Health Library

Fibrates

Antilipemic agent; Fenofibrate (Antara, Fenoglide, Lipofen, Tricor, and Triglide); Gemfibrozil (Lopid); Fenofibric acid (Trilipix); Hyperlipidemia - fibrates; Hardening of the arteries - fibrates; Cholesterol - fibrates; Hypercholesterolemia - fibrates; Dyslipidemia - fibrates

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Description

Fibrates are medicines prescribed to help lower high triglyceride levels. Triglycerides are a type of fat in your blood. Fibrates also may help raise your HDL (good) cholesterol.

High triglycerides along with low HDL cholesterol increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

How Fibrates Help

Lowering cholesterol and triglycerides can help protect you from heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.

Statins are thought to be the best medicines to use for people who need medicines to lower their cholesterol.

Some fibrates may be prescribed along with statins to help lower cholesterol. However, some studies show that using certain fibrates along with statins may not help reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke more than using statins alone.

Fibrates may also be used to help lower very high triglycerides in people at risk for pancreatitis.

Fibrates are prescribed only to adults.

How to Take Fibrates

Take your medicine as directed. It is generally taken 1 time per day. Do not stop taking your medicine without first talking with your health care provider.

The medicine comes in liquid-filled capsule or tablet form. Do not open capsules, chew, or crush tablets before taking.

Read the instructions on your medicine label. Some brands should be taken with food. Others may be taken with, or without food.

Store all of your medicines in a cool, dry place.

Follow a healthy diet while taking fibrates. This includes eating less fat in your diet. Other ways you can help your heart include:

• Getting regular exercise
• Managing stress
• Quitting smoking

Know Your Risks

Before you start taking fibrates, tell your provider if you:

• Are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. Nursing mothers should not take this medicine.
• Have allergies.
• Are taking other medicines.
• Plan to have surgery or dental work.
• Have diabetes.

If you have liver, gallbladder, or kidney conditions, you should not take fibrates.

Tell your provider about all of your medicines, supplements, vitamins, and herbs. Certain medicines may interact with fibrates. Be sure to tell your provider before taking any new medicines.

Regular blood tests will help you and your provider:

• See how well the medicine is working
• Monitor for side effects, such as liver problems

Side Effects

Possible side effects may include:

• Headache
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Stomach pain

When to Call the Doctor

Contact your provider if you notice:

• Abdominal pain
• Muscle pain or tenderness
• Weakness
• Yellowing of the skin (jaundice)
• Skin rash
• Other new symptoms

References

American Heart Association website. Cholesterol - lowering medications. www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/prevention-and-treatment-of-high-cholesterol-hyperlipidemia/cholesterol-medications. Updated February 20, 2024. Accessed March 5, 2026.

American Heart Association website. Top 10 things to know about the ACC/AHA cholesterol guideline. www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/about-cholesterol/cholesterol-top-10. Updated March 13, 2026. Accessed March 14, 2026.

Ginsberg HN. Special patient populations: diabetes and metabolic syndrome. In: Ballantyne CM, ed. Clinical Lipidology: A Companion to Braunwald's Heart Disease. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 31.

Nambi V, Ballantyne CM, Jones PH. Overview of general approach to management of dyslipidemias. In: Ballantyne CM, ed. Clinical Lipidology: A Companion to Braunwald's Heart Disease. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 11.

Robinson JG. Disorders of lipid metabolism. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 190.

Tokgozoglu L, Libby P. Lipoprotein disorders and cardiovascular disease. In: Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, et al, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2026:chap 25.

Review Date: 2/9/2026  

Reviewed By: Michael A. Chen, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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