This belongs to the group of medicines known as lipid-regulating drugs.

Lopid is used to lower levels of cholesterol and other lipids (fats) in the blood. Cholesterol is made naturally in the body and is absorbed from the food we eat. If levels of cholesterol are too high in the blood stream, it can stick to the walls of blood vessels. Eventually this leads to a narrowing of the blood vessels and can even block them completely.

High levels of cholesterol do not make people feel ill but can cause problems if left untreated. Lopid may help prevent medical problems caused by cholesterol and fats building up in blood vessels, such as heart disease and other problems.

Lopid is available in capsule and tablet form.

It is also sometimes known as: Lopid. You may notice the use of either of these names on the packaging of your medicine.

Why is this drug prescribed?

This drug contains the active ingredient gemfibrozil, which is a type of drug known as a fibrate. It works by reducing the production of fats by the liver. These lipids include cholesterol and triglycerides. Cholesterol is one of the body's fats. Cholesterol and triglycerides are important building blocks in the structure of cells and are also used in making hormones and producing energy. To some extent, the cholesterol level in blood depends on what you eat but it is mainly dependent on how the body makes cholesterol in the liver. Having too much cholesterol in the blood is not a disease in itself, but can lead to the hardening and narrowing of the arteries. For the sake of simplicity, there are two sorts of cholesterol; a 'bad' sort called low density lipoprotein and a 'good' sort called high density lipoprotein. LDL is deposited in the arteries and increases the risk of heart disease, while HDL actually protects the arteries against this. Triglycerides can also be considered as 'bad' fats; they also contribute to the risk of heart disease. Gemfibrozil increases the breakdown of triglycerides already present in the body. It also decreases the production of triglycerides by the liver. This lowers triglyceride levels. Gemfibrozil lowers LDL cholesterol by increasing the amount which is expelled from the gall bladder in the bile. In addition, it increases the levels of HDL cholesterol. The overall result of this is lowered levels of "bad fats" and raised levels of "good fats". Fibrates have an important role in the prevention of heart disease. They reduce the risk of fats being deposited in the major blood vessels of the heart. Any blockage in the blood vessels limits the amount of blood and therefore oxygen being carried to the heart muscle. In severe cases this can result in a heart attack. This drug is only used when blood lipid levels cannot be lowered by diet and exercise alone. It is important to follow a diet and exercise regime when taking gemfibrozil.

Treatments

* High levels of fats such as cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood * Prevention of coronary heart disease in men aged 40-55 with hyperlipidaemia that has not responded to diet or other measures

What side effects can this drug cause?

* Headache * Rash * Itching * Blurred vision * Excess gas in the stomach and intestines * Impotence * Disturbances of the gut such as diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain * Inflammation of the pancreas * Abnormal reaction of the skin to light, usually a rash * Yellowing of the skin and eyes * Severe swelling of lips, face or tongue * Dizziness * Rapid and irregular beating of the heart * Muscle breakdown * Muscle pain and weakness