Master Fibrates with Picmonic for Medicine

This drug is indicated for treating hyperlipidemia, which refers to abnormally high levels of lipids or lipoproteins in the blood. Fibrates are also used for other dyslipidemias, such as hypertriglyceremia.

Fibrates upregulate lipoprotein lipase, which is required for triglyceride metabolism in the blood.

Triglyceride (TAG) levels are decreased through treatment by fibrates because these drugs increase accessibility triglyceride-rich lipoprotein to be hydrolized by lipoprotein lipase. Another mechanism by which TAGs are decreased is inducing hepatic fatty acid uptake and reducing hepatic triglyceride production.

Fibrates increase production of apoA-I and apoA-II in the liver. This leads to an increase of plasma HDL concentrations and a more efficient reverse cholesterol transport.

Treatment with these medications forms LDL which has a higher affinity for its receptor, and are consequentially broken down more rapidly.

Treatment with these drugs may lead to hepatotoxicity and increased liver function test (LFTs) values. Other side effects include myopathy, increased CPK, and renal failure.

As these drugs increase the cholesterol content of bile, there is an increased risk of cholesterol gallstones.