Gemfibrozil

The recommended adult dose of gemfibrozil is 600 mg twice daily, 30 minutes before the morning and evening meals. The maximum daily recommended dose of gemfibrozil is 1,500 mg.

Many things can affect the dose of a medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

It is important to take Gemfibrozil exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible and continue with your regular schedule. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store Gemfibrozil at room temperature and keep it out of the reach of children.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

In addition to its desired action, this medication may cause some adverse effects, notably: it may cause diarrhea; it may cause stomach ache; it may cause indigestion; it may cause unusual tiredness; it may cause gas and bloating; it may cause nausea or, rarely, vomiting. Each person may react differently to a treatment. If you think this medication may be causing adverse effects (including those described here, or others), talk to your health care professional. He or she can help you to determine whether or not the medication is the source of the problem.

Gemfibrozil by Pro Doc is no longer being manufactured for sale in Canada. For brands that may still be available, search under gemfibrozil. This article is being kept available for reference purposes only. If you are using this medication, speak with your doctor or pharmacist for information about your treatment options.

Do not take gemfibrozil if you:

• are allergic to gemfibrozil or any ingredients of the medication
• are allergic to Fenofibrate or any other medications in the class of "fibrates" (e.g., clofibrate, Bezafibrate)
• are breast-feeding
• are pregnant
• are taking a medication for Diabetes called Repaglinide
• are taking a medication for high cholesterol called cerivastatin
• have a disorder known as type 1 hyperlipoproteinemia
• have liver disease, Kidney Disease, or gallbladder disease

There may be an interaction between gemfibrozil and any of the following:

• Amiodarone
• anti-psychotics (e.g., Chlorpromazine, Clozapine, Haloperidol, olanzepine, Quetiapine, Risperidone)
• Bosentan
• Carvedilol
• Celecoxib
• Cholestyramine
• cilostazol
• Clobazam
• Clopidogrel
• Colchicine
• Colestipol
• Cyclosporine
• Dacarbazine
• Dapsone
• dasabuvir
• Diazepam
• Diclofenac
• dronabinol
• Enzalutamide
• estrogens (Estradiol, conjugated/equine, esterified, Estropipate)
• ezetimbe
• Flutamide
• Ifosfamide
• imatinib
• Irinotecan
• ketamine
• Lacosamide
• lidocaine
• Losartan
• melatonin
• mestranol
• Mexiletine
• Mirtazapine
• Moclobemide
• Montelukast
• Nateglinide
• Paclitaxel
• pentamidine

• Phenobarbital
• Phenytoin
• Pimozide
• Pioglitazone
• Piroxicam
• Propranolol
• raltegravir
• Rasagiline
• repaglinide
• Ropinirole
• Rosiglitazone
• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs; e.g., Citalopram, Duloxetine, Fluoxetine, Paroxetine, Sertraline)
• "statin" medications (e.g., Atorvastatin, Fluvastatin, Lovastatin, Rosuvastatin, Pravastatin, Simvastatin)
• sulfonamide antibiotics ("sulfas"; e.g., sulfisoxazole, sulfamethoxazole)
• sulfonylureas (e.g., Gliclazide, Glyburide, Tolbutamide)
• Tamoxifen
• theophyllines (e.g., Aminophylline, Oxtriphylline, Theophylline)
• Tizanidine
• torsemide
• tretinoin
• tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., Amitriptyline, Clomipramine, Desipramine, Trimipramine)
• Trimethoprim
• Ursodiol
• Voriconazole
• Warfarin
• Zafirlukast

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with Gemfibrozil. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use Gemfibrozil.

Blood counts: Rarely, this medication will decrease the number of neutrophils (a type of white blood cell that helps fight infection), red blood cells (which carry oxygen), and platelets (which help your blood to clot). Your doctor will do blood tests to monitor this. If you notice any signs of infection (e.g., fever, chills, or sore throat), fatigue, or unusual bleeding or bruising, contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Gallbladder disease: Gemfibrozil may increase the risk for gallstones. If you have a history of gallbladder disease, discuss with your doctor how Gemfibrozil may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Gemfibrozil, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Liver function: Liver disease or reduced liver function may cause Gemfibrozil to build up in the body, causing side effects. If you have liver problems, discuss with your doctor how Gemfibrozil may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Gemfibrozil, and whether any special monitoring is needed. Your doctor may want to test your liver function regularly with blood tests while you are taking Gemfibrozil.

If you experience symptoms of liver problems such as fatigue, feeling unwell, loss of appetite, nausea, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark urine, pale stools, abdominal pain or swelling, and itchy skin, contact your doctor immediately.

Muscle effects: When combined with medications in the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors class (commonly referred to as “statins”), there is an increased risk of muscle breakdown. If you are taking gemfibrozil and one of these medications, discuss with your doctor how Gemfibrozil may affect your medical condition, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

If you experience symptoms of muscle breakdown, such as generalized weakness, muscle pain, a general feeling of being unwell, with or without fever, contact your doctor immediately.

Pregnancy: Strict birth control methods must be used by women who may become pregnant while taking this medication. If you become pregnant despite using birth control, stop taking gemfibrozil and contact your doctor. Women who are planning to become pregnant should stop taking gemfibrozil several months before conception.

Breast-feeding: It is not known if gemfibrozil passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking Gemfibrozil, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.

Children: The safety and effectiveness of Gemfibrozil have not been established for children.

This medication is typically used twice a day. However, your pharmacist may have suggested a different schedule that is more appropriate for you. It is not advisable to chew or crush this medication since it has an unpleasant taste. Important: Follow the instructions on the label. Do not use more of this product, or more often, than prescribed. It must be used regularly and continuously to maintain its beneficial effects. Be sure to keep an adequate supply on hand. If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember -- unless it is almost time for your next dose. In that case, skip the missed dose. Do not double the next dose to catch up. This medication should be taken 30 minutes before a meal. Consuming alcohol may cause increased blood triglycerides and thus counteract the effect of the medication. Limit alcohol consumption during treatment.