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New search Medicine profile Fenofibrate

Clinical medicine profile

Fenofibrate

Peroxisome Proliferator Receptor alpha Agonist [EPC]

POM
Evidence state Source-linked Review date not recorded
Route
See product SmPC
Schedule
POM
ATC
Not assigned
PPB status
registered
Patient advice Check interactions
01 Risk first

Safety essentials

The information most likely to change a prescribing or dispensing decision.

Contraindications

  • dysfunction, including dialysis patients ( 4 , 8.6 , 12.3 ).
  • Active liver disease ( 4 , 5.3 ).
  • Gallbladder disease ( 4 , 5.5 ).
  • Known hypersensitivity to fenofibrate ( 4 ).
  • Nursing mothers ( 4 , 8.2 ).
  • Fenofibrate is contraindicated in: patients with severe renal impairment, including those receiving dialysis [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY ( 12.3 )] . patients with active liver disease, including those with primary biliary cirrhosis and unexplained persistent liver function abnormalities [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS ( 5.2 )] . patients with preexisting gallbladder disease [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS ( 5.5 )] . nursing mothers [see USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS ( 8.2 )] patients with known hypersensitivity to fenofibrate or fenofibric acid [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS ( 5.9 )].

Precautions

  • : Serious drug-induced liver injury, including liver transplantation and death, has been reported with fenofibrate.
  • Monitor patient's liver function, including serum ALT, AST, and total bilirubin, atbaseline and periodically for the duration of therapy.
  • Discontinue if signs or symptoms of liver injury develop or if elevated enzyme levels persist ( 5.2 ).
  • Myopathy and rhabdomyolysis: Have been reported in patients taking fenofibrate.
  • Risks are increased during co-administration with a statin (with a significantly higher rate observed for gemfibrozil), particularly in elderly patients and patients with diabetes, renal failure, or hypothyroidism ( 5.3 ).
  • Serum creatinine: Fenofibrate can reversibly increase serum creatinine levels ( 5.4 ).
  • Monitor renal function periodically in patients with renal impairment ( 8.6 ).
  • Cholelithiasis: Fenofibrate increases cholesterol excretion into the bile, leading to risk of cholelithiasis.
  • If cholelithiasis is suspected, gallbladder studies are indicated ( 5.5 ).
  • Coumarin anticoagulants: Use caution in concomitant treatment with oral coumarin anticoagulants.
  • Adjust the dosage of coumarin anticoagulant to maintain the prothrombin time/INR at the desired level to prevent bleeding complications ( 5.6 ).
  • Hypersensitivity Reactions: Acute hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis and angioedema, and delayed hypersensitivity reactions, including severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions have been reported postmarketing.
02 Point of care

Dosing matrix

Population and organ-function guidance, shown together for faster comparison.

Adult

dyslipidemia: Initial dose of 160 mg once daily ( 2.2 ). Severe hypertriglyceridemia: Initial dose of 54 to 160 mg once daily. Maximum dose is 160 mg ( 2.3 ). Renally impaired patients: Initial dose of 54 mg once daily ( 2.4 ). Geriatric patients: Select the dose on the basis of renal function ( 2.5 ). Should be given with meals ( 2.1 ). 2.1 General Considerations Patients should be placed on an appropriate lipid-lowering diet before receiving fenofibrate tablet USP, and should continue this diet during treatment with fenofibrate tablet USP. Fenofibrate tablets USP should be given with meals, thereby optimizing the bioavailability of the medication. The initial treatment for dyslipidemia is dietary therapy specific for the type of lipoprotein abnormality. Excess body weight and excess alcoholic intake may be important factors in hypertriglyceridemia and should be addressed prior to any drug therapy. Physical exercise can be an important ancillary measure. Diseases contributory to hyperlipidemia, such as hypothyroidism or diabetes mellitus should be looked for and adequately treated. Estrogen therapy, thiazide diuretics and beta-blockers, are sometimes associated with massive rises in plasma triglycerides, especially in subjects with familial hypertriglyceridemia. In such cases, discontinuation of the specific etiologic agent may obviate the need for specific drug therapy of hypertriglyceridemia. Lipid levels should be monitored periodically and consideration should be given to reducing the dosage of fenofibrate tablet USP if lipid levels fall significantly below the targeted range. Therapy should be withdrawn in patients who do not have an adequate response after two months of treatment with the maximum recommended dose of 160 mg once daily. 2.2 Primary Hypercholesterolemia or Mixed Dyslipidemia The initial dose of fenofibrate tablet USP is 160 mg once daily. 2.3 Severe Hypertriglyceridemia The initial dose is 54 to 160 mg per day. Dosage should be individualized according to patient response, and should be adjusted if necessary following repeat lipid determinations at 4 to 8 week intervals. The maximum dose is 160 mg once daily. 2.4 Impaired Renal Function Treatment with fenofibrate tablet USP should be initiated at a dose of 54 mg per day in patients having mild to moderately impaired renal function, and increased only after evaluation of the effects on renal function and lipid levels at this dose. The use of fenofibrate tablet USP should be avoided in patients with severe renal impairment [see USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS ( 8.6 ) and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY ( 12.3 )]. 2.5 Geriatric Patients Dose selection for the elderly should be made on the basis of renal function [see USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS ( 8.5 )] .

Paediatric

8.4 Pediatric Use Safety and effectiveness have not been established in pediatric patients.

Renal

Review renal impairment dosing; many agents need CrCl/eGFR adjustment.

  • CrCl 0–120: Confirm renal dosing in product SmPC / primary label.
Hepatic

Review hepatic impairment dosing; monitor LFTs if agent is hepatically cleared or hepatotoxic.

03 Clinical use

Use, effects & interactions

Indications

  • (PPAR) alpha agonist indicated as an adjunct to diet: To reduce elevated LDL-C, Total-C, TG and Apo B, and to increase HDL-C in adult patients with primary hypercholesterolemia or mixed dyslipidemia ( 1.1 ).
  • For treatment of adult patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia ( 1.2 ).
  • Limitations of Use: Fenofibrate was not shown to reduce coronary heart disease morbidity and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus ( 5.1 ). 1.1 Primary Hypercholesterolemia or Mixed Dyslipidemia Fenofibrate tablet USP is indicated as adjunctive therapy to diet to reduce elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol (Total-C), Triglycerides and apolipoprotein B (Apo B), and to increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in adult patients with primary hypercholesterolemia or mixed dyslipidemia. 1.2 Severe Hypertriglyceridemia Fenofibrate tablet USP is also indicated as adjunctive therapy to diet for treatment of adult patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia.
  • Improving glycemic control in diabetic patients showing fasting chylomicronemia will usually obviate the need for pharmacologic intervention.
  • Markedly elevated levels of serum triglycerides (e.g. > 2,000 mg/dL) may increase the risk of developing pancreatitis.
  • The effect of fenofibrate therapy on reducing this risk has not been adequately studied. 1.3 Important Limitations of Use Fenofibrate at a dose equivalent to 160 mg of fenofibrate tablet USP was not shown to reduce coronary heart disease morbidity and mortality in a large, randomized controlled trial of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS ( 5.1 )] .

Adverse effects

  • labeling: •Mortality and coronary heart disease morbidity [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS ( 5.1 )] •Hepatoxicity [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS ( 5.2 )] •Pancreatitis [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS ( 5.7 )] •Hypersensitivity reactions [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS ( 5.9 )] • Venothromboembolic disease [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS ( 5.10 )] Adverse reactions > 2% and at least 1% greater than placebo: Abnormal liver tests, increased AST, increased ALT, increased CPK, and rhinitis ( 6 ).
  • To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. at 1-800-399-2561 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical studies are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical studies of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical studies of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
  • Adverse events reported by 2% or more of patients treated with fenofibrate (and greater than placebo) during the double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, regardless of causality, are listed in Table 1 below.
  • Adverse events led to discontinuation of treatment in 5.0% of patients treated with fenofibrate and in 3.0% treated with placebo.
  • Increases in liver function tests were the most frequent events, causing discontinuation of fenofibrate treatment in 1.6% of patients in double- blind trials.
  • Table 1.
  • Adverse Reactions Reported by 2% or More of Patients Treated with Fenofibrate and Greater than Placebo During the Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trials 1 Significantly different from Placebo.
  • BODY SYSTEM Fenofibrate Dosage equivalent to 160 mg fenofibrate.
  • Placebo Adverse Reaction ( N = 439 ) ( N = 365 ) BODY AS A WHOLE Abdominal Pain 4.6% 4.4% Back Pain 3.4% 2.5% Headache 3.2% 2.7% DIGESTIVE Nausea 2.3% 1.9% Constipation 2.1% 1.4% METABOLIC AND NUTRITIONAL DISORDERS Abnormal Liver Function Tests 7.5% 1 1.4% Increased ALT 3.0% 1.6% Increased CPK 3.0% 1.4% Increased AST 3.4% 1 0.5% RESPIRATORY Respiratory Disorder 6.2% 5.5% Rhinitis 2.3% 1.1% Urticaria was seen in 1.1% vs. 0%, and rash in 1.4% vs. 0.8% of fenofibrate and placebo patients respectively in controlled trials.
  • Increases in Liver Enzymes In a pooled analysis of 10 placebo-controlled trials, increases to > 3 times the upper limit of normal in ALT occurred in 5.3% of patients taking fenofibrate at doses equivalent to 107 mg to 160 mg fenofibrate daily versus 1.1% of patients treated with placebo.
  • In an 8-week study, the incidence of ALT or AST elevations ≥ 3 times the upper limit of normal was 13% in patients receiving dosages equivalent to 107 mg to 160 mg fenofibrate daily and was 0% in those receiving dosages equivalent to 54 mg or less fenofibrate daily or placebo. 6.2 Postmarketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of fenofibrate.
  • Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure: myalgia, rhabdomyolysis, pancreatitis, acute renal failure, muscle spasm, hepatitis, cirrhosis, increased total bilirubin, anemia, arthralgia, decreases in hemoglobin, decreases in hematocrit, white blood cell decreases, asthenia, severely depressed HDL-cholesterol levels, and interstitial lung disease.
  • Photosensitivity reactions have occurred days to months after initiation
  • in some of these cases, patients reported a prior photosensitivity reaction to ketoprofen.
  • Professional use: confirm indication, dose, duration, monitoring and patient counselling points against current Kenya STG / EML and the product SmPC.
  • Document allergy status and key interactions.
04 Pharmacology

Mechanism & disposition

acid.

The pharmacological effects of fenofibric…The lipid-modifying effects of fenofibric…Through this mechanism, fenofibrate increa…
Read complete mechanism

acid. The pharmacological effects of fenofibric acid in both animals and humans have been extensively studied through oral administration of fenofibrate. The lipid-modifying effects of fenofibric acid seen in clinical practice have been explained in vivo in transgenic mice and in vitro in human hepatocyte cultures by the activation of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor α (PPARα). Through this mechanism, fenofibrate increases lipolysis and elimination of triglyceride-rich particles from plasma by activating lipoprotein lipase and reducing production of apoprotein C-III (an inhibitor of lipoprotein lipase activity). The resulting decrease in TG produces an alteration in the size and composition of LDL from small, dense particles (which are thought to be atherogenic due to their susceptibility to oxidation), to large buoyant particles. These larger particles have a greater affinity for cholesterol receptors and are catabolized rapidly. Activation of PPARα also induces an increase in the synthesis of apolipoproteins A-I, A-II and HDL-cholesterol. Fenofibrate also reduces serum uric acid levels in hyperuricemic and normal individuals by increasing the urinary excretion of uric acid.

Onset

Product-specific

Duration

Product-specific

Route

See product SmPC

Absorption

The absolute bioavailability of fenofibrate cannot be determined as the compound is virtually insoluble in aqueous media suitable for injection. However, fenofibrate is well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Following oral administration in healthy volunteers, approximate...

Distribution

Upon multiple dosing of fenofibrate, fenofibric acid steady state is achieved within 5 days. Plasma concentrations of fenofibric acid at steady state are approximately double of those following a single dose. Serum protein binding was approximately 99% in normal and hyperlipidemi...

Metabolism

Following oral administration, fenofibrate is rapidly hydrolyzed by esterases to the active metabolite, fenofibric acid; no unchanged fenofibrate is detected in plasma. Fenofibric acid is primarily conjugated with glucuronic acid and then excreted in urine. A small amount of feno...

Elimination

of triglyceride-rich particles from plasma by activating lipoprotein lipase and reducing production of apoprotein C-III (an inhibitor of lipoprotein lipase activity). The resulting decrease in TG produces an alteration in the size and composition of LDL from small, dense particle...

Half-life

of 20 hours, allowing once daily dosing. Special Populations Geriatrics: In elderly volunteers 77 to 87 years of age, the oral clearance of fenofibric acid following a single oral dose of fenofibrate was 1.2 L/h, which compares to 1.1 L/h in young adults. This indicates that a si...

05 Special populations

Pregnancy, lactation & diet

Pregnancy

8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Limited available data with fenofibrate use in pregnant women are insufficient to determine a drug associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. In animal reproduction studies, no evidence of embryo-fetal toxicity was observed with oral administration of fenofibrate in rats and rabbits during organogenesis at doses less than or equivalent to the maximum recommended clinical dose of 160 mg daily, based on body surface area (mg/m 2 ). Adverse reproductive outcomes occurred at higher doses in the presence of maternal toxicity (see Data). Fenofibrate should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively. Data Animal Data In pregnant rats given oral dietary doses of 14, 127, and 361 mg/kg/day from gestation day 6 to 15 during the period of organogenesis, no adverse developmental findings were observed at 14 mg/kg/day (less than the clinical exposure at the maximum recommended human dose [MRHD] of 300 mg fenofibrate daily, equivalent to 160 mg fenofibrate tablets daily, based on body surface area comparisons). Increased fetal skeletal malformations were observed at maternally toxic doses (361 mg/kg/day, corresponding to 12 times the clinical exposure at the MRHD) that significantly suppressed maternal body weight gain. In pregnant rabbits given oral gavage doses of 15, 150, and 300 mg/kg/day from gestation day 6 to 18 during the period of organogenesis and allowed to deliver, no adverse developmental findings were observed at 15 mg/kg/day (a dose that approximates the clinical exposure at the MRHD, based on body surface area comparisons). Aborted litters were observed at maternally toxic doses (≥ 150 mg/kg/day, corresponding to ≥ 10 times the clinical exposure at the MRHD) that suppressed maternal body weight gain. In pregnant rats given oral dietary doses of 15, 75, and 300 mg/kg/day from gestation day 15 through lactation day 21 (weaning), no adverse developmental effects were observed at 15 mg/kg/day (less than the clinical exposure at the MRHD, based on body surface area comparisons), despite maternal toxicity (decreased weight gain). Post-implantation loss was observed at ≥ 75 mg/kg/day (≥ 2 times the clinical exposure at the MRHD) in the presence of maternal toxicity (decreased weight gain). Decreased pup survival was noted at 300 mg/kg/day (10 times the clinical exposure at the MRHD), which was associated with decreased maternal body weight gain/maternal neglect.

Lactation

Use: Determine dose selection based on renal function ( 8.5 ). Renal Impairment: Avoid use in severe renal impairment patients. Dose reduction is required in mild to moderate renal impairment patients ( 8.6 ). 8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Limited available data with fenofibrate use in pregnant women are insufficient to determine a drug associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. In animal reproduction studies, no evidence of embryo-fetal toxicity was observed with oral administration of fenofibrate in rats and rabbits during organogenesis at doses less than or equivalent to the maximum recommended clinical dose of 160 mg daily, based on body surface area (mg/m 2 ). Adverse reproductive outcomes occurred at higher doses in the presence of maternal toxicity (see Data). Fenofibrate should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively. Data Animal Data In pregnant rats given oral dietary doses of 14, 127, and 361 mg/kg/day from gestation day 6 to 15 during the period of organogenesis, no adverse developmental findings were observed at 14 mg/kg/day (less than the clinical exposure at the maximum recommended human dose [MRHD] of 300 mg fenofibrate daily, equivalent to 160 mg fenofibrate tablets daily, based on body surface area comparisons). Increased fetal skeletal malformations were observed at maternally toxic doses (361 mg/kg/day, corresponding to 12 times the clinical exposure at the MRHD) that significantly suppressed maternal body weight gain. In pregnant rabbits given oral gavage doses of 15, 150, and 300 mg/kg/day from gestation day 6 to 18 during the period of organogenesis and allowed to deliver, no adverse developmental findings were observed at 15 mg/kg/day (a dose that approximates the clinical exposure at the MRHD, based on body surface area comparisons). Aborted litters were observed at maternally toxic doses (≥ 150 mg/kg/day, corresponding to ≥ 10 times the clinical exposure at the MRHD) that suppressed maternal body weight gain. In pregnant rats given oral dietary doses of 15, 75, and 300 mg/kg/day from gestation day 15 through lactation day 21 (weaning), no adverse developmental effects were observed at 15 mg/kg/day (less than the clinical exposure at the MRHD, based on body surface area comparisons), despite maternal toxicity (decreased weight gain). Post-implantation loss was observed at ≥ 75 mg/kg/day (≥ 2 times the clinical exposure at the MRHD) in the presence of maternal toxicity (decreased weight gain). Decreased pup survival was noted at 300 mg/kg/day (10 times the clinical exposure at the MRHD), which was associated with decreased maternal body weight gain/maternal neglect. 8.2 Lactation Risk Summary There is no available information on the presence of fenofibrate in human milk, effects of the drug on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production. Fenofibrate is present in the milk of rats, and is therefore likely to be present in human milk. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in breastfed infants, such as disruption of infant lipid metabolism, women should not breastfeed during treatment with fenofibrate and for 5 days after the final dose [see CONTRAINDICATIONS ( 4 )] . 8.4 Pediatric Use Safety and effectiveness have not been established in pediatric patients. 8.5 Geriatric Use Fenofibric acid is known to be substantially excreted by the kidney, and the risk of adverse reactions to this drug may be greater in patients with impaired renal function. Fenofibric acid exposure is not influenced by age. Since elderly patients have a higher incidence of renal impairment, dose selection for the elderly should be made on the basis of renal function [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION ( 2.5 ) and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY ( 12.3 )] . Elderly patients with normal renal function should require no dose modifications. Consider monitoring renal function in elderly patients taking fenofibrate. 8.6 Renal Impairment The use of fenofibrate should be avoided in patients who have severe renal impairment [see CONTRAINDICATIONS ( 4 )] . Dose reduction is required in patients with mild to moderate renal impairment [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION ( 2.4 ) and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY ( 12.3 )]. Monitoring renal function in patients with renal impairment is recommended. 8.7 Hepatic Impairment The use of fenofibrate has not been evaluated in subjects with hepatic impairment [see CONTRAINDICATIONS ( 4 ) and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY ( 12.3 )].

06 Kenya market

Brands & loaded prices

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07 Provenance

Sources & review state

Primary sourceLocal active-ingredient clinical extract; FDA drug label via OpenFDA/DailyMed; Professional class pharmacology (Therapeutic agent (verify pharmacological class))
Last reviewedNot recorded
EvidenceSource-linked
Open source document ↗

Decision support only. Confirm patient-specific decisions against the current product SmPC, Kenya STG/EML, and professional judgement.