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Overview
Lopid is prescribed primarily to lower cholesterol and triglycerides.
Heart specialists recognize that coronary artery disease is associated with certain risk factors, including high serum cholesterol, bad LDL cholesterol, elevated triglycerides and reduced levels of protective HDL cholesterol.
Diet, exercise and weight control are usually considered important first-line preventive approaches. When they are insufficient, drugs like Lopid may be important in reducing the risk of heart disease. It increases HDL cholesterol while lowering triglycerides and certain other negative blood fats.
A well-controlled study from Helsinki, Finland revealed that this medication appears to lower the risk of heart attacks by about one third.
Side Effects and Interactions
The most common side effects of Lopid are digestive tract problems: heartburn, stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and flatulence.
Other possible adverse reactions include skin rash, itching, dizziness, headache, blurred vision, muscle or joint pain or unusual sore throat and fever.
Notify your physician promptly of any symptoms.
Lopid can interact dangerously with cholesterol-lowering drugs like Mevacor, Pravachol or Zocor.
Such a combination of cholesterol-lowering drugs could trigger destruction of muscle tissue, resulting in muscle pain, weakness and ultimately kidney damage.
If your doctor decides both drugs are necessary, close monitoring of kidney function is essential.
The herb gogdenseal may raise cholesterol levels and should not be combined with cholesterol-lowering medications such as Lopid.
Special Precautions
Anyone with kidney or liver problems should probably not take Lopid.
This medicine must also be used with great caution by anyone with gallstones or gallbladder disease, as Lopid may precipitate or aggravate problems.
Tests for liver function and blood sugar should be carried out periodically.
Women who are pregnant should also avoid Lopid as animal studies have shown an increased risk of damage to the fetus.
Research on animals has also linked Lopid to liver and testicular tumors, but only at relatively high doses. Whether there is a risk for humans remains to be determined.
Taking the Medicine
The manufacturer recommends that people take Lopid half an hour before breakfast and supper.
If you feel dizzy or your vision becomes blurred, do not drive.
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Taking Gemfibrozil since May 2008,300 mg daily. Some joint stiffness. Sept 2008 600 mg daily, joint pain in ankles & knees especially. Nov 08, stopped Gemfibrozil, pain went away. January 2009 started Gemfibrozil 600 mg daily, immediately joint pain,
I see my Doc. tomorrow.
have taken 600mg Gemfibrozil for 20 years plus lisinopril. Dr. stopped Gemfibrozil 2 weeks ago and now the blood pressure is up and I can't get it down to where it was with the Gemfibrozil. Is there any connection? This is the only change in my life style recently.
I started on gemfibrozil after my hysterectomy in 1995, hormones went wild and before the 5-6 wks off from work, I was being asked how could I have gained so much weight & in such little time. My cholesterol in 300 range & triglycerides 603. Have been on statins off & on for so long. I had so much muscle aches and then came the high liver enzymes and fatty tissue around it.
Started on gemfibrozil again 2 months ago and Dr. raised mg from 500 to 600. I have had so much muscle pain and even showering and water hitting my shoulders is causing so much pain. I am waiting for insurance to approve MRI on severe left chest and shoulder pain with numbness & tingling from elbow to end of fingers. As I write this I have talked myself into stopping this medication once again.
I truly now believe that after 2 months of this statin, my aches and pains are from this medication plus I seem to be forgetting more things. I am 60 yrs. old, 5"2", & 135 lbs. I am constantly on the go, work part time as a realtor & more time babysitting young grand kids.
I get plenty of exercise, have a great sex life but I find myself getting tired more easily. I can't believe this could all be from hitting ripe age of 60.??? Cholesterol now is 245 and tri 380. I also take fish, omega, vitamin B, biotin, & other vitamins when I remember...