Lopid is used to treat high cholesterol levels and triglycerides in the blood.
Cholesterol is a form of lipid, a waxy substance that helps your body make cells, vitamins, and hormones. Your liver synthesizes cholesterol to help with the healthy functions listed above. Additional cholesterol is introduced to the body through meat, poultry, and dairy products.
There are two types of cholesterol: high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) and low-density lipoproteins (LDLs). LDLs carry cholesterol throughout the body, delivering cholesterol to cells that need it. HDLs move excess LDLs back to the liver, where they are broken down and flushed from the body. While LDLs play a crucial role in cell health, they build up when the body has more cholesterol than the cells need. This buildup turns into plaque in the arteries (blood vessels). As plaque covers the artery walls, the blood vessels become narrow. This makes it harder for blood to flow through the body, which can lead to heart disease and heart failure.
Do not take gemfibrozil if you have severe renal impairment, active liver disease, gallbladder disease, are nursing, or have a known allergy to gemfibrozil.
Before taking gemfibrozil, 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.