Tricor Dosage

2.1 Prior to Initiation of TRICOR

​• Assess lipid levels before initiating therapy. Identify other causes (e.g., diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, or medications) of high TG levels and manage as appropriate.

​• Patients should be placed on an appropriate lipid-lowering diet before receiving TRICOR, and should continue this diet during treatment with TRICOR.

​• In patients with diabetes and fasting chylomicronemia, improve glycemic control prior to considering starting TRICOR.

2.2 Recommended Dosage and Administration

​• Severe hypertriglyceridemia:
○ The recommended dosage of TRICOR is 48 mg or 145 mg orally once daily.
○ Dosage should be individualized according to patient response, and should be adjusted if necessary following repeat lipid determinations at 4 to 8 week intervals.

​• Primary hyperlipidemia:
○ The recommended dosage of TRICOR is 145 mg orally once daily.

​• Administer TRICOR as a single dose at any time of day, with or without food.

​• Advise patients to swallow TRICOR tablets whole. Do not crush, break, dissolve, or chew tablets.

​• Assess TG when clinically appropriate, as early as 4 to 8 weeks after initiating TRICOR. Discontinue TRICOR in patients who do not have an adequate response after 2 months of treatment.

​• If a dose is missed, advise patients not to take an extra dose. Resume treatment with the next dose.

​• Advise patients to take TRICOR at least 1 hour before or 4 hours to 6 hours after a bile acid binding resin to avoid impeding its absorption.

2.3 Recommended Dosage in Patients with Renal Impairment

​• Assess renal function prior to initiation of TRICOR and periodically thereafter.

​• Treatment with TRICOR should be initiated at a dosage of 48 mg orally once daily in patients with mild to moderately impaired renal function (eGFR 30 to <60 mL/min/1.73m2), and increased only after evaluation of the effects on renal function and TG levels at this dosage.

​• TRICOR is contraindicated in patients with severe renal impairment (eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73m2), including those with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and those receiving dialysis.

2.4 Recommended Dosage in Geriatric Patients

​Dosage selection for geriatric patients should be made on the basis of renal function.