Gemfibrozil: Side Effects, Uses & Monitoring
Facts extracted from current FDA product labeling for Gemfibrozil. Educational only — not medical advice.
Reported adverse reactions
| Reaction | Highest frequency reported* |
|---|---|
| Gastrointestinal reactions | 34.2% |
| Dyspepsia | 19.6% |
| Abdominal pain | 9.8% |
| Diarrhea | 7.2% |
| Fatigue | 3.8% |
| Nausea/vomiting | 2.5% |
| Eczema | 1.9% |
| Rash | 1.7% |
| Vertigo | 1.5% |
| Constipation | 1.4% |
| Acute appendicitis | 1.2% |
| Headache | 1.2% |
| Atrial fibrillation | 0.7% |
*Highest percentage across placebo-controlled trial tables summarized in current labeling.
Labeled uses
Gemfibrozil Tablets, USP are indicated as adjunctive therapy to diet for: 1. Treatment of adult patients with very high elevations of serum triglyceride levels (Types IV and V hyperlipidemia) who present a risk of pancreatitis and who do not respond adequately to a determined dietary effort to control them. Patients who present such risk typically have serum triglycerides over 2,000 mg/dL and have elevations of VLDL-cholesterol as well as fasting chylomicrons (Type V hyperlipidemia). Subjects who consistently have total serum or plasma triglycerides below 1,000 mg/dL are unlikely to present a risk of pancreatitis. Gemfibrozil therapy may be considered for those subjects with triglyceride elevations between 1,000 and 2,000 mg/dL who have a history of pancreatitis or of recurrent abdominal pain typical of pancreatitis. It is recognized that some Type IV patients with triglycerides under 1,000 mg/dL may, through dietary or alcoholic indiscretion, convert to a Type V pattern with massive triglyceride elevations accompanying fasting chylomicronemia, but the influence of gemfibrozil therapy on the risk of pancreatitis in such situations has not been adequately studied. Drug therapy is no…
Medical disclaimer: Always consult a qualified healthcare professional about any medication.