gemfibrozil

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Take this medication by mouth as directed by your doctor, usually twice a day (30 minutes before your morning and evening meals). Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. If you also take certain other drugs to lower your cholesterol (bile acid-binding resins such as cholestyramine or colestipol), take gemfibrozil at least 1 hour before or at least 4-6 hours after taking these medications. These products can react with gemfibrozil, preventing its full absorption. Take this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. Remember to take it at the same times each day. It is important to continue taking this medication even if you feel well. Most people with high cholesterol/triglycerides do not feel sick. It is very important to continue to follow your doctor's advice about diet and exercise. It may take up to 3 months before you get the full benefit of this drug.

The effects of some drugs can change if you take other drugs or herbal products at the same time. This can increase your risk for serious side effects or may cause your medications not to work correctly. These drug interactions are possible, but do not always occur. Your doctor or pharmacist can often prevent or manage interactions by changing how you use your medications or by close monitoring. To help your doctor and pharmacist give you the best care, be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products) before starting treatment with this product. While using this product, do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any other medicines you are using without your doctor's approval. Some products that may interact with this drug include: "blood thinners" (such as warfarin), repaglinide. This medication can slow down the removal of other medications from your body, which may affect how they work. Examples of affected drugs include pioglitazone, rosiglitazone, among others. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use. Share this list with your doctor and pharmacist to lessen your risk for serious medication problems.

Do not share this medication with others. Laboratory and/or medical tests (such as cholesterol/triglyceride levels, kidney/liver function tests, complete blood count) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

If overdose is suspected, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center.

Before taking gemfibrozil, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other "fibrates" (such as fenofibrate); or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: liver disease (such as biliary cirrhosis), gallbladder disease, kidney disease, alcohol use. Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products). This medication is not recommended for use during pregnancy. Consult your doctor for more details. It is unknown if this medication passes into breast milk. Because of the possible risk to the infant, breast-feeding while using this drug is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Store the US product at room temperature between 68-77 degrees F (20-25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Store the Canadian product at room temperature between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

Stomach upset, stomach/abdominal pain, or unusual taste may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. This medication may infrequently cause gallstones and liver problems. If you notice any of the following unlikely but serious side effects, tell your doctor immediately: severe stomach/abdominal pain, persistent nausea/vomiting, yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine. This drug may infrequently cause muscle problems (which can rarely lead to a very serious condition called rhabdomyolysis). Tell your doctor immediately if you develop any of these symptoms: muscle pain/tenderness/weakness (especially with fever or unusual tiredness), change in the amount of urine. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but serious side effects occur: signs of infection (such as fever, persistent sore throat), easy bruising/bleeding, unusual tiredness, irregular heartbeat, numbness/tingling of arms/legs. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.