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What is the most important information I should know about
gemfibrozil?
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Follow any special diet and exercise plan recommended by your doctor
while taking this medication. Diet and exercise are important factors in
regulating cholesterol. |
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The exact way that gemfibrozil works to reduce cholesterol and
triglycerides (types of fat) in the blood is not known. High levels of
fat in the blood are associated with an increased chance of heart
disease, strokes, and other illnesses. |
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Gemfibrozil is used to lower high levels of cholesterol and
triglycerides in the blood. |
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Gemfibrozil may also be used for purposes other than those listed in
this medication guide. |
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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking
gemfibrozil?
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Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have |
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You may not be able to take gemfibrozil, or you may require a dosage
adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the
conditions listed above. |
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Gemfibrozil is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it
is not known whether gemfibrozil will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do
not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are
pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. |
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It is not known whether gemfibrozil passes into breast milk. Do not
take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are
breast-feeding a baby. |
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How should I take gemfibrozil?
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Take gemfibrozil exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not
understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to
explain them to you. |
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Take each dose with a full glass (8 ounces) of water. |
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Gemfibrozil is usually taken twice daily, 30 minutes before
breakfast and dinner. Follow your doctor's instructions. |
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It is important to take gemfibrozil regularly to get the most
benefit. |
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Do not stop taking gemfibrozil unless directed by your doctor. It
may take up to 3 months for you to see the effects of this medication. |
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Your doctor may want you to have blood tests or other medical
evaluations during treatment with gemfibrozil to monitor progress and
side effects. |
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Store gemfibrozil at room temperature away from moisture and heat. |
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What happens if I miss a dose?
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Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time
for the next dose, skip the dose you missed and take only the next
regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this
medication. |
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What happens if I overdose?
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An overdose of this medication is unlikely to threaten life. Call an
emergency room or poison control left for advice. |
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Symptoms of a gemfibrozil overdose may include diarrhea, headache,
and muscle pain. |
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What should I avoid while taking gemfibrozil?
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Follow any special diet and exercise plan recommended by your doctor
while taking this medication. Diet and exercise are important factors in
regulating cholesterol. |
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Use caution driving, operating machinery, and performing other
hazardous activities until you know how gemfibrozil affects you. It may
cause some drowsiness or dizziness, especially at the start of therapy. |
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What are the possible side effects of gemfibrozil?
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If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop
taking gemfibrozil and seek emergency medical attention or contact your
doctor immediately: |
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an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat;
swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); |
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chest pain, shortness of breath, or an irregular heartbeat; |
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nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, or clay-colored stools; |
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yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice); |
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sores in the mouth or on your lips; |
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chills, fever, or blood in the urine; or |
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muscle aches, pain, or cramping. |
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Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur.
Continue to take gemfibrozil and talk to your doctor if you experience |
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headache, dizziness, or drowsiness; or |
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Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to
your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is
especially bothersome. |
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What other drugs will affect gemfibrozil?
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Gemfibrozil may increase the effects of the following drugs, which
could lead to dangerous side effects: |
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an anticoagulants (blood thinner) such as warfarin (Coumadin); |
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insulin or an oral diabetes medication such as chlorpropamide (Diabenese),
glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Micronase, DiaBeta, Glynase),
tolbutamide (Orinase), tolazamide (Tolinase), and acetohexamide (Dymelor),
and others; or |
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another cholesterol-lowering drug such as atorvastatin (Lipitor),
lovastatin (Mevacor, Altocor), simvastatin (Zocor), pravastatin (Pravachol),
fluvastatin (Lescol, Lescol XL) . |
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You may not be able to take gemfibrozil, or you may require a dosage
adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any
of the drugs listed above. |
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Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with
gemfibrozil. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any
prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals,
and herbal products. |
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Where can I get more information?
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Your pharmacist has additional information about gemfibrozil written
for health professionals that you may read. |
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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of
children, never share your medicines with others, and use this
medication only for the indication prescribed. |
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Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided
by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete,
but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained
herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for
use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and
therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States
are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug
information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend
therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed
to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients
and/ or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and
not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of
healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or
drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug
or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given
patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of
healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The
information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses,
directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic
reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you
are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. |
Copyright 1996-2004 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 4.02. Revision Date: 1/
23/ 04. |
