Ausgem

What it is used for

AUSGEM is indicated as an adjunct to diet and other therapeutic measures for the following conditions: -Severe hypertiglyceridamia (types IV and V) in those who present a risk of pancreatitis and who do not respond adequately to a determined dietary effort to control them. -Dyslipidaemia associated with diabetes. -Reduction of risk of coronary heart disease in patients with Type IIa and IIb hypercholesterolaemia. Beacause of potential toxicity such as malignancy, gallbladder disease, abnormal pain leading to appendectomy and other abdominal surgeries, an increased incidence in non-coronary mortality and the 29% increase in all-cause mortality seen with the chemically and pharmacologically related drug, clofibrate, the potential benefits of gemfibrozil in treating Type IIa patients with elevation of LDL-cholesterol only are not likely to outweigh the risks. In a subgroup analysis of patients in the Helsinki Heart Study with above-median HDL-cholesterol values at baseline (>1.2mmol/L), both gemfibrozil and placebo subgroups had similar incidences of serious coronary events. NOTE: AUSGEM is indicated when exercise, weight loss and specific dietary or other non-drug measures, for example, limiting alcohol intake have failed. Other medical disorders such as hypothyroidism and diabetes should be controlled as much as possible. Periodic determinations of serum lipids should be obtained during treatment with AUSGEM. The drug should be withdrawn or additional therapy instituted if the lipid response is deemed inadequate after 3 months.