Fenofibrate oral tablet side effects: A detailed guide

Key takeaways

• Fenofibrate, prescribed for high cholesterol and triglycerides, has common side effects like a runny nose, headache, and abdominal pain. Serious side effects may include liver damage and muscle problems.
• While some kidney issues and hair loss have been reported by people taking fenofibrate, studies have not confirmed these as direct side effects of the medication.
• Severe muscle problems, liver damage, gallstones, and allergic reactions are serious side effects that require immediate medical attention and may necessitate stopping fenofibrate treatment.

Overview

This article describes possible side effects of fenofibrate oral tablet. You can explore this overview article to learn more about fenofibrate oral tablet, including the drug’s uses and side effects, ways to save on cost, and more.

Fenofibrate oral tablet is a generic version of the brand-name drugs TriCor and Triglide, among others. Fenofibrate also comes in a capsule that you swallow, but this form isn’t described in this article. To learn more about this form, talk with your doctor.

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More common side effects of fenofibrate

Fenofibrate oral tablet may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.

Commonly reported side effects of fenofibrate oral tablet include:

• high liver enzyme levels
• runny or stuffy nose
• abdominal pain
• headache

Mild side effects of fenofibrate

Fenofibrate may cause certain mild side effects. Usually, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.

Mild side effects of fenofibrate oral tablet that occurred in studies include:

• high liver enzyme levels
• runny or stuffy nose
• back pain
• headache
• abdominal pain
• nausea
• constipation
• mild allergic reaction*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of fenofibrate in detail” section.

Serious side effects of fenofibrate

Fenofibrate may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from fenofibrate oral tablet, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.

After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with fenofibrate.

Serious side effects of fenofibrate oral tablet that occurred in studies include:

• liver damage*
• gallstones*
• pancreatitis (swelling of your pancreas)
• severe muscle problems*
• severe allergic reaction*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of fenofibrate in detail” section.

Common questions about the side effects of fenofibrate

Here are answers to some common questions about the side effects of fenofibrate oral tablet. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Can suddenly stopping fenofibrate cause withdrawal symptoms?

No, it’s not thought so. In studies of fenofibrate, withdrawal symptoms weren’t reported when people stopped taking the drug. (Withdrawal symptoms are side effects that happen when you stop taking a drug your body has become dependent on.)

But you should not stop taking fenofibrate without first speaking with your doctor. If you stop taking the drug, your cholesterol or triglyceride levels may increase. If you’d like to stop fenofibrate treatment, you and your doctor can discuss other treatments for your condition.

Does fenofibrate cause long-term side effects?

Yes, in some cases, fenofibrate oral tablet may cause long-term side effects. These can occur if you take the drug for a long time. Some side effects may persist even after you’ve stopped taking the drug.

Examples of long-term side effects reported with fenofibrate oral tablet include:

• liver damage*
• gallstones*
• severe muscle problems*

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about possible long-term side effects with fenofibrate.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of fenofibrate in detail” section.

Does fenofibrate cause kidney-related side effects?

Experts don’t believe fenofibrate can cause kidney-related effects. Kidney-related side effects weren’t reported in studies of fenofibrate.

But there have been a few rare cases of sudden kidney failure reported in people taking fenofibrate since the drug was approved for use. These cases happened outside controlled studies, so it isn’t known whether fenofibrate or another factor caused kidney damage.

Symptoms of sudden kidney failure include:

• slow, sluggish movements
• breath odor
• edema (swelling)
• blood in your urine

If you think you’re having symptoms of sudden kidney failure, immediately seek medical attention, such as the closest emergency room. A doctor can determine possible causes of your symptoms and the best way to treat them.

Is weight loss or hair loss a possible side effect of fenofibrate?

No, they’re not thought to be. Neither hair loss nor weight loss were reported as side effects in studies of fenofibrate.

If you have concerns about your weight or hair loss, talk with your doctor. They can review your health history and check for possible causes, including medications you take. But fenofibrate isn’t expected to cause hair loss or weight loss.

How do side effects of fenofibrate compare with side effects of atorvastatin?

Fenofibrate and atorvastatin can cause some similar side effects, but also some different ones. Both atorvastatin (Lipitor) and fenofibrate are prescribed to treat high cholesterol in certain adults.

Some similar side effects between fenofibrate and atorvastatin are severe muscle problems, runny or stuffy nose, and liver damage.

To learn more about how fenofibrate and atorvastatin compare, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also check out this article to learn more about atorvastatin’s side effects.

Are any conditions worsened by fenofibrate?

Some conditions may be worsened by fenofibrate.

