Atorvastatin+fenofibrate
About Atorvastatin+fenofibrate
Atorvastatin+fenofibrate is indicated in the treatment of hyperlipidemia (high lipid levels), mixed dyslipidemia (low good cholesterol and high bad cholesterol and triglycerides), hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol) and hypertriglyceridemia (high levels of triglycerides).
Atorvastatin+fenofibrate contains atorvastatin and fenofibrate. Atorvastatin reduces cholesterol production in the liver. Fenofibrate works by lowering the level of triglycerides in the blood and bad cholesterol. Together, Atorvastatin+fenofibrate helps treat high cholesterol levels.
In some cases, you may experience side effects like headache, blurred vision, stomach pain, constipation, joint swelling (oedema), joint pain, muscle pain, back pain, and nausea. Most of these side effects of Atorvastatin+fenofibrate do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor.
Take Atorvastatin+fenofibrate as prescribed. Your doctor will advise you on how often you take Atorvastatin+fenofibrate based on your medical condition. Atorvastatin+fenofibrate can be taken with or without food with a glass of water. Do not chew, crush or break the medicine.
Inform the doctor if you are allergic to any of the components in Atorvastatin+fenofibrate. If you have hypothyroidism, drink more than 2 servings of alcohol per day, and have a muscle disorder (fibromyalgia), it is advised to inform your doctor before using Atorvastatin+fenofibrate. Immediately contact your doctor if you experience yellowing of the skin (jaundice), allergic reaction, cramps, or muscle weakness. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Uses of Atorvastatin+fenofibrate
Medicinal Benefits
- It helps lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and increases the level of good cholesterol (HDL) in dyslipidemia or hyperlipidemia.
- Atorvastatin+fenofibrate also lowers the amount of fat or cholesterol deposition (plaque) in the arteries of the heart, thereby reducing the chance of having a heart attack or stroke in the future.
- Balances abnormal lipid profiles by lowering triglycerides and LDL while increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL or 'good cholesterol').
- It increases the uptake and breakdown of LDL cholesterol in the liver. It suppresses the production of very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), thereby reducing overall bad cholesterol levels in the blood.
- Atorvastatin+fenofibrate enhances the activity of lipoprotein lipase, an enzyme that breaks down fats in the bloodstream. It also helps reduce uric acid levels by promoting its excretion through urine.
- It reduces the chances of complications such as heart attack, stroke, and angina (chest pain due to reduced blood flow to the heart) due to high cholesterol levels.
Directions for Use
• It can be taken with or without food as advised by a doctor. • Adhere to your doctor's guidance regarding the dosage and timing of this medication for optimal effectiveness. • Swallow Atorvastatin+fenofibrate as a whole with a glass of water. • Do not crush, chew, or break it.
Storage
Side Effects of Atorvastatin+fenofibrate
- Muscle pain
- Muscle weakness
- Joint pain
- Back pain
- Stuffy/runny nose
- Headache
- Blurred vision
- Allergic reactions
- Hyperglycaemia (excess of glucose in the bloodstream)
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea
Drug Warnings
- Do not take Atorvastatin+fenofibrate if you are allergic to any of its components.
- A patient should consult a doctor before taking Atorvastatin+fenofibrate if a patient has had a previous stroke with bleeding into the brain or has small pockets of fluid in the brain from previous strokes.
- Also, let your doctor know if you have kidney/liver problems, hypothyroidism, repeated muscle aches or pains, a family history of muscle problems, are older than 70 years, have diabetes, or have problems with certain proteins in your blood.
- Atorvastatin+fenofibrate may increase the risk of muscle problems. Talk to your doctor if you experience muscle pain, tenderness or weakness, particularly if accompanied by malaise or fever.
- Consult your doctor before starting Atorvastatin+fenofibrate if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug interaction: Atorvastatin+fenofibrate interacts with oral anticoagulants (coumarin, warfarin), anti-gout medicines (colchicine), antibiotics (like cephalexin, tetracycline, gentamicin), antifungals (like miconazole, fluconazole, and ketoconazole), HIV medicines (like abacavir, retrovir, and tenofovir), hepatitis C medicines (like ribavirin, elbasvir), contraceptive pills, anti-arthritis pills (cyclosporin) and other fibrates (clofibrate, gemfibrozil, ezetimibe).
Drug-Food interaction: Avoid Atorvastatin+fenofibrate with food items containing grape juice as well as fatty products.
