Fenofibrate for hyperlipidaemia

About fenofibrate

Lípido es otra palabra para grasa. El colesterol y los triglicéridos son tipos de lípidos. Cuando la concentración de lípidos en la sangre es demasiado alta, se habla de hiperlipidemia. Los lípidos se producen de forma natural en nuestro organismo y también se absorben de los alimentos que ingerimos. Si los niveles de lípidos son demasiado altos, el exceso de grasa se deposita en las paredes de los vasos sanguíneos. Esto puede dar lugar a la aparición de pequeños bultos de grasa en el revestimiento de algunos vasos sanguíneos. Estas manchas pueden reducir el flujo sanguíneo y provocar cardiopatías, accidentes cerebrovasculares y problemas circulatorios.

High levels of lipids do not make people feel ill, but they can cause the problems mentioned above if left untreated. By lowering the levels of fats, fenofibrate helps to prevent these long-term heart and circulation problems. Your treatment will be more successful if you also follow the healthy lifestyle advice given by your doctor.

It is likely that you will be prescribed fenofibrate if you have a high level of a lipid called triglyceride. It may also be given for other types of hyperlipidaemia, especially if other medicines (called statins) are not suitable for you.

Sometimes, more than one medicine is needed to help control high blood lipids. A brand of fenofibrate called Cholib® also contains a statin medicine called simvastatin. For people who need to take a fibrate and a statin medicine, taking a combination brand like this helps to reduce the total number of tablets needed each day.

Before taking fenofibrate

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine can only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking fenofibrate it is important that your doctor knows:

• Si está embarazada, esperando un bebé o en período de lactancia.

• Si tiene problemas de funcionamiento de los riñones o del hígado.

• If you have problems with your gallbladder or pancreas.

• Si tiene una glándula tiroides hipoactiva.

• Si está tomando otros medicamentos. Esto incluye cualquier medicamento que esté tomando y que pueda adquirirse sin receta, así como medicamentos a base de plantas y complementarios.

• If you have ever had an allergic reaction to a medicine. It is particularly important that you tell your doctor if you have ever had a bad skin reaction to a medicine called ketoprofen (used to treat pain and swelling).

How to take fenofibrate

• Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about fenofibrate, and it will also provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you could experience from taking it.

• Take fenofibrate exactly as your doctor tells you to. The usual dose is one 200 mg capsule (Lipantil®) or one 160 mg tablet (Supralip®) each day. Your dose, however, may be higher or lower than this.

• You should take fenofibrate with food, so taking your doses during a mealtime is ideal. This is because fenofibrate is absorbed better by your body when there is some food in your stomach. Some people find it helps to swallow the tablet/capsule with a drink of water.

• You can generally take fenofibrate at a time of day to suit you, but it is best to take your doses with the same meal each day. This will help remind you to take your tablets/capsules regularly.

• Si olvida tomar una dosis, tómela en cuanto se acuerde. Si no se acuerda hasta el día siguiente, omita la dosis olvidada del día anterior y tome la dosis que le corresponde normalmente. No tome dos dosis al mismo tiempo para compensar la dosis olvidada.

Aproveche al máximo su tratamiento

• Try to keep your regular appointments with your doctor. This is so your doctor can check on your progress. You will need to have regular blood tests during the first year of your treatment with fenofibrate. These are to check that your liver stays healthy.

• Su médico le aconsejará seguir una dieta sana, evitar el consumo excesivo de alcohol, reducir la cantidad de sal en la dieta, dejar de fumar y hacer ejercicio con regularidad. Seguir estos consejos también le ayudará a reducir el riesgo de desarrollar enfermedades del corazón y los vasos sanguíneos.

• Treatment with fenofibrate is usually long-term unless you experience an adverse effect. Continue to take the tablets/capsules unless you are advised otherwise by your doctor.

• Fenofibrate may cause your skin to become more sensitive to sunlight than normal. Until you know how your skin reacts, avoid strong sunlight and sunbeds, and use a sun cream with a high sun protection factor even on bright but cloudy days.

• There are several different strengths of fenofibrate capsules available. If you have been prescribed capsules (brand Lipantil®), each time you collect a new supply check to make sure they are the same strength of capsule as you have had before.

Can fenofibrate cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the ones associated with fenofibrate. The best place to find a full list of the side-effects which can be associated with your medicine, is from the manufacturer's printed information leaflet supplied with the medicine. Alternatively, you can find an example of a manufacturer's information leaflet in the reference section below. Speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Si experimenta cualquier otro síntoma que considere que puede deberse al medicamento, consulte a su médico o farmacéutico.

How to store fenofibrate

• Mantenga todos los medicamentos fuera del alcance y de la vista de los niños.

• Almacenar en un lugar fresco y seco, lejos del calor y la luz directos.
  

Información importante sobre todos los medicamentos