Drug Name

Lopid (Gemfibrozil)

Drug Uses

Lopid (also known as a fibrate medication) is used along with a proper diet to help lower fats (triglycerides) as well as cholesterol in the blood. This drug is usually prescribed after non-drug treatment options possess not been fully successful at lowering cholesterol (e.g., diet change, increase in exercise, weight loss incase overweight). This drug is thought to work by decreasing the amount of overweight produced by the liver. Reducing cholesterol as well as triglycerides lowers the risk of heart disease as well as helps halt strokes as well as heart attacks. This drug as well as helps to halt pancreas disease (pancreatitis) in patients with very high blood levels of triglycerides.

How Taken

Take this medication by mouth usually twice a day, 30 minutes before your morning as well as evening meals, or as directed by your doctor. Dosage is based on your health examination condition as well as response to therapy. Take this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. Remember to take it at the alike times each day. It may take between 1-3 months before the filled benefit of this drug takes effect. It is substantial to continue using this medication even incase you feel well. Most people with high triglycerides or cholesterol do not feel sick.

Drug Class as well as Mechanism

opid is a lipid- as well as cholesterol-modifying medicine. It reduces triglycerides as well as increases cholesterol carried in high density lipoprotein (HDL) in the blood. HDL cholesterol is sometimes called "good" cholesterol because higher concentrations of HDL cholesterol in the blood are associated with a reduced risk of heart disease. The decrease in triglycerides is thought to be due in part to reduced release of triglycerides from overweight tissue in the body. In one large study, lopid decreased the risk of heart attacks but did not affect the overall survival of persons with high cholesterols.

Missed Dose

Incase you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Incase it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose as well as resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Storage

Store the US product at room temperature between 68-77 degrees F (20-25 degrees C) away from light as well as moisture. Store the Canadian product at room temperature between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from light as well as moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children as well as pets.

Warnings/Precautions

Before using lopid, tell your doctor or pharmacist incase you are allergic to it, or incase you possess any other allergies. This medication should not be used incase you possess confident health examination conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist incase you have: liver disease (e.g., primary biliary cirrhosis), gallbladder disease, very bad kidney disease. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your health examination history, especially of: diabetes (poorly controlled), underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), alcohol take. The rare development of very bad muscle damage (see Side Effects) can infrequently lead to humorless kidney problems. This medication is usually stopped temporarily incase you possess any condition which can increase your risk of developing kidney problems. Before stopping your medication, notify your doctor immediately incase you possess any of the following conditions: major surgery, trauma, humorless illness (e.g., sepsis, very bad metabolic/endocrine/electrolyte disorders), very abridged blood pressure, uncontrolled seizures. This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy; take caution engaging in activities requiring alertness such as driving or using machinery. Limit alcoholic beverages. This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Discuss the risks as well as benefits with your doctor. It is not known whether this drug passes into breast milk. Breast-feeding is not recommended while using this drug. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Likely Side Effects

Stomach/abdominal upset or pain, dizziness, drowsiness, unusual taste, numbness/tingling of hands/feet, or blurred vision may occur. Incase any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Tell your doctor immediately incase any of these humorless side effects occur: decreased sexual desire or ability, depression. Tell your doctor immediately incase any of these highly unlikely but very humorless side effects occur: signs of infection (e.g. fever, persistent sore throat), easy bruising/bleeding, unusual fatigue, irregular heartbeat. This medication may infrequently cause muscle damage (which can rarely lead to a very humorless, possibly fatal, condition called rhabdomyolysis). Halt using this drug as well as tell your doctor immediately incase you develop: muscle pain/tenderness/weakness (especially with fever or unusual tiredness), unusual change in the amount of urine. This drug may infrequently cause abdominal problems (e.g., gallstones, gallbladder disease requiring surgery). Halt using this drug as well as tell your doctor immediately incase you develop: very bad stomach/abdominal pain, persistent nausea/vomiting, yellowing eyes or skin, not light urine, unusual tiredness. A humorless allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate health examination attention incase it occurs. Symptoms of a humorless allergic reaction include: rash, itching, swelling, very bad dizziness, trouble breathing. Incase you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

More Information

Do not share this medication with others. Laboratory and/or health examination tests (e.g., blood triglyceride as well as cholesterol levels, liver function tests, total blood count, fasting blood sugar levels or FBS) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details. For best results this medication should be used along with exercise, a low-fat/low-cholesterol diet, as well as weight loss program incase you are overweight. In addition, check your blood pressure regularly, seek health examination treatment incase your blood pressure is high, as well as halt smoking to further help reduce your risk for a heart attack or stroke. Consult your doctor for more details.