gemfibrozil at a glance
Medicine class
Fibrate lipid-regulating treatment
Food
Take before food because meals can alter absorption
Monitoring
Blood lipids, liver function and blood counts require monitoring
What is gemfibrozil used for?
Licensed uses, alongside diet and other appropriate non-drug measures, include:
Severe hypertriglyceridaemia, with or without low HDL cholesterol.
Mixed hyperlipidaemia or primary hypercholesterolaemia when a statin is contraindicated or not tolerated.
Reducing cardiovascular morbidity in high-risk men with raised non-HDL cholesterol who have not had a cardiovascular event, when a statin is contraindicated or not tolerated.
How does gemfibrozil work?
Gemfibrozil promotes breakdown of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and reduces very-low-density lipoprotein production in the liver. This usually lowers triglycerides and can increase HDL cholesterol.
gemfibrozil preparations and strengths
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 600 mg
How to take gemfibrozil
Take gemfibrozil exactly as prescribed. Swallow the film-coated tablet by mouth before the relevant meal and continue the recommended lipid-lowering diet.
Check the dispensing label and pack leaflet for your prescribed instructions.
Do not change or stop treatment without discussing it with the prescriber.
Tell the prescriber or pharmacist about all other medicines before starting gemfibrozil.
gemfibrozil side effects
Common or expected effects
- Indigestion
- Diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting
- Abdominal pain, constipation or wind
- Headache or vertigo
- Rash or eczema
- Tiredness
Get urgent medical advice
- Allergic swelling affecting the face, mouth or airway
- Muscle pain, weakness or tenderness that may indicate myopathy or rhabdomyolysis
- Severe persistent abdominal pain that may indicate pancreatitis
- Yellow skin or eyes or other signs of liver injury
- Symptoms associated with gallstones or gallbladder inflammation
- Unusual bruising, bleeding, infections or marked tiredness associated with blood-cell disorders
gemfibrozil in pregnancy
Human pregnancy data are inadequate and the potential risk is unknown. Gemfibrozil should be used during pregnancy only when the prescriber considers it clearly necessary.
gemfibrozil while breastfeeding
It is unknown whether gemfibrozil enters human milk. The selected product should not be used while breastfeeding; discuss an alternative treatment or feeding plan with the prescriber.
gemfibrozil interactions
Gemfibrozil affects drug-metabolising enzymes and transport proteins, so all medicines should be checked.
Simvastatin
The combination is contraindicated because exposure and the risk of severe muscle injury increase.
Other statins
Combined treatment should generally be avoided because myopathy and rhabdomyolysis risk increases; some rosuvastatin use is specifically contraindicated.
Common questions about gemfibrozil
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is gemfibrozil a statin?
No. Gemfibrozil is a fibrate and acts differently from statins, although both can alter blood-lipid levels.
Can gemfibrozil be taken with simvastatin?
No. The combination is contraindicated because it substantially increases the risk of serious muscle injury.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.