Drug-Disease interaction: Atorvastatin+fenofibrate should be used with caution in patients with liver disease (jaundice), kidney disease, lung disease, gall bladder stone, pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), and muscle problems (myasthenia gravis, rhabdomyolysis).
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAvoid drinking alcohol with Atorvastatin+fenofibrate. It can raise triglyceride levels and may increase your risk of liver damage.
Pregnancy
unsafeAtorvastatin+fenofibrate contains Atorvastatin, a pregnancy category X medicine that can harm both the pregnant mother and the unborn baby (fetus). So, please consult your doctor if you are pregnant.
Breast Feeding
consult your doctorAtorvastatin+fenofibrate is known to pass into the breast milk and can affect the baby's health. So, please consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
Driving
safe if prescribedAtorvastatin+fenofibrate does not usually affect your ability to drive.
Liver
cautionAtorvastatin+fenofibrate to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of liver disease. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor.
Kidney
cautionAtorvastatin+fenofibrate to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of kidney disease or are currently on dialysis. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor.
Children
cautionNot recommended in children as the safety and efficiency of Atorvastatin+fenofibrate has not been established in children.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Eating a proper diet (such as a low-cholesterol/low-fat diet), other lifestyle changes that may help this medication work better include exercising, losing weight if overweight, and stopping smoking.
- It is best to limit or avoid alcoholic drinks while you are taking this medicine.
- Using this medicine with alcohol can lead to additive side effects such as increased drowsiness. Do not drive or operate machinery if you are drinking alcohol-containing beverages.
- If you notice slurred speech, confusion, severe weakness or difficulty breathing, contact your health care provider immediately.
- Try aromatherapy, yoga, and meditation to help relax your body and mind.
- Try to do breathing exercises to get more oxygen.
- Eat a healthy diet especially rich in soluble fibers like beans, legumes, whole grains, flax, apples, and citrus fruits.
- Try to replace most of your saturated fats with unsaturated fats that can reduce total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in a short period. Foods like avocados, olive oil, fatty fish, and nuts contain lots of heart-healthy unsaturated fats, so it’s beneficial to eat them regularly.
- Try to adopt a Mediterranean-style diet rich in olive oil, fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, and fish, and lower the consumption of red meat.
- Try to give priority to more fruits and veggies in your daily meal as these contain antioxidants that help to lower LDL.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Hyperlipidemia or hypertriglyceridemia: It is a condition in which there is a high level of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) or bad cholesterol and a decreased level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or good cholesterol. Increased level of bad cholesterol leads to a high risk of heart attack and stroke in the future, especially in patients with heart disease. There are two types of cholesterol, namely bad cholesterol and good cholesterol. Bad cholesterol comprises low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides (TG), while good cholesterol consists of high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Usually, there are no specific symptoms of raised or high levels of cholesterol but a large deposition of cholesterol in the arteries (plaque) of the heart. Blocked artery or plaque formation in the arteries of the heart can lead to chest pain, heart attack, or stroke.
FAQs
Atorvastatin+fenofibrate is used to treat high lipid levels and reduce the risk of heart diseases. It helps in lowering the bad cholesterol (LDL) and increases the level of good cholesterol (HDL).
Strictly no, a patient is advised to take proper healthy diet free of oily and fatty products recommended by doctor for the best results of this medication.
As such, no harmful interaction has been reported, yet doctor consultation is advised.
This drug is primarily used to lower high levels of fatty acids in blood & to use it for weight loss is only done on a doctor's recommendation after he/she thoroughly checks the state of the patient.
Certain antibiotics like erythromycin and clarithromycin interact with Atorvastatin+fenofibrate and hence should not be used simultaneously with Atorvastatin+fenofibrate unless consulted & recommended by a doctor.
Atorvastatin+fenofibrate may cause side effects like hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), headache, blurred vision, stomach pain, constipation, headaches, joint swelling (oedema), joint pain, muscle pain, back pain, slow heart rate, and nausea. If the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor.
Liver damage is a very rare side effect of Atorvastatin+fenofibrate. Consult the doctor if you notice signs of liver problems like yellowing of skin and eyes, itchy skin, or dark urine.
Atorvastatin+fenofibrate can cause muscle pain as a side effect. Consult the doctor if you have muscle pain, muscle spasms/cramps or muscle weakness.
Follow a healthy diet and exercise regularly. Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption. Manage stress by doing meditation.
Consult the doctor before taking Atorvastatin+fenofibrate with other medicines like anticoagulants, anti-gout medicines, antibiotics, antifungals, anti-viral medicines, contraceptive pills, anti-arthritis pills and other fibrates.
