Tricor Side Effects

There are a number of side effects that can potentially develop as a result of using Tricor. Side effects may include headache, back pain, flu-like symptoms, and chest congestion or difficulty breathing, among other things. Some rare Tricor side effects, occurring in less than 2 percent of people who take the drug, include increased sun sensitivity, weight gain, and pancreatitis. There are also some side effects that you should report to your healthcare provider immediately, including unexplained bleeding, feeling more tired than usual, and nausea or vomiting.

 

Tricor Side Effects: An Introduction

As with any medicine, there are possible side effects with Tricor® (fenofibrate). However, not everyone who takes Tricor will have side effects; in fact, most people tolerate the medicine well. When people do develop side effects, they are generally minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or a healthcare provider. In previous research studies, up to 5 percent of people taking Tricor stopped their medicine because of side effects.
 
The use of Tricor has been associated with a rare but serious side effect known as rhabdomyolysis (serious breakdown of muscles). Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness -- especially if they are accompanied by a fever or unusual tiredness (see Tricor and Muscle Pain).
 
(This article covers many, but not all, of the possible side effects with Tricor. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of Tricor side effects with you.)
 

Common Side Effects of Tricor

Tricor has been studied thoroughly in clinical trials. In these studies, side effects are always documented and compared to side effects that occur in a similar group of people not taking the medicine. This way, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group not taking the medicine.
 
Based on these studies, the most common side effects of Tricor (occurring in more than 2 percent of people) included:
 
  • Chest congestion or difficulty breathing -- up to 6.2 percent
  • Abdominal pain (or stomach pain) -- up to 4.6 percent
  • Back pain -- up to 3.4 percent
  • Headache -- up to 3.2 percent
  • Runny nose -- up to 2.3 percent
  • Diarrhea or constipation -- up to 2.3 percent
  • Nausea -- up to 2.3 percent
  • Body weakness -- up to 2.1 percent
  • Flu-like symptoms -- up to 2.1 percent.
     
Tricor can also cause an elevation in liver enzymes. In the clinical trials, this was the most common reason why people stopped taking Tricor. Your healthcare provider may choose to monitor your liver enzymes during your treatment and stop your medication if they become too high (see Tricor and Liver Problems).
 
(Tricor Side Effects Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;