Drug Interactions Newsletter

Volume 1, Issue 21, 06/09/2009

Question

Which one of the fibric acid derivatives (gemfibrozil or fenofibrate) is known to cause drug interactions through inhibition of the glucuronidation via UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT)?

Answer

This question has resulted in confusion for many clinicians and even patients.  One of the primary reasons for such uncertainty is inaccurate alerts warning clinicians about drug interactions between fibric acid derivatives (fibrates) and another medication at the time of prescribing, ordering and/or dispensing.  For example, many drug interaction programs combine both fibrates, gemfibrozil (Lopid®) and fenofibrate (Antara®, Fenoglide®, Lipofen®, Lofibra®, Tricor®, Triglide®, Trilipix®), together when analyzing for interactions with HMG CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) medications.  However, it is incorrect for these programs to do this as the drug interaction with statins is predominately with....

Other keywords found in this issue:  cerivastatin, Baycol, statins, myositis, rhabdomyolysis, renal failure, cytochrome, P450, CYP2C8, CYP3A4, OATP2, phase I metabolism, phase II metabolism, UGT

......To read the full answer please LOGIN or SUBSCRIBE NOW.