Patient/caregiver was educated on the side-effects of using Fenofibrate as follows:
- Compromised hepatic function: Fenofibrate use can result in hepatic damage and compromised liver function, consequently leading to mild right upper quadrant pain in the abdomen, poor digestion, and loss of appetite. Extreme cases of liver injury can result in findings such as, anemia with associated weakness, compromised endurance, and shortness of breath. Individuals can also present symptoms of jaundice, such as, yellowing of skin and white of the eyes, and dark colored urine, secondary to increased bilirubin pigment, due to liver damage and severely affected liver function.
- Compromised renal function: Use of Fenofibrate carries risk for damage to the skeletal muscle. This can result in breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue. 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. Notify your doctor, if you experience any unexplained muscle pain, malaise, and weakness, or symptoms of compromised renal function, such as, sudden reduction in the urine volume, fluid retention, edema, abnormal weight gain, and concentrated dark urine.
- Skeletal pain: Fenofibrate use can sometimes also result in exacerbation of arthritis and other skeletal pains.
