Gemfibrozil (AS)

What it is used for

Gemfibrozil is indicated as an adjunct to diet and other therapeutic measures for the following: * Severe hypertriglyceridaemia (Types IV and V) in persons 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. * Because of potential toxicity such as malignancy, gall bladder disease, abdominal pain leading to appendicectomy and other abdominal surgeries, an increased incidence in noncoronary 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 elevations of LDL choleserol only is 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 (greater than 1.2mmol/L), the incidence of serious coronary events was similar for gemfibrozil and placebo subgroups. NOTE: Gemfibrozil is indicated when exercise, weight loss and specific dietary or other non-drug measures such as 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 gemfibrozil. The drug should be withdrawn or additionals therapy instituted if the lipid response is deemed inadequate after three months.