Gemfibrozil

(CC) Image: David E. Volk
Gemfibrozil.

Gemfibrozil, or 5-(2,5-dimethylphenoxy)-2,2-dimethylpentanoic acid), is a antilipemic medication that lowers serum triglyceride levels, with variable effects on cholesterol. The VLDL fraction is preferentially lowered and LDL less so. Gemfibrozil can treat hypoalphalipoproteinemia by increasing the HDL subfractions HDL2 and HDL3, and apolipoproteins A-I and A-II. Gemfibrozil is a fibric acid derivitive antilipemic agent similar to clofibrate that is used to treat hyperlipoproteinemia and supplimental therapy for type IIb hypercholesterolemia. Gemfibrozil increases lipoprotein triglyceride lipolysis by increasing the activity of extrahepatic lipoprotein lipase. Chylomicrons are degraded, VLDLs are converted to LDLs, and LDLs are converted to HDL.

Drug Interactions

Gemfibrozil increases the anticoagulant effects of anisindione, dicumarol, acenocoumarol and warfarin. There is an increased risk of myopathy/rhaddomyolysis when gemfibrizol is taken with the cholesterol lowering statin drugs atorvastatin (Lipitor), cerivastatin, fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin, pravastatin (Pravachol), and simvastatin (Vytorin). Gemfibrizol increases the effects and toxicity of pioglitazone, rosiglitazone and repaglinide. The statin rosuvastatin (Crestor) may increase the effect of gemfibrizol, and gemfibrizol decreases the effects of ursodiol.

Brand Names

• Apo-Gemfibrozil
• Bolutol
• Cholespid
• Decrelip
• Fibratol
• Fibrocit
• Gemfibril
• Gemfibromax
• Gemlipid
• Gen-Fibro
• Genlip
• Gevilon
• Hipolixan
• Jezil
• Lipozid
• Lipur
• Lopid
• Novo-Gemfibrozil
• Nu-Gemfibrozil

External Links

The most up-to-date information about Gemfibrozil and other drugs can be found at the following sites.

• Gemfibrozil - FDA approved drug information (drug label) from DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine).
• Gemfibrozil - Drug information for consumers from MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine).
• Gemfibrozil - Detailed information from DrugBank.