Description of the medicine: Clofibrate (Clofibratum)

Clofibratum.

Ethyl a - (para-chlorophenoxy) isobutyrate.

Synonyms: Atromidine, Clofibrate, Lipomid, Miscleron, Acolestol, Amadol, Amotril, Antilipid, Arterioflexin, Atemarol, Ateriosan, Aterosol, Athebrate, Atheromide, Atosterine, Atrolen, Atromid S, Atromidin, Cloribrhenis, Clofibrat, Clofibril, Clofibrin, Clominon, Corafen , Fibramid, Geromid, Hypocerol, Klofibrat, Lipavil, Lipavlon, Lipomid, Liponorm, Lisisterol, Miscleron, Neo-Atromid, Nibratol, Normolipol, Regelan, Sterochol and others.

Light yellow liquid with a weak aromatic odor. Insoluble in water, soluble in alcohol, ether and other organic solvents.

Clofibrate was the first drug from the group of fibrolic acid derivatives (fibrates), which were used as hypolipidemic agents. At present, a number of derivatives of fibroic acid are used (see Bezafibrate, Fenofibrate, etc.).

Drugs of this group cause a decrease in the cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood plasma, triglycerides in VLDL and cholesterol in LDL. At the same time, they raise the level of cholesterol in HDL (anti-atherogenic).

The decrease in cholesterol is associated with the ability of fibrates to block the reductase of hydroxymethylglutaric coenzyme A (NMG CoA), which participates in the biosynthesis of cholesterol, and enhance the breakdown of cholesterol.

Fibrates also reduce platelet aggregation and blood viscosity. Reduce the level of uric acid in the blood plasma. For the prevention of these drugs are used in family hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipidemia and hypertriglyceridemia, idiopathic lowering of LDL.

As a remedy, they are used in complex therapy for sclerosis of coronary and peripheral vessels, cerebral vessels, diabetic angiopathy and retinopathy, various diseases accompanied by hyperlipidemia, including hyperlipidemia in combination with an increase in uric acid in the blood plasma.

Preparations of the fibrate group differ in efficiency and tolerability. For example, clofibrate is somewhat less effective than new drugs (bezafibrate, fenofibrate) in this group, and more often causes side effects.

Clofibrate is given orally in capsules containing 0.25 g each. Take 0.5-0.75 g (2 - 3 capsules) 3 times daily (after meals). Treatment is usually conducted in courses of 20 - 30 days with the same interruptions (4 - 6 courses).

When using fibrates, gastrointestinal disorders (nausea, vomiting), itching, hives, muscle pains (such as myositis), muscle weakness (bowl in the legs) are possible; Increase in body weight due to water retention in the body. After the withdrawal of drugs, these phenomena usually pass.

With prolonged use of clofibrate and other fibrates, intrahepatic cholestasis may develop, and cholelithiasis may become worse. With the use of clofibrate, the formation of stones in the gallbladder and biliary tract was observed (in connection with which in some countries this drug ceased to be used).

Fibrates enhance the action of coumarin anticoagulants, butadione, salicylates, oral antidiabetic drugs. Use them in diabetic patients with caution in order to avoid hypoglycemia.