Bezafibrate

Brand Name:Bezalip

Prescription needed: Yes

What is this drug used for?

Bezafibrate is used to decrease high levels of “bad” cholesterol and other fats (triglycerides) in the blood and, at the same time, increases the “good” cholesterol in the blood. By balancing out the “good” and “bad” cholesterol, it can help to decrease the chances for heart disease, stroke and other illnesses (e.g. pancreatitis).

Is there any reason not to take this drug?

Do not take this medication if you are allergic to bezafibrate, gemfibrozil, fenofibrate or clofibrate. Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had:

  • problems with your gallbladder, kidney or liver
  • problems with muscle weakness or pain
  • diabetes

What about possible side effects?

The most common side effects to this medication involve the stomach and skin. These include:

  • stomach pain and not feeling hungry
  • nausea
  • gas
  • rash

Other less common and possibly severe side effects include:

  • feeling dizzy, drowsy or tired
  • headache
  • changes in vision
  • difficulty sleeping
  • problems with sex (impotence) in men
  • feeling weak or pain in the muscles - if this occurs, it is usually in people with other risk factors (e.g. other medical conditions or medications)
  • problems with the kidney
  • problems with the gallbladder (gallstones)
  • Rare cases of hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) and jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes) have been reported - call your doctor if you experience unexplained nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, dark urine, yellowing of the skin and/or eyes.

This is not a complete list of side effects. If you are concerned about these or other unusual symptoms while taking this medication, ask your doctor and/or pharmacist for more information and advice.

What if I am taking other drugs?

Always provide your doctor with a list of all other drugs you are taking (including over-the-counter medications and herbal/natural products) as they may interact with and/or may change the safety or effectiveness of either drug. Tell your doctor specifically if you are taking any of these drugs as these are the most common interactions and he/she may need to make changes or monitor you more closely:
  • warfarin - may increase the amount of warfarin in the blood
  • simvastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin, atorvastatin - increased chance for muscle side effects
  • cholestyramine - must separate by at least two hours
  • rifampin - may decrease the amount of bezafibrate in the blood
  • cyclosporine - may increase the chance for side effects on the kidney

This is not a complete list of drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review your list of medications.

Other information:

Children: Generally not prescribed.

Seniors: May take this drug as prescribed.

Pregnant women: Safety not established. Talk to your doctor.

Women who are nursing: May pass into breast milk. Talk to your doctor.

People who drive or operate machinery: No reason for concern.

Alcohol: No known problems. If you drink, always drink in moderation.

Overdose: If you experience any unusual reactions or if you seriously exceed the recommended dosage, call your doctor or 911.

Stopping the drug: Do not stop taking this drug until you have spoken with your doctor. Even though you can not see or feel how this drug is working, you are still getting benefit from the medication. If you stop taking the medication, you will also lose any positive effect it is having on your cholesterol and your risk for having a heart attack or stroke could increase.

If you miss a dose: If you take this drug once a day you should take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. If it is within four hours of your next scheduled dose, take the forgotten dose and skip the next one. If you take it two or three times a day, don’t bother with the missed dose and resume your normal schedule. Do not take a double dose.

Storage conditions: Closed container; cool, dry location away from excess moisture (not in the bathroom); always out of reach of children.

Dietary precautions: Follow a low-cholesterol, low-fat diet as discussed with your doctor or dietician.