ANTARA 130mg(fenofibrate) capsules & 43mg OSCIENT Pharmaceuticals

Information for Healthcare Professionals

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Good Cholesterol vs. Bad Cholesterol

Understanding the two types of cholesterol, which have different purposes and are broken down in different ways, can be confusing. These explanations will give you a better picture of what they are and how they work in your body:

What is HDL-C?

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol — HDL-C — is the “good” cholesterol. It is good because this cholesterol is being carried from the blood vessels to the liver, where the body can break it down. That is why you need a high level of HDL-C. If it’s too low, it can’t carry cholesterol away. A high level of HDL-C may decrease your risk of having a heart attack or stroke, while a low level may increase your risk.

What is LDL-C?

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol — LDL-C — is the “bad” cholesterol in your body. LDL carries the majority (65%-75%) of the cholesterol in the bloodstream. Too much LDL-C can cause cholesterol to build up on the artery walls, which is called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis increases a person’s risk for having a heart attack.

What is Apolipoprotein B (apo B)?

Apolipoprotein B (apo B) is a protein that is found in low-density lipoprotein (LDL). People who have high cholesterol that is caused by a difference in their genetic makeup often have high levels of apo B.

What are triglycerides?

Triglycerides, the most common form of fat in the body, are stored in fat cells and used as energy. They too are made by the body and found in many foods. Elevated levels of triglycerides also are linked to developing heart disease.

Read more about triglycerides

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Important Safety Information

ANTARA® (fenofibrate) capsules is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to fenofibrate, in patients with hepatic or severe renal dysfunction including primary biliary cirrhosis, in patients with unexplained persistent liver function abnormality, and in patients with preexisting gallbladder disease.
Fenofibrate has been associated with increases in serum transaminases. Regular periodic monitoring of liver function should be performed, for duration of therapy, and therapy discontinued if enzyme levels persist above 3 times the normal limit.
There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Fenofibrate should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
Improving glycemic control in diabetic patients showing fasting chylomicronemia will usually reduce fasting triglycerides and eliminate chylomicronemia thereby obviating the need for pharmacologic intervention. Markedly elevated levels of serum triglycerides (eg, >2000 mg/dL) may increase the risk of developing pancreatitis. ANTARA therapy on reducing this risk has not been studied.
Fenofibrate may increase cholesterol excretion into the bile, leading to cholelithiasis. If cholelithiasis is suspected, ANTARA therapy should be discontinued.
The combined use of ANTARA and HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors should be avoided unless the benefit of further alterations in lipid levels is likely to outweigh the increased risk. The combined use of fibric acid derivatives and HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors has been associated with rhabdomyolysis, markedly elevated creatine kinase levels, and myoglobinuria, leading to acute renal failure.
The use of fibrates alone including ANTARA, may occasionally be associated with myositis, myopathy, or rhabdomyolysis. Patients complaining of muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness should have prompt medical evaluation for myopathy. Discontinue ANTARA if myopathy or myositis is suspected or diagnosed.
The effect of ANTARA on coronary heart disease morbidity and mortality and noncardiovascular mortality has not been established.
Patients treated with other fibrate drugs experienced an increase in noncardiovascular and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality compared with placebo-treated patients.
Other precautions include pancreatitis, hypersensitivity reactions, and hematologic changes. Refer to full Prescribing Information for a complete list of precautions.
Caution should be exercised when coumarin anticoagulants are given in conjunction with ANTARA. The dosage of the anticoagulants should be reduced to maintain the prothrombin time/INR at the desired level to prevent bleeding complications. Frequent prothrombin time/INR determinations are advisable until it has been definitely determined that the prothrombin time/INR has stabilized.
Since bile acid sequestrants may bind other drugs given concurrently, patients should take ANTARA at least 1 hour before or 4–6 hours after a bile acid binding resin to avoid impeding its absorption.
Cyclosporine can produce nephrotoxicity with decreases in creatinine clearance and rises in serum creatinine. Because renal excretion is the primary elimination route of fibrate drugs including ANTARA, there is a risk that an interaction will lead to deterioration. The benefits and risks of using ANTARA with immunosuppressants and other potentially nephrotoxic agents should be carefully considered, and lowest effective dose employed.
Fenofibric acid is known to be substantially excreted by the kidney, and the risk of adverse reactions to this drug may be greater in patients with impaired renal function. Because elderly patients are more likely to have decreased renal function, care should be taken in dose selection.
The most common (≥2% reported in clinical trials) side effects are: abnormal liver function test, including increased AST; increased ALT; CPK increase; respiratory disorder; abdominal pain; back pain; headache; diarrhea; nausea; rhinitis; asthenia; flu syndrome and constipation.

Please see full Prescribing Information.

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