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Product Overview
Fenofibrate (generic Tricor)
What is fenofibrate? Fenofibrate is a prescription drug used to treat elevated high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor. Fenofibrate is often prescribed alongside recommended lifestyle changes, like improving your diet and increasing your exercise.
Talk to your doctor about whether fenofibrate may be right for you.
What are common side effects of fenofibrate? While adverse reactions to fenofibrate are rare, some patients who take the drug may experience mild side effects, including pain in the back, arms, legs, or joints; headache; constipation; diarrhea; and heartburn.
Rare, more serious adverse events have been known to occur. If you are concerned that fenofibrate may be causing you to experience any number of these side effects, please contact your doctor.
This is not a complete list of side effects. If you are concerned about additional side effects, please contact your provider directly.
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Medically Reviewed By Dr. Allison Edwards, MD
Frequently asked questions about Fenofibrate
What is fenofibrate?
Fenofibrate is a prescription drug used to treat elevated high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor. Fenofibrate is often prescribed alongside recommended lifestyle changes, like improving your diet and increasing your exercise.
Cholesterol and triglycerides can build up in the blood, restricting the blood flow and oxygen to the brain, heart, and other parts of the body. This can increase your risk of developing heart disease, stroke, heart attacks, and angina. While taking fenofibrate can help decrease the fatty substances in the blood and reduce your risk of pancreas disease, fenofibrate does not reduce your risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Talk to your doctor about whether fenofibrate may be right for you.
What is fenofibrate used to treat?
Fenofibrate is used to treat high levels of cholesterol and/or triglycerides in the blood. Do not take fenofibrate if you have severe renal impairment, active liver disease, gallbladder disease, or have a known allergy to the medication. Fenofibrate should not be taken if you are nursing.
Before taking fenofibrate, tell your doctor if you are taking any other medication, vitamins, supplements, or herbal products, if you have a history of liver disease, diabetes, kidney disease, gallbladder disease, or heart disease, or if you are breastfeeding, pregnant, or plan to become pregnant.
How does fenofibrate work?
Fenofibrate works by increasing natural enzymes that break down unhealthy fats in the blood. Fenofibrate belongs to a family of medications known as antilipemic agents, which work by speeding up the natural process of removing unwanted fats from the blood.
What are the most common side effects of fenofibrate?
While adverse reactions to fenofibrate are rare, some patients who take the drug may experience mild side effects, including:
Pain in the back, arms, legs, or joints
Headache
Constipation
Diarrhea
Heartburn
If any of these symptoms are severe or persist, tell your doctor.
Call your doctor immediately if you experience any serious side effects, which include:
Fever with muscle pain, weakness, or tenderness
Fever accompanied by a rash, trouble breathing, pain in the abdomen, or changes in your urination
Hives
Vomiting or nausea accompanied by pain between the shoulder blades, or under the right shoulder, or stomach pain (especially in the upper right area of the stomach)
Pain, tenderness, warmth, redness or swelling in one leg
Shortness of breath, coughing up blood, or pain when breathing
Difficulty swallowing or breathing along with swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, and eyes
Peeling or blistering skin
Do not discontinue or increase your dosage of fenofibrate without consulting your doctor first. Take the medication exactly as prescribed, and inform your doctor if you begin to experience any side effects while taking the medication.
This is not a complete list of side effects. For more information on adverse effects you may experience while taking fenofibrate, please visit the National Institutes of Health’s DailyMed webpage.
How long does it take for fenofibrate to work?
When using fenofibrate, it takes about one week for levels of fat in the blood to stabilize, though it may take several weeks to see the effects of fenofibrate on cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
What is the typical starting dose of fenofibrate?
The typical starting dose ranges from 48 to 145 mg per day. There are a number of considerations that help determine the proper starting dose. These include:
Diet
Excess body weight
Excess alcohol usage
Level of physical exercise
Diagnosis
Fenofibrate may be taken with or without food, and with a full glass of water (8 ounces), unless your doctor directs you otherwise. Taking it with a meal containing 8 grams of fat will help you absorb the medication.
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with Fenofibrate.
Can I get fenofibrate over-the-counter?
Fenofibrate is currently only available via prescription. This means the use of this drug must be authorized by a licensed health care provider.
Providers on Sesame can write a prescription – or refill an existing one – during a virtual or in-person visit. Depending on the medication, you can arrange for same-day pickup at a pharmacy near you. Book an online consultation with a real, licensed provider on Sesame today to determine whether or not fenofibrate is right for you.
Note that all prescriptions are at the discretion of your health care provider. Providers on Sesame cannot prescribe controlled substances.
Can I get fenofibrate online?
Yes! Talk to a provider on Sesame and get your online doctor prescription or refill ordered right away for fast and convenient pickup from a pharmacy of your choice.
Note that all prescriptions are at the discretion of your clinician.
What medications are available to treat high cholesterol?