Prescription medication · Fibrate
gemfibrozil
Also sold as Lopid. This medicine is used to treat very high triglyceride levels in adults when diet alone doesn't work.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 14,954
- FDA reportsModerately reported
- 20
- InteractionsSeveral interactions
- In shortage
- FDA status
What the data shows
gemfibrozil (Lopid) is a prescription Fibrate, reported less often than most tracked drugs (14,954 FDA reports), with 20 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
gemfibrozil (Lopid) is a prescription Fibrate. This medicine is used to treat very high triglyceride levels in adults when diet alone doesn't work.
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.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
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.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from gemfibrozil's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
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.
This is a plain-language summary of gemfibrozil's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
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.
This is a plain-language summary of gemfibrozil's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.
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.
This is a plain-language summary of gemfibrozil's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
Store gemfibrozil tablets at room temperature (68° - 77°F). Protect from light and humidity.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 14,954 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for gemfibrozil, by number of reports
- Feeling sick to your stomach
Feeling sick to your stomach
882 reports
- Feeling tired
Feeling tired
826 reports
- Loose stools
Loose stools
726 reports
- Aches
Aches
692 reports
- Feeling lightheaded
Feeling lightheaded
617 reports
- Muscle breakdown
Muscle breakdown
604 reports
- Weakness
Weakness
599 reports
- Shortness of breath
Shortness of breath
598 reports
- Head pain
Head pain
561 reports
- Kidney failure
Kidney failure
559 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for gemfibrozil each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where gemfibrozil sits
gemfibrozil has more FDA adverse-event reports than 48% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is gemfibrozil; the line is the median (50th percentile).
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
Reports Mentioning Death
1,208
8.1% of reports — not proof of cause
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 |
| 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 |
| 16 | FALL | 452 |
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,...
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.
This is a plain-language summary of interactions documented in FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining medications.
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
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
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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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 14,954 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.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
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