Finate™ belongs to a group of medicines, commonly known as ‘fibrates’.
These medicines are used to lower the level of fats (lipids) in the blood. For
example the fats known as ‘triglycerides’.
Finate™ is used, alongside a low fat diet and other non-medical
treatments such as exercise and weight loss, to lower levels of fats in the
blood.
Finate™ can be used in addition to other medicines (called ‘statins’) in some
circumstances when levels of fats in the blood are not controlled with a statin
alone.
Finate™ can often also increase the amount of a ‘good’ type of cholesterol,
called HDL or high density lipoprotein cholesterol.
It is always essential to continue a low-fat diet during treatment with
Finate™.

• You are allergic to fenofibrate or any of the other ingredients of this
medicine (listed in Section 6)
• While taking other medicines, you have had an allergic reaction or skin
damage from sunlight or UV light (these medicines include other fibrates
and an anti-inflammatory medicine called ‘ketoprofen’)
• You have severe liver, kidney or gallbladder problems
• You have pancreatitis (an inflamed pancreas which causes abdominal pain),
which is not caused by high levels of fat in the blood.
Do not take Finate™ if any of the above apply to you. If you are not sure,
talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Finate™.
Warnings and Precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist or nurse before taking Finate™ if:
• You have any liver or kidney problems
• You may have an inflamed liver (hepatitis) - signs include yellowing of the
skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice) and an increase in liver enzymes
(shown in blood tests)
• You have an under-active thyroid gland (hypo-thyroidism)
• You have diabetes, especially Type 2 diabetes, that is not well controlled
• You have problems with certain proteins in your blood
• You have an alcohol problem
• You are taking other medicines
• You or your family have had muscle problems
• You are over 70 years of age
(Some of the above conditions can lead to high levels of lipids in your blood
and need to be corrected before you start therapy with fenofibrate).
If any of the above apply to you (or you are not sure), talk to your doctor or
pharmacist before taking Finate™.
Your doctor might want to test your blood or urine to check if Finate™ is
working properly and also if your kidneys, muscles and liver are working
properly.
Effects on muscles
Stop taking Finate™ and see a doctor straight away if you get unexplained
cramps or painful, tender or weak muscles while taking this medicine.
• This is because this medicine may cause muscle problems, which may be
serious
• These problems are rare but include muscle inflammation and breakdown.
This can cause kidney damage or even death.
Your doctor may do a blood test to check your muscles before and after
starting treatment.
The risk of muscle breakdown is higher in some patients. Tell your doctor if:
• You are over 70 years old
• You have kidney problems
• You have thyroid problems
• You or a close family member has a muscle problem which runs in the
family
• You drink large amounts of alcohol
• You are taking medicines called statins to lower cholesterol - such as
simvastatin, atorvastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin or fluvastatin
• You have ever had muscle problems during treatment with statins or
fibrates - such as fenofibrate, bezafibrate or gemfibrozil
If any of the above apply to you (or you are not sure), talk to your doctor
before taking Finate™.
Other medicines and Finate™
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken
any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
In particular tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the
following medicines:
• Anti-coagulants to thin your blood (such as warfarin)
• Other medicines to control fat levels in the blood (such as statins or
fibrates).
Taking a statin at the same time as Finate™ may increase the risk of
muscle problems
• A particular class of medicines to treat diabetes (such as rosiglitazone or
pioglitazone)
• Cyclosporin - used to suppress your immune system
If any of the above apply to you (or you are not sure), talk to your doctor or
pharmacist before taking Finate™.
Finate™ with food, drink and alcohol
It is important to take the capsule with food - it will not work as well if your
stomach is empty.
Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility
• Do not take Finate™ and tell your doctor if you are pregnant, think you
might be pregnant or are planning to have a baby
• Do not take Finate™ if you are breast-feeding or planning to breastfeed
your baby.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Driving and using machines
This medicine will not affect you being able to drive or use tools or
machines.
Important information about some of the ingredients of Finate™
Finate™ contains lactose (a type of sugar). If you have been told by your
doctor that you cannot tolerate or digest some sugars (have an intolerance to
some sugars), talk to your doctor before taking this medicine.

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you.
You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Your doctor will determine the appropriate strength for you, depending on
your condition, your current treatment and your personal risk status.
Taking this medicine
• Swallow the capsule whole with a glass of water
• Do not open or chew the capsule
• Take the capsule with food - it will not work as well if your stomach is
empty
How much to take
The recommended dose for adults is one capsule of Finate™ 200 mg a day,
taken at mealtimes.
Use in children and adolescents
The use of Finate™ 200mg is not recommended in children under the age of
18.
People with kidney problems
If you have kidney problems, your doctor may tell you to take a lower dose.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist about this.
If you take more Finate™ than you should
If you take more Finate™ than you should or if someone else has taken your
medicine, contact your nearest hospital casualty department or tell your
doctor immediately.
If you forget to take Finate™
• If you forget a dose, take the next dose with your next meal
• Then take your next capsule at the normal time
• Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose
If you are worried about this talk to your doctor.

If you stop taking Finate™
Do not stop taking Finate™ unless your doctor tells you to, or the
capsules make you feel unwell. This is because abnormal levels of fats
in the blood need treating for a long period of time.
Remember that as well as taking Finate™ it is also important that you:
• Have a low fat diet
• Take regular exercise
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your
doctor or pharmacist.

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not
everybody gets them.
Stop taking Finate™ and see a doctor straight away, if you notice
any of the following serious side effects – you may need urgent
medical treatment:
• Allergic reaction - the signs may include swelling of the face, lips,
tongue or throat, which may cause difficulty in breathing
• Cramps or painful, tender or weak muscles - these may be signs of
muscle inflammation or breakdown, which can cause kidney damage or
even death
• Stomach pain - this may be a sign that your pancreas is inflamed
(pancreatitis)
• Chest pain and feeling breathless - these may be signs of a blood clot
in the lung (pulmonary embolism)
• Pain, redness or swelling in the legs - these may be signs of a blood
clot in the leg (deep vein thrombosis)
• Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice), or an increase
in liver enzymes - these may be signs of an inflamed liver (hepatitis)
Stop taking Finate™ and see a doctor straight away, if you notice any of
the side effects above.
Other side effects include:
Common (affects less than 1 in 10 people):
• Diarrhoea
• Stomach pain
• Wind (flatulence)
• Feeling sick (nausea)
• Being sick (vomiting)
• Raised levels of liver enzymes in the blood - shown in tests
• Increase in homocysteine (too much of this amino acid in the blood has
been associated to a higher risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and
peripheral vascular disease, although a causal link has not been
established)
Uncommon (affects less than 1 in 100 people):
• Headache
• Gallstones
• Reduced sex drive
• Rash, itching or red patches on the skin
• Increase in ‘creatinine’ produced by the kidneys - shown in tests
• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas leading to abdominal pain)
• Thromboembolism: pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung
causing chest pain and breathlessness), deep vein thrombosis (blood clot
in the leg causing pain, redness or swelling)
• Muscle pain, muscle inflammation, muscle cramps and weakness
Rare (affects less than 1 in 1,000 people):
• Hair loss
• Increase in ‘urea’ produced by the kidneys - shown in tests
• Increased sensitivity of your skin to sunlight, sun lamps and sunbeds
• Drop in haemoglobin (that carries oxygen in the blood) and white
blood cells - shown in tests.
• Hepatitis (inflammation of the liver), symptoms of which may be mild
jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes), stomach pain
and itching
• Hypersensitivity (allergic reaction)
Side effect where the chance of it happening are not known
• Severe form of skin rash with reddening, peeling and swelling of the
skin that resembles severe burns
• Long-term lung problems
• Muscle breakdown
• Complications of gallbladder stones
• Jaundice
• Feeling dizzy (vertigo)
• Feeling exhausted (fatigue)
If you get any unusual breathing discomfort, tell your doctor straight
away
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This
includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. By reporting
side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this
medicine.

Keep out of reach and sight of children.
Do not store above 30 °C.
Store in the original package in order to protect from moisture.
Do not use Finate™ capsules after the expiry date stated on the
carton/blister.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste.
Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use.
These measures will help protect the environment.