Nursing Teaching on Contraindications for Tricor Use

Nurse educated the patient and caregiver on the contraindications for using tricor as follows:

  1. Tricor is significantly metabolized in the liver. If liver function is deficient, metabolism of tricor could be slowed down. Slowing down of the drug metabolism can result in increased risk for compromised therapeutic benefits with the medication. Also, tricor has the potential to cause inflammation of liver with consequent damage to the liver function.
  2. Tricor is significantly eliminated in urine, by the kidneys and partially in the feces. Individuals with renal disease and diminished renal function cannot eliminate tricor from their body normally, which allows the medication to be in the blood stream longer, thus increasing the risk for side-effects and toxicity with the medication.
  3. Tricor use can significantly increase risk for gall bladder disease and formation of gall stones.
  4. Tricor is contraindicated or carefully administered in individuals with history of gall bladder disease and gall stone formation. Tricor should be administered cautiously in individuals with history of compromised liver and renal function.
  5. Do not use this medication if you have history of allergy or serious side-effects to fenofibrate or tricor intake.
  6. Avoid drinking alcohol with tricor. Alcohol, by itself, carries the risk of elevating the bad cholesterol and triglycerides, thus compromising the therapeutic benefit of tricor intake. In addition, alcohol with tricor can increase the risk for hepatitis and damage to the liver function.
  7. History of muscle injury and breakdown- Use of tricor carries risk for skeletal muscle injury and breakdown. Protein molecules released into the blood from this skeletal muscle injury enter the kidney to be eliminated in urine. But, as these molecules are large, they will not be filtered through the kidneys into the urine and get blocked, thus damaging the kidneys and leading to kidney failure. Individuals with history of muscle damage are at increased risk for this side-effect with tricor and so, must be cautiously used and renal function closely monitored.