What Is Fenofibric Acid Used For?

Fenofibric acid is licensed for treating unhealthy cholesterol and triglyceride levels. More specifically, it is used to increase good cholesterol, decrease both total and bad cholesterol, and lower triglycerides. Healthcare providers may also occasionally prescribe this medication for "off-label" uses. Common off-label uses of fenofibric acid include the prevention of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, or strokes.

Fenofibric Acid Uses

 Fenofibric acid delayed-release (Trilipix™ or choline fenofibrate) is a prescription medication licensed to treat unhealthy triglyceride and cholesterol levels. It is approved to be used by itself or in combination with a statin (statins are another type of cholesterol medication). Specifically, fenofibric acid is approved for the following uses:
 
  • Improving cholesterol and triglyceride levels in patients with hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol) or dyslipidemia (unhealthy cholesterol and/or triglyceride levels). Fenofibric acid can reduce both total and LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and raise HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol), while decreasing triglycerides.
     
  • Increasing HDL cholesterol and decreasing triglycerides in people already being optimally treated with a statin medication to reach their LDL goal. This use is approved only for people with coronary heart disease (CHD) or certain other risk factors (such as diabetes, peripheral artery disease, carotid artery disease, or an aortic aneurysm).
     
  • Lowering triglyceride levels in patients with hypertriglyceridemia (high triglycerides). Triglycerides are fat-like substances found in the body.
     
Unhealthy Cholesterol
High levels of cholesterol in the blood can accumulate on the walls of arteries (known as atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries), leading to decreased blood flow and oxygen supply to the heart, brain, and other areas of the body. This can greatly increase a person's risk for developing conditions such as heart disease, angina (chest pain), a heart attack, and stroke.
 
Fenofibric acid has been licensed for the treatment of high cholesterol in addition to a low cholesterol diet and exercise. It works by lowering total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and Apo B (a component of cholesterol that is related to several heart disease risk factors). It can also raise HDL cholesterol, which is the good cholesterol.
 
In general, cholesterol treatment is aimed at lowering LDL cholesterol levels enough to reduce the risk of developing complications associated with high cholesterol (see Effects of High Cholesterol). If you are at a higher risk, you will have a lower LDL goal.
 
(Click High Cholesterol Risk to see a list of risk factors that may affect your cholesterol level and a general guideline of ideal LDL cholesterol levels.)

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
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