What is Tricor?
Tricor (fenofibrate) is a lipid-lowering medication that is used to treat
high cholesterol and high triglycerides in the blood. High cholesterol and
triglycerides can lead to hardening of the arteries, which can increase your risk of
heart disease, stroke, and heart attacks. Tricor works by reducing the amount of
lipids (fats) in your blood. This can help to lower your cholesterol and triglyceride
levels. Tricor is available as a generic drug. Generic drugs are typically less
expensive than brand-name drugs.
Health Benefits
Tricor can help to lower cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. This can
help to reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, and heart attacks. Tricor may also
help to prevent the development of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
Atherosclerosis can lead to heart disease, stroke, and heart attacks. Tricor is not a
weight-loss medication and will not help you to lose weight.
Side Effects
Tricor can cause side effects such as headache, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain,
nausea, and vomiting. Tricor can also cause dizziness. If you experience any of these
side effects, you should contact your doctor. Tricor can also cause more serious side
effects, such as allergic reactions, liver problems, and kidney problems. If you
experience any of these side effects, you should seek medical attention immediately.
Tricor is a medication that can help to lower cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood.
It is important to talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking Tricor
before you start taking the medication.
Dosages
The usual starting dose of Tricor is 145 mg once daily. Your doctor may increase your
dose to 290 mg once daily, depending on your response to the medication. Tricor is
available as a tablet that you take by mouth. Tricor should be taken with food.
If you miss a dose of Tricor, you should take it as soon as possible. If it is almost
time for your next dose, you should skip the missed dose and continue with your
regular dosing schedule. You should not take two doses of Tricor at the same time.
You should store Tricor at room temperature, away from light and moisture.
Interactions
Tricor can interact with other medications. Before taking Tricor, you should tell
your doctor if you are taking any other medications, including over-the-counter
medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements. You should not take Tricor if you are
allergic to fenofibrate or any other ingredients in Tricor.
Tricor can interact with other medications, such as fenofibric acid, gemfibrozil, and
atorvastatin. These interactions can increase your risk of side effects. You should
tell your doctor if you are taking any of these medications before you start taking
Tricor.
You should not take Tricor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Tricor can pass into
breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should tell your doctor if you are
pregnant or breastfeeding before you start taking Tricor.
Mechanism of Action
Tricor works by reducing the amount of lipids (fats) in your blood. This can help to lower
your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Tricor belongs to a class of drugs called
lipid-lowering agents, or statins. Statins work by inhibiting an enzyme in the liver
called HMG-CoA reductase. This enzyme is responsible for making cholesterol. By
inhibiting this enzyme, statins reduce the amount of cholesterol made by the liver.
Pharmacokinetics
Tricor is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. The mean peak plasma
concentration of Tricor is reached within 1 to 2 hours after oral administration. Tricor
is distributed into tissues, including the liver. Tricor is metabolized in the liver and
excreted in the urine and feces. The half-life of Tricor is 24 hours.
Alternatives to Tricor
There are a number of alternatives to Tricor. Some of these alternatives include
atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, and rosuvastatin. These medications
work by inhibiting the same enzyme in the liver (HMG-CoA reductase) as Teicor.
