Bezafibrate for hyperlipidaemia Bezalip
Take bezafibrate tablets with or just after a meal. Some lifestyle changes will also help to reduce your cholesterol level - eat healthy food, stop smoking, increase the exercise you take, and reduce the amount of salt in your diet. If you develop any unusual aches and pains in your muscles, contact your doctor for advice. |
About bezafibrate
| Type of medicine | A lipid-regulating medicine commonly known as a fibrate |
| Used for | Hyperlipidaemia |
| Also called | Bezalip®; Bezalip® Mono |
| Available as | Tablets and prolonged-release tablets |
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.
Before taking bezafibrate
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:
- If you are pregnant, trying for a baby or breastfeeding.
- If you have liver, kidney or gallbladder problems.
- If you have an underactive thyroid gland.
- If you are taking any other medicines. This includes any medicines you are taking which are available to buy without a prescription, as well as herbal and complementary medicines.
- If you have ever had an allergic reaction to a medicine.
How to take bezafibrate
- 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.
Getting the most from your treatment
- Try to keep your regular appointments with your doctor. This is so your doctor can check on your progress.
- 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.
Can bezafibrate cause problems?
Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. These usually improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side-effects continue or become troublesome.
| Bezafibrate side-effects - these affect fewer than 1 in 10 people who take this medicine | What can I do if I experience this? |
| Feeling sick (nausea) or bloated, lack of appetite | Stick to simple, healthy and appetising foods |
| Loose, watery stools (diarrhoea) | Drink plenty of water to replace the lost fluids |
Important: if you develop any muscle aches or pains, particularly in your legs, you should tell your doctor about it as soon as possible.
If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to this medicine, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.
How to store bezafibrate
- Keep all medicines out of the reach and sight of children.
- Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light.
Important information about all medicines
Never take more than the prescribed dose. If you suspect that you or someone else might have taken an overdose of this medicine, go to the accident and emergency department of your local hospital at once. Take the container with you, even if it is empty. This medicine is for you. Never give it to other people even if their condition appears to be the same as yours. If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are suitable to take with your other medicines. If you are having an operation or dental treatment, tell the person carrying out the treatment which medicines you are taking. Do not keep out-of-date or unwanted medicines. Take them to your local pharmacy which will dispose of them for you. If you have any questions about this medicine ask your pharmacist. |
Further reading and references
Summary of medicinal Product Characteristics (SPC), Fibrazate® XL 400 mg Modified Release Tablets; Sandoz Ltd, The electronic Medicines Compendium. Dated September 2021.
Medicines Complete BNF 85th Edition; British Medical Association and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, London.