Tricor Alternatives

Besides Tricor, there are a number of other medicines that are effective at lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Some Tricor alternatives include other fibrates and other cholesterol medications, including niacin, cholesterol absorption inhibitors, statins, and bile acid sequestrants. Fibrate options include gemfibrozil and other fenofibrate drugs, such as Antara, Lipofen, Triglide, and Lofibra. Among the factors that can affect the medicine your healthcare provider prescribes are your cholesterol levels (total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides), heart disease risk factors, and other medical conditions you may have.

 

Tricor 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 Tricor® (fenofibrate). For most people, Tricor is quite effective at lowering cholesterol and triglycerides. It is also generally well-tolerated. However, Tricor side effects can occur and people may wish to consider an alternative to Tricor. These alternatives could include other fibrates and other cholesterol medicines.
 

Tricor Alternatives: Other Fibrates

Tricor is part of a class of drugs known as fibric acid derivatives (also known as fibrates).
 Tricor works by increasing the production of an enzyme (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. Tricor can also decrease the number of these particles made and released from the liver.
 
Depending on the type of cholesterol problem you have, Tricor may also:
 
Besides Tricor, there are other fibrates available by prescription. These include gemfibrozil (Lopid®) and other fenofibrate options (Antara™, Lipofen®, Triglide™, or Lofibra®).
 
(Tricor Alternatives Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;