Patient/caregiver was educated on the precautions to be observed while taking Fenofibrate as follows:
- Avoid drinking alcohol with Fenofibrate. Alcohol, by itself, carries the risk of elevating the bad cholesterol and triglycerides, thus compromising the therapeutic benefit of Fenofibrate intake. In addition, alcohol with Fenofibrate can increase the risk for hepatitis and damage to the liver function. Discuss with your doctor, if you consume more than 2 drinks of alcoholic beverages a day.
- Fenofibrate use can significantly increase risk for gall bladder disease and formation of gall stones. Fenofibrate should be carefully administered in individuals with history of gall bladder disease and gall stone formation. Individuals can present with right upper quadrant abdominal pain, with possible radiation to the chest and/or back. Any colicky pain in the upper stomach should be reported to the physician, to be evaluated for a possible gall stone development.
- Fenofibrate could be taken at the same time with statins and zetia, but should be avoided from being taken at the same time with bile acid sequestrants or binders, such as, cholestyramine and colestipol. Bile acid binders not only bind the bile acids, but also bind with the Fenofibrate, if taken together. This binding inhibits the absorption of Fenofibrate in the intestines, thus compromising the therapeutic benefit of Fenofibrate intake. If both bile acid binders and Fenofibrate are prescribed for lowering blood cholesterol, space them out by atleast 4 hours, to avoid compromising the therapeutic benefit of Fenofibrate.
