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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.