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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. |
