Triglycerides are fats in your body's fat tissue and bloodstream. When your triglyceride level is too high, it can cause strokes or heart attacks. High triglycerides can narrow or harden your arteries, causing your heart to work too hard. Triglycerides are part of the cholesterol group, along with high-density and low-density lipoproteins. An overabundance of triglycerides can be caused by alcoholism, kidney failure, obesity and diabetes. Medications such as the generic fenofibrate and gemfibrozil often are prescribed to regulate triglycerides.
Typical Serious Side Effects
Fenofibrate, marketed under such brand names as Triglide, Antara, Tricor, Lipofen, Fenoglide and Lofibra, can cause a variety of serious side effects, including fever, chills, infections, hives, pain in the muscles, vomiting, a skin rash, nausea and itching. Consult your physician if you experience any of these side effects.
Rare Serious Side Effects
Fenofibrate can cause other serious side effects, but these are rare. They include abnormal tiredness, stomach bloating, stomach pain, eye yellowing, indigestion that continues, skin yellowing, difficulty breathing, abnormal bruising, shortness of breath, uncommon bleeding and a cough. Decreased appetite, cramps or weakness in the muscles, urine discoloration and an overall feeling of being ill are also possible. Gemfibrozil, marketed as Lopid in capsule and pill form, also may cause chills or a fever and severe stomach pain, weakness or tiredness, difficulty urinating or pain when urinating, a cough, hoarseness and pain in the muscles, the side or the lower back. Any of these should be reported to your doctor.
Non-Serious Side Effects
Fenofibrate also has been known to cause some temporary and non-serious side effects, according to the Mayo Clinic. Report these to your doctor if they continue. Non-serious side effects should stop after you have taken the medicine for a while. They include nasal congestion, pain in the back, pain in the stomach, belching, decreases in strength, constipation, lowered libido, sunlight sensitivity on the skin and headaches. Others may include irritation of the eyes, diarrhea and dizziness. Gemfibrozil also may cause stomach problems, such as heartburn, gas or pain, skin rash, vomiting, nausea and diarrhea.
