especially with dark urine or feeling unwell, should be reported straight away. Gemfibrozil can also increase the chance of gallstones, so tummy pain should be mentioned, and it commonly causes mild stomach upset, which often settles. It is usually taken before meals. Because it interacts with several medicines, including blood thinners and some diabetes treatments, it is important to give a full list of what you take, and blood tests are used to check the liver and how well it is working.
Who should not take it / use with caution
- It must not be used with certain statins, because the combination greatly raises the risk of muscle problems.
- People with significant liver or gallbladder problems should generally not take it.
- People with severe kidney problems should generally not take it.
- People who have had a serious allergic reaction to it should not take it.
Monitoring
- Blood tests to check blood-fat levels and how well treatment is working.
- Checks on liver function, and on kidney function where relevant.
- Watching for muscle symptoms, especially if any statin is also being taken.
Side effects
- Stomach upset, such as nausea, indigestion or diarrhoea, which often settles.
- Muscle pain, tenderness or weakness, which should be reported, especially with statins.
- Gallstones, which can cause tummy pain.
- Rarely, serious muscle breakdown or changes in liver or blood tests, which need attention.
Key interactions
- It must not be combined with certain statins because of the high risk of muscle problems.
- It can increase the effect of blood-thinning medicines, so these may need closer monitoring.
- It can affect some diabetes medicines, increasing the risk of low blood sugar, so tell your prescriber.
Available as: Tablets and capsules taken by mouth.
Answers
Gemfibrozil: frequently asked questions
What is gemfibrozil used for?
It is a fibrate used to lower high levels of blood fats, especially triglycerides, usually when diet and lifestyle alone have not been enough; it can also raise the helpful type of cholesterol.
Can I take it with a statin?
Gemfibrozil must not be combined with certain statins because the mixture greatly raises the risk of serious muscle problems; always give your prescriber your full medicines list.
What muscle symptoms should I watch for?
Report any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness straight away, especially if it comes with dark urine or feeling generally unwell.
Does it cause gallstones?
It can increase the chance of gallstones, so mention any tummy pain to your prescriber so it can be checked.
When should I take it?
It is usually taken by mouth shortly before meals, as your prescriber directs, alongside diet and lifestyle changes.
The wider class
About Fibrate (lipid-lowering medicine)
Gemfibrozil belongs to the fibrate (lipid-lowering medicine) class. For how the class as a whole works, its shared safety principles and monitoring, see the full guide.
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Authoritative sources
- BNF
- NICE CKS
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