Bezafibrate for hyperlipidaemia

About bezafibrate

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, bezafibrate 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 bezafibrate if you have a high triglyceride level. 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 may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking bezafibrate it is important that your doctor or pharmacist knows:

• Om du är gravid, försöker bli gravid eller ammar.

• If you have liver, kidney or gallbladder problems.

• If you have an underactive thyroid gland.

• Om du tar några andra läkemedel. Detta inkluderar alla läkemedel du tar som finns att köpa utan recept, samt växtbaserade och komplementära läkemedel.

• Om du någonsin har haft en allergisk reaktion mot en medicin.

• Before you start this treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. The leaflet will give you more information about the brand of bezafibrate that you have been given, and a full list of side-effects which are possible from taking it.

• Take bezafibrate exactly as your doctor has told you. Your doctor or pharmacist will tell you how often to take the tablets. This will be once daily if you have been given a prolonged-release tablet, and three times daily if not. Your dose will be on the label of the pack to remind you.

• Try to take bezafibrate at the same times of day each day, as this will help you to remember to take your doses. Take the tablets with or immediately after a meal.

• If you have been given prolonged-release tablets (Bezalip® Mono and Fibrazate® XL brands), it is important that you swallow the tablets whole - do not chew, crush, or break them.

• If you forget to take a dose, take one as soon as you remember unless it is nearly time for your next dose, in which case skip the missed dose. Do not take two doses at the same time to make up for a forgotten dose.

• Försök att hålla dina regelbundna möten med din läkare. Detta är så att din läkare kan följa upp din utveckling.

• Your doctor will give you advice about eating a healthy diet, 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 bezafibrate is usually long-term unless you experience an adverse effect. Continue to take the tablets unless you are advised otherwise by your doctor.

Förutom sina nyttiga effekter kan de flesta läkemedel orsaka oönskade biverkningar, även om inte alla upplever dem. Dessa förbättras vanligtvis när din kropp anpassar sig till det nya läkemedlet, men tala med din läkare eller apotekare om någon av följande biverkningar fortsätter eller blir besvärliga.

Viktigt: if you develop any muscle aches or pains, particularly in your legs, you should tell your doctor about it as soon as possible.

Om du upplever några andra symtom som du tror kan bero på denna medicin, tala med din läkare eller apotekare.

• Förvara alla läkemedel utom räckhåll och synhåll för barn.

• Förvara på en sval, torr plats, borta från direkt värme och ljus.