FENOFIBRATE

72/100 · Elevated

Manufactured by AbbVie Inc.

Fenofibrate Adverse Events: High Serious Reaction Rate

92,182 FDA adverse event reports analyzed

Last updated: 2026-05-12

About FENOFIBRATE

FENOFIBRATE is a medication tracked in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), manufactured by AbbVie Inc.. Based on analysis of 92,182 FDA adverse event reports, FENOFIBRATE has a safety score of 72 out of 100. This score indicates a relatively favorable safety profile, with fewer or less severe adverse events compared to many other tracked medications. The most commonly reported adverse reactions for FENOFIBRATE include NAUSEA, FATIGUE, DIARRHOEA, DRUG INEFFECTIVE, DYSPNOEA. This page provides a comprehensive breakdown of reported side effects, safety signals, patient demographics, and AI-powered safety analysis for FENOFIBRATE.

AI Safety Analysis

Fenofibrate has a safety concern score of 72 out of 100, placing it in the elevated concern category based on analysis of FDA adverse event data. The FDA has received approximately 92,182 adverse event reports for this medication, which is primarily manufactured by Abbvie Inc..

The most commonly reported adverse events include Nausea, Fatigue, Diarrhoea. Of classified reports, 64.7% were designated as serious by the FDA, meaning they involved hospitalization, disability, or other significant medical outcomes. Nausea, fatigue, and diarrhea are the most common adverse reactions.

Serious reactions, including acute kidney injury and renal failure, are frequent. Drug interactions and dose omissions are reported, warranting caution.

Patients taking Fenofibrate should monitor for the commonly reported side effects and contact their healthcare provider if they experience any unusual symptoms. Fenofibrate can interact with other drugs, and dose omissions are reported, indicating potential for underdosing or overdosing. This analysis is based on voluntary FDA adverse event reports and should not replace professional medical advice.

Safety Score: 72/100

Fenofibrate received a safety concern score of 72/100 (elevated concern). This is based on a 64.7% serious event ratio across 48,065 classified reports. The score accounts for 92,182 total adverse event reports and 100 distinct reaction types. This elevated score indicates a notable proportion of serious adverse events and warrants careful monitoring.

Top Adverse Reactions

NAUSEA2,913 reports
FATIGUE2,842 reports
DIARRHOEA2,681 reports
DRUG INEFFECTIVE2,450 reports
DYSPNOEA2,102 reports
HEADACHE2,056 reports
DIZZINESS1,963 reports
PAIN1,952 reports
ASTHENIA1,826 reports
FALL1,688 reports
VOMITING1,634 reports
ARTHRALGIA1,582 reports
OFF LABEL USE1,540 reports
PRURITUS1,518 reports
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY1,468 reports
RENAL FAILURE1,464 reports
WEIGHT DECREASED1,443 reports
CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE1,430 reports
MALAISE1,387 reports
MYALGIA1,365 reports
INSOMNIA1,260 reports
PAIN IN EXTREMITY1,215 reports
BLOOD GLUCOSE INCREASED1,212 reports
COUGH1,140 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN1,121 reports
DECREASED APPETITE1,097 reports
PYREXIA1,097 reports
ANXIETY1,096 reports
RASH1,064 reports
DEATH1,052 reports
DRUG INTERACTION1,040 reports
BACK PAIN1,035 reports
PNEUMONIA1,032 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN UPPER1,009 reports
FLUSHING1,001 reports
DEPRESSION992