Q. Seven months ago, my doctor put me on Trilipix to lower my cholesterol. By the fourth or fifth month, my blood sugar level went from normal to diabetic high. My blood pressure also rose, to 220/120. I also got hundreds of floaters and flashes in my eyes.
The doctor crammed more and more blood pressure drugs in me but we got no results. Then someone said that Trilipix might be at fault. I stopped the drug two months ago and finally my blood sugar, eyesight and blood pressure all went back to normal.
I’ve talked to several pharmacists about this problem and none of them knew anything about it. Neither did my doctor. Has anyone else reported these side effects?
A. Trilipix (fenofibric acid) is often used in conjunction with a statin to help get cholesterol down. High blood pressure has indeed been reported as a side effect of the drug, but we could find no mention of Trilipix raising blood sugar or triggering retinal detachment. We hope you saw your eye doctor when you noticed an increase in floaters and flashes.
We discuss other ways to lower blood lipids in our Guide to Cholesterol Control and Heart Health.