According to fenofibrate’s prescribing information, there’s an increased risk of serious liver injury when taking fenofibrate. So doctors recommend avoiding the medication if you have active liver disease.

Fanofibrate is also contraindicated (meaning you shouldn’t take it) in people with:

• severe kidney impairment
• preexisting gallbladder disease

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Side effects of fenofibrate in detail

Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of fenofibrate oral tablet.

Severe muscle problems

In studies, severe muscle problems were rare in people using fenofibrate oral tablet. This side effect may be serious.

Severe muscle problems possible with fenofibrate include:

• myopathy, a condition that causes pain, stiffness, or weakness in your muscles
• rhabdomyolysis, a medical emergency in which muscle tissue breaks down

Certain factors can increase the risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis with fenofibrate oral tablet. These include:

• age (being 65 years or older)
• diabetes
• kidney problems, such as renal insufficiency
• hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone levels)
• taking fenofibrate with a statin drug, such as atorvastatin (Lipitor)

If you experience symptoms of myopathy, tell your doctor. They’ll likely order lab tests to evaluate your symptoms. Depending on the results, they may have you stop taking fenofibrate.

If you think you’re having symptoms of rhabdomyolysis, seek immediate medical attention. This includes calling 911 or going to the closest emergency room. If it’s confirmed that you have rhabdomyolysis while taking fenofibrate, your doctor will likely suggest stopping treatment with the drug.

Liver damage

In studies, some people taking fenofibrate oral tablet developed liver damage in rare cases. This side effect may be serious.

Symptoms of liver damage may include:

• yellowing of your skin
• yellowing of the whites of your eyes
• abdominal pain
• dark urine

Certain factors can increase the risk of liver damage with fenofibrate oral tablet. These include liver disease, such as biliary cirrhosis. Doctors typically won’t prescribe fenofibrate if you have liver disease due to this risk.

Before and during treatment with fenofibrate, your doctor may monitor your liver health using blood tests. They will tell you how often they’ll order these tests while you’re taking fenofibrate.

If you experience symptoms of liver damage, immediately tell your doctor. They’ll likely order tests to further investigate your symptoms. Depending on the results, they may suggest stopping treatment with fenofibrate.

Gallstones

Gallstones were rare in studies of people taking fenofibrate oral tablet. This side effect is often mild but may be serious.

With gallstones, hardened deposits of fluids such as bile form in your gallbladder. These stones may block the bile duct that connects your gallbladder to your small intestine.

Symptoms of gallstones may include sharp pain in your upper right belly, nausea and vomiting, and sweating. But in some cases, you may not experience symptoms unless the gallstones cause complications, such as blockage of your bile duct.

Certain factors can increase the risk of gallstones with fenofibrate oral tablet. These include gallbladder disease. Doctors typically won’t prescribe fenofibrate if you have gallbladder disease due to this risk.

If you experience symptoms of gallstones, tell your doctor. They’ll recommend the best way to treat them. They may also recommend stopping treatment with fenofibrate if you develop gallstones while taking the drug.

Allergic reaction

For some people, fenofibrate oral tablet can cause an allergic reaction.

Symptoms can be mild or serious, and they may include:

• itchiness
• skin rash
• swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
• swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

Serious, possibly life threatening allergic skin reactions have been reported with fenofibrate. These include:

• Stevens-Johnson syndrome
• toxic epidermal necrolysis
• drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS)

 Symptoms of these conditions may include:

• a painful, red, or discolored skin rash
• blisters on your eyes, mouth, nose, skin, or genitals
• broken, raw, or shedding skin
• swelling in your face or lips
• fever

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know if you should keep taking fenofibrate.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to fenofibrate oral tablet, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.

Warnings for fenofibrate

It may not be safe for you to take fenofibrate oral tablet if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether fenofibrate oral tablet is a safe treatment option for you.

Before taking fenofibrate oral tablet, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include:

• kidney conditions, including chronic kidney disease
• liver conditions, such as alcohol-associated liver disease
• hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone levels)
• diabetes
• past allergic reaction to fenofibrate

Fenofibrate and pregnancy

It’s not known whether fenofibrate oral tablet should be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

Fenofibrate and breastfeeding

Fenofibrate oral tablet should not be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

Fenofibrate and alcohol

Fenofibrate oral tablet is not known to interact with alcohol.

However, excessive alcohol consumption can cause high triglycerides, a condition fenofibrate is prescribed to treat.

Fenofibrate and alcohol can also cause similar side effects. Examples include liver damage and headache. Combining the two may raise your risk for these side effects.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with fenofibrate oral tablet.

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.