Ciprofibrate for hyperlipidaemia

About ciprofibrate

Lipid is another word for fat. Cholesterol and triglycerides are types of lipid. When the concentration of lipids in your blood is too high, it is called hyperlipidaemia. Lipids are made naturally in our bodies and are also absorbed from the food we eat. If the levels of lipids are too high, the excess fat is deposited on to the walls of our blood vessels. This can lead to patches like small fatty lumps developing within the lining of some blood vessels. These patches can reduce the flow of blood, and lead to heart disease, stroke, and blood circulation problems.

High levels of lipids do not make people feel ill, but they can cause the problems mentioned above if left untreated. By lowering the levels of fats, ciprofibrate helps to prevent these long-term heart and circulation problems. Your treatment will be more successful if you also follow the healthy lifestyle advice given by your doctor.

It is likely that you will be prescribed ciprofibrate if you have a high level of a lipid called triglyceride. It may also be given for other types of hyperlipidaemia, especially if other medicines (called statins) are not suitable for you.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine can only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking ciprofibrate it is important that your doctor knows:

• If you are pregnant, trying for a baby or breastfeeding.

• If you have problems with the way your kidneys work, or problems with the way your liver works.

• If you have gallbladder problems.

• If you have an underactive thyroid gland.

• If you are taking any other medicines. This includes any medicines you are taking which are available to buy without a prescription, as well as herbal and complementary medicines.

• If you have ever had an allergic or bad reaction to a medicine.

• Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about ciprofibrate, and it will also provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you could experience from taking it.

• Take ciprofibrate exactly as your doctor tells you to. The usual dose is one 100 mg tablet a day.

• You can generally take ciprofibrate at a time of day to suit you, but it is best to take your doses at the same time of day each day. This will help to remind you to take the tablets regularly.

• You can take ciprofibrate either with or without food. Some people find it helps to swallow the tablet with a drink of water.

• If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If you do not remember until the following day, leave out the forgotten dose from the previous day and take the dose that is due as normal. Do not take two doses at the same time to make up for a missed dose.
  

• Try to keep your regular appointments with your doctor. This is so your doctor can check on your progress. You will need to have regular blood tests during the first year of your treatment with ciprofibrate. These are to check that your liver stays healthy.

• Your doctor will give you advice about eating a healthy diet, avoiding drinking too much alcohol, reducing the amount of salt in your diet, stopping smoking, and taking regular exercise. Following this advice will also help you to reduce your risk of developing heart and blood vessel disease.

• Treatment with ciprofibrate is usually long-term unless you experience an adverse effect. Continue to take the tablets unless you are advised otherwise by your doctor.

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the ones associated with ciprofibrate. The best place to find a full list of the side-effects which can be associated with your medicine, is from the manufacturer's printed information leaflet supplied with the medicine. Alternatively, you can find an example of a manufacturer's information leaflet in the reference section below. Speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to the tablets, speak with your doctor or pharmacist for further advice.

• Keep all medicines out of the reach and sight of children.

• Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light.