Fenofibrate and Pain: What Users Say

• SJC...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 28, 2017

For Hyperlipoproteinemia "I took fenofibrate for four months and thought this is finally a drug I could take with no side effects. However, the fourth month, I had such leg pain I could hardly walk. My thighs and calves felt like I had blood clots. My husband suggested it might be the fenofibrate, so I stopped taking it immediately. The third day, I could walk again with no pain. I then realized other side effects were a runny nose, headaches, and other muscle pain. I saw my doctor today after stopping the medication three weeks ago and told him how much better I felt. He was not happy I quit the medication and suggested the side effects are all in my mind. Needless to say, I'm looking for a new doctor."

• Jua...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 28, 2020

For Hypertriglyceridemia "I took fenofibrate continuously for 40 days. I never had triglycerides so low in my life (150 mg). Due to multiple side effects (sore throat, sinusitis, muscle aches, and tiredness), I decided to stop it. Now 2 weeks later, I felt well and all side effects went away. I decided to restart the medication, this time 3 times per week (145 mg). 10 days later, I am back with leg and back pain as well as a sensation of general weakness as if I had a viral illness. Today I decided to stop it and call my physician."

• Anonymous
• June 4, 2017

For Hyperlipoproteinemia "I started it almost 3 weeks ago. I am a 60-year-old female. I cannot tolerate statins, and I cannot tolerate this. My shoulders and up between them started hurting soon after I started taking it. I was very agitated all the time, and my hair started coming out by the handfuls. I am going to the health store to get natural supplements. Quite frankly, I think the prescription meds for lowering cholesterol are like ingesting poison."

• Fox...
• August 8, 2016

For Hyperlipoproteinemia "Yow! This drug has started causing (after 2 months) shoulder pain, becoming a 10, very intense. I stopped using it and two months later it has wrecked my shoulder muscle, feels like a war with muscle and nerves, most horrible pain I ever endured. Every morning is like Groundhog Day, the same, the same, the same. It has now moved to my wrists and into my hands... swelling and intense pain, intense. My shoulder pain would make putting on a t-shirt next to impossible. Dressing has been a long and painful experience, daily. I pray for this to stop someday, it has made my life horrible. I am 70 and was in good shape before this. Now I would consider death relaxing."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 10, 2019

For Hypertriglyceridemia "I had a PCP who put me on this fenofibrate and refused to change it. It makes me sleep 24 hours a day. I've gotten to where I hurt so bad I can't function. It hurts to drive, sit, or stand a certain way. But she swears up and down it's not the medication."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 10, 2019

For Hypertriglyceridemia "I had a PCP who put me on this fenofibrate and refused to change it. It makes me sleep 24 hours a day. I've gotten to where I hurt so bad I can't function. It hurts to drive, sit, or stand a certain way. But she swears up and down it's not the medication."

• Blu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 11, 2017

For Hypertriglyceridemia "Extreme sickness while taking over 2 months. I had no idea it was making me sick. I am diabetic and was also on metoprolol. Shortness of breath, chest pains, extreme nausea, diarrhea, back burning, joint pain, leg pain and twitching, organ pain, high WBC count, hypoglycemia, insomnia, and worst of all, headaches. I just found out it was this after they almost sent me for a bone marrow biopsy. I was sure I was having a reaction. I stopped for 3 days, so far, no problems anymore. Now just worried about the damage it caused."

• TRA...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 25, 2015

For Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IIa, Elevated LDL "Took as prescribed for several months. Started to have muscle problems. Shoulders, hips, knees. Loss of strength in arms and hands. Also, some body itch. Stopped taking on my own. Significant change in 24 hours. Still have some pain, but as medication wears out, hope to be better."

• aar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 27, 2019

For Hypertriglyceridemia "Just started this medication, fenofibrate. Triglycerides were 491 WITHOUT FASTING test. S/E: very sleepy, shoulder pain. I suffer from panic disorder, so not sure if the chest pain is from that or the medicine."

• Wic...
• May 4, 2021

For Hyperlipoproteinemia "Well, after blood work revealed extremely high cholesterol, I've been taking fenofibrate 54 mg for a month now, and I'm a diabetic with an overly enlarged heart and in renal kidney failure. After reading this, anyone experiencing my serious health issues SHOULD NOT BE TAKING THIS STUFF. It could be fatal, not to mention the side effects I'm dealing with: loss of appetite, nausea bad, severe muscle and joint cramps, pain, weakness, always dizzy, lightheaded, the most irritating itching rash like you can't believe. I feel like things are crawling all over me. I literally have scars from scratching myself raw. Ugh, screw this, I'm stopping immediately, high cholesterol or not. I can't take the shoulder pain and the dang rash, itching. Why this type of medication is being used with these types of severe side effects completely baffles me."