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Gemfibrozil

Drug Class: Commonly Known As: Category:
Gemfibrozil Gemfibrozil Adult

Gemfibrozil - Side Effects, Precautions, and Contraindications

What side effects can Gemfibrozil cause?

  • ​Nausea
  • Heartburn, stomach pain
  • Constipation, diarrhoea
  • Joint pain, muscle pain, back pain
  • Skin rashes
  • Headache

Inform your healthcare professional of these side-effects do not go away and interfere with your daily life.

Rare but serious side effects that need to seek medical advice immediately

Very rarely, fibrates may cause muscle or liver problems. These symptoms may include one or more of the following:

  • Breakdown of muscles - unexplained, severe muscle pain that does not go away, muscle weakness/ cramps all over your body or dark tea-coloured urine.
  • Liver injury - Dark coloured urine, light coloured stools, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, yellowing of skin or eyes.

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:

  • Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
  • Difficulty in breathing
  • Itchy skin rashes over your whole body

If your experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.

Before taking Gemfibrozil , what precautions must I follow?

Inform your healthcare processional if:

  • You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication.
  • You are allergic to any other fibrates, or to any other medications.
  • You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
  • You have kidney, liver or gallbladder problems.
  • You have an underactive thyroid gland.
  • You are taking any other medications, including supplements, traditional medications and herbal remedies

What food or medicine must I avoid when I take Gemfibrozil ?

​​Some medications may interact with fibrates and affect their effectiveness or increase the risk of side-effects. However, these medications may also be important for your treatment. Inform your healthcare professional of the other medications you are currently taking. Examples include:

  • Medications for cholesterol-lowering (e.g. cholestyramine, colestipol, statins, ezetimibe)
  • Medications used to suppress immune system (e.g. cyclosporine, tacrolimus)
  • Warfarin, a type of blood-thinner
  • Specific medications used to treat diabetes (e.g. repaglinide, pioglitazone)
  • Medications for viral infection (e.g. VoseviTM containing voxilaprevir, zepatierTM containing grazoprevir, Viekira PakTM containing dasabuvir)
  • Specific medications used to treat cancer (e.g. dabrafenib, enzalutamide)
  • Selexipag, a medication used for pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs)

Gemfibrozil - Additional Information

  • Updated on 11/4/2020 12:00:00 AM
  • Article contributed by PSS National Medication Information Workgroup PSS National Medication Information Workgroup
The information provided is not intended as medical advice. Terms of use. Information provided by SingHealth

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