Can Fibrate Drugs Lower Cholesterol?

What arefibrates?

The fibrates arecholesterol-loweringdrugsthat are primarily effective in loweringtriglyceridesand, to a lesser extent, in increasingHDL-cholesterol levels.

Gemfibrozil(brand name:LOPID), the fibrate most widely used in the United States, can be very effective for patients with hightriglyceride levels. However, it is not very effective for lowering the LDL-cholesterol. As a result, it is used less often than other drugs in patients withheart diseasefor whom LDL-cholesterol lowering is the main goal of treatment.

Gemfibrozil therapy by itself is not recommended by the Food and Drug Administration for patients withheart disease. Fibrates are usually given in two daily doses 30 minutes before the morning and evening meals. The reductions intriglyceridesgenerally are in the range of 20 to 50 percent with increases in HDL-cholesterol of 10 to 15 percent.

Fibrates are generally well tolerated by most patients. Gastrointestinal complaints are the most common side effect and fibrates appear to increase the likelihood of developing cholesterolgallstones. Fibrates can increase the effect of medications that thin the blood, and this should be monitored closely by your physician.

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