gemfibrozil
Brand names: Lopid
Gemfibrozil is a medicine that helps lower high triglyceride levels in your blood. It can also help reduce the risk of heart disease in some people.
Drug Shortage Alert
gemfibrozil is currently listed as to be discontinued by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Pfizer Inc..
View all drug shortages →Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.10/unit
Generic Available
Yes (7 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
This medicine is used to treat very high triglyceride levels in adults when diet alone doesn't work.
Common side effects
Upset stomach, Indigestion, Abdominal pain
Key warnings
This medicine may increase your risk of gallbladder problems, including the need for surgery.
How It Works
Gemfibrozil belongs to a class of drugs called fibrates. It works by decreasing the amount of triglycerides your body makes. It also helps to increase HDL (good) cholesterol.
How to Take It
Take 1,200 mg of gemfibrozil each day, divided into two doses. Take one dose 30 minutes before your morning meal and the other 30 minutes before your evening meal. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. It is not known if gemfibrozil can harm your unborn baby. It is also not known if gemfibrozil passes into breast milk.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store gemfibrozil tablets at room temperature (68° - 77°F). Protect from light and humidity.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 6,871 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 14,954 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
14,954
Death-Related Reports
1,208
Hospitalization Reports
5,298
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | NAUSEA | 883 |
| 2 | FATIGUE | 825 |
| 3 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 766 |
| 4 | DIARRHOEA | 726 |
| 5 | PAIN | 693 |
| 6 | DIZZINESS | 617 |
| 7 | RHABDOMYOLYSIS | 604 |
| 8 | DYSPNOEA | 599 |
| 9 | ASTHENIA | 598 |
| 10 | HEADACHE | 561 |
| 11 | RENAL FAILURE | 560 |
| 12 | VOMITING | 509 |
| 13 | CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE | 484 |
| 14 | DRUG INTERACTION | 464 |
| 15 | PAIN IN EXTREMITY | 457 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
This medicine may increase your risk of gallbladder problems, including the need for surgery. Before taking gemfibrozil, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney problems. You should not take this medicine with simvastatin, repaglinide, dasabuvir, or selexipag.
Known Drug Interactions
Cyclosporine, Danazol, or Gemfibrozil Clinical Impact: The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use of cyclosporine, danazol, or gemfibrozil with ezetimibe and simvastatin. Gemfibrozil may cause myopathy when given alone. Intervention: Concomitant use of cyclosporine, danazol, or gemfibrozil with ezetimibe and simvastatin is contraindicated [see Contraindications ( 4 )].
Mechanism: Both of these medicines can harm your muscles, and using them together makes the risk of severe muscle damage much higher.
What to do: You should not take these two medications together; ask your doctor for a safer alternative.
Cyclosporine, Danazol, or Gemfibrozil Clinical Impact: The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use of cyclosporine, danazol, or gemfibrozil with VYTORIN. Gemfibrozil may cause myopathy when given alone. Intervention: Concomitant use of cyclosporine, danazol, or gemfibrozil with VYTORIN is contraindicated [see Contraindications (4) ] .
Mechanism: Both of these medications can cause muscle problems on their own, and using them together significantly increases the risk of severe muscle breakdown.
What to do: You should not take these two medications together.
Table 3: Clinically Important Drug Interactions with Repaglinide Gemfibrozil Clinical Impact: Gemfibrozil significantly increased repaglinide exposures by 8.1 fold [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] Intervention: Do not administer repaglinide to patients receiving gemfibrozil [see Contraindications (4) ] . Clopidogrel Clinical Impact: Clopidogrel increased repaglinide exposures by 3.9 to 5.1 fold [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] Intervention: Avoid concomitant use of repaglinide with clopidogrel. Drugs that are known to inhibit CYP2C8 include trimethoprim, gemfibrozil, montelukast, defe...
Mechanism: Gemfibrozil stops your body from getting rid of repaglinide, which causes the level of repaglinide in your blood to become dangerously high.
What to do: You must not take repaglinide if you are also taking gemfibrozil.
Cyclosporine, Danazol, or Gemfibrozil Clinical Impact: The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use of cyclosporine, danazol, or gemfibrozil with ezetimibe and simvastatin. Gemfibrozil may cause myopathy when given alone. Intervention: Concomitant use of cyclosporine, danazol, or gemfibrozil with ezetimibe and simvastatin is contraindicated [see Contraindications ( 4 )].
Mechanism: Both drugs can cause muscle damage on their own, and taking them together greatly increases the risk of severe muscle breakdown.
What to do: Do not take these two medicines together; your doctor will need to find an alternative treatment.
Table 2: Drug Interactions that may Increase the Risk of Myopathy and Rhabdomyolysis with Atorvastatin Cyclosporine or Gemfibrozil Clinical Impact: Atorvastatin plasma levels were significantly increased with concomitant administration of atorvastatin and cyclosporine, an inhibitor of CYP3A4 and OATP1B1 [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. Gemfibrozil may cause myopathy when given alone. The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use of cyclosporine or gemfibrozil with atorvastatin.
Mechanism: Both drugs can cause muscle injury on their own, and using them at the same time significantly increases the risk of severe muscle breakdown.
What to do: Avoid taking these two medications together because of the high risk of serious muscle problems.
Common Questions
Can I take gemfibrozil with other cholesterol medications?
Will gemfibrozil cure my high triglycerides?
What should I avoid while taking gemfibrozil?
How long does it take for gemfibrozil to work?
Can gemfibrozil cause muscle pain?
Is it safe to drive while taking gemfibrozil?
What if I have side effects from gemfibrozil?
Can I stop taking gemfibrozil if my triglycerides are normal?
Does gemfibrozil interact with any other medications?
What tests will I need while taking gemfibrozil?
What are the common side effects of gemfibrozil?
Does gemfibrozil interact with other medications?
What drug class is gemfibrozil?
Is gemfibrozil safe during pregnancy?
Is gemfibrozil currently in shortage?
Related Medications in Fibrate
Other drugs grouped near gemfibrozil — same-class peers and common alternatives.
alirocumab
Praluent
Praluent is a medicine that can lower cholesterol.
Compare with gemfibrozil →
atorvastatin
Lipitor
Atorvastatin is a drug that lowers cholesterol and reduces the risk of heart problems and stroke.
Compare with gemfibrozil →
bempedoic acid
Nexletol
Nexlizet is a combination medicine that helps lower cholesterol.
Compare with gemfibrozil →
bempedoic acid/ezetimibe
Nexlizet
Nexlizet is a combination medicine that helps lower cholesterol.
Compare with gemfibrozil →
cholestyramine
Questran
Cholestyramine is a medicine that helps lower high cholesterol levels in your blood.
Compare with gemfibrozil →
Medication Guides
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FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
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What the FDA Data Shows for gemfibrozil
The FDA label for gemfibrozil (sold under brand names such as Lopid) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Fibrate class. This medicine is used to treat very high triglyceride levels in adults when diet alone doesn't work. Official labeling lists 3 commonly reported side effects, including Upset stomach, Indigestion, Abdominal pain.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 6,871 voluntary reports. The database also lists 20 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.10.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC). Shortage status: FDA Drug Shortages Database.
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: June 18, 2021
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages