There are a number of side effects that could occur as a result of taking fibrates. Patients may experience an allergic reaction including sneezing, coughing, congestion or skin rashes. They also may develop muscle aches and abdominal pain with nausea and vomiting. Patients should immediately contact their physician if they experience these symptoms.

Other side effects associated with specific fibrates include:

A rare, but potentially fatal, side effect of fibrates is rhabdomyolysis. This is a condition in which muscle cells break down, releasing their contents into the bloodstream. It most often affects the muscles in the back or lower calves, although some patients report no symptoms. Rhabdomyolysis can lead to kidney or other organ failure and death. Risk of this severe complication appears to be higher in those fibrates used in conjunction with other cholesterol-reducing drugs called statins. One fibrate, fenofibrate, appears to have a lower risk of interacting with statins and is thus the preferred fibrate for combination therapy

Patients should report any of the following symptoms of rhabdomyolysis to their physicians immediately:

• Muscle cramps, pain, swelling, weakness, stiffness and/or tenderness
• Fever
• Dark urine
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Malaise (a general feeling of illness or discomfort)

In addition, some research suggests that taking fibrates, particularly clofibrate, may increase a person’s risk of developing cancer, pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), gallstones and problems following gallbladder surgery. Patients are encouraged to discuss the potential risks and benefits of fibrates with their physicians.