Triglide Alternatives

There are a number of other cholesterol medications available besides Triglide. Alternatives may include other fibrates and other classes of cholesterol drugs. The other four classes of cholesterol drugs besides fibrates are statins, cholesterol absorption inhibitors, niacin, and bile acid sequestrants. Other fibrate medicines include gemfibrozil and various fenofibrate options, such as Antara, Lipofen, Tricor, and Lofibra. There are also combination medicines available, including Vytorin^® and Advicor^®.

Triglide (Fenofibrate)

Triglide Alternatives: An Overview

Lifestyle changes are the first line of treatment for lowering cholesterol. However, for some people, treating high cholesterol or high triglycerides with a low-cholesterol diet, weight control, and exercise is not enough. If lifestyle changes alone are not enough, your doctor can prescribe medications. One such medicine is Triglide™ (fenofibrate). For most people, Triglide is quite effective at lowering cholesterol and triglycerides; it is also generally well-tolerated. However, Triglide side effects can occur and people may wish to consider an alternative for Triglide. These alternatives could include other fibrates and other cholesterol medicines.

Triglide Alternatives: Other Fibrates

Triglide is part of a class of drugs known as fibric acid derivatives (also known as fibrates). Triglide works by increasing the production of an enzyme known as lipoprotein lipase that breaks down triglyceride-rich particles (VLDL) and increases their removal from the body. This causes a decrease in triglyceride levels in the blood. Triglide can also decrease the number of these particles made and released from the liver.

Depending on the type of cholesterol problem you have, Triglide may also:

Decrease LDL and total cholesterol levels
Increase HDL cholesterol levels.

Besides Triglide, there are other fibrates available by prescription. These include gemfibrozil (Lopid^®) and other fenofibrate options (Antara™, Lipofen^®, Tricor^®, or Lofibra^®).

(Triglide Alternatives Continued: Page 2)