triglycerides/gemfibrosil...

[catspajamas]

My new physician put me on gemfibosil to lower my triglycerides....has anyone been on this? and if so, does it react like a statin?...As you know I am one of the "lucky" people that has periferal neurapathy from zocor. I have read contradicting reports on gemfibrosil.....need your opinions please...thanks.

[xrn]

[quote="catspajamas"]My new physician put me on gemfibosil to lower my triglycerides....has anyone been on this? and if so, does it react like a statin?...As you know I am one of the "lucky" people that has periferal neurapathy from zocor. I have read contradicting reports on gemfibrosil.....need your opinions please...thanks.[/quote]

Gemfibrosil (Lopid) belongs to the class of drugs called fibrates and there was a fashion to give fibrates in combination with a statin. As far as I know, no doctor ought to be prescribing statins in combination with fibrates but you should be aware that fibrates on their own showed no decrease in the death rates for patients, even where cholesterol numbers were lowered. (not a surprise since low cholesterol is associated with more death than high cholesterol)

Two of the fibrates (Clofibrate and Atromid S) are no longer available because of "non-cardiovascular death" in the patients. Make of that polite phrase whatever you will but in less polite circles; you can say that the drugs were killing the patients.

I have listed the side effects. The double asterisk indicates that the effect was reported without the incidence being given. The drug is used to lower cholesterol. Firstly, nobody NEEDS to have a lower cholesterol level. Secondly, some of the side effects reported for Gemfibrosil without the all important incidence numbers, are very serious.

For example: a low white blood cell count is called Leukemia. Your body will have less ability to fight opportunistic infections if this effect should happen to you. Disturbance of heart ryhthm, depression and muscle pain. The tingling is also significant for you because you already have peripheral neuropathy. Low cholesterol results in a reduction of the substance used to make myelin, which forms a pratective sheath around nerve fibres.

I would smile sweetly at your doctor and refuse, point blank, to take the medication suggested for you. Your new physician appears to be in need of some lessons in basic medical science.

Side Effect Incidence for Lopid (%)
stomach pain..........................9.8
hair loss..................................**
anemia....................................**
joint pain.................................**
blurred vision...........................**
confusion.................................**
constipation.............................1.4
cough......................................**
depression...............................**
diarrhea..................................7.2
dizziness..................................**
drowsiness ...............................**
eye irritation.............................**
fatigue.....................................3.8
stomach upset.........................19.6
headache..................................1.2
arrhythmias...............................0.7
impotence.................................**
muscle pain...............................**
nausea......................................2.5
itching.......................................**
rash..........................................1.7
seizure......................................**
taste disturbance........................**
vomiting....................................2.5
weight loss ................................ **
low white blood cell count............**
abnormal liver tests....................**
tingling......................................**

Jeff

[Ray Holder]

A university hospital website, url beolw, gives side effects observed from lipid lowering agents, and fibrates have some entries, gemfibrosil is a fibrate.

Just scroll a little way down the page to Fibric acid derivatives. A lot of information on statin problems follows.

This may be official enough to satisfy a doctor.

**http://www.neuro.wustl.edu/neuromuscular/msys/myoglob.html#lipid

Ray

[SusieO]

I was given Gemfibrizol after I had been off Lipitor for about 2 yrs. It made things worse with my muscle weakness (as did Niacin and Cinnamon Capsules). I took it for less than two weeks and tossed the rest of the pills down the toilet.

[catspajamas]

This the input I was hoping for....thanks....I had never heard of lopid...glad I didn't fill that prescription yet....He gave me a prescription for lovaza too...that, I understand is omega 3/s etc.d Its very expensive. am wondering what product sold at the i herb or vitacost site would compare to it...anyone know???

[catspajamas]

Forgot to add....the dr is more concerned about my triglycerides because of the diabetic factor...My bl sugar was 101 and have a strong family history of diabetes...tri glys in the 300's...He didn't even bat a eye when I told him I can't take statins...glad he didn't laugh at me like that so called cholesteral specialist did.when I told him I got pn and muscle weakness from zocor. In my case I think the sugar factor is why I also have vasculitis. (inflamation)...know omegas lower triglcerides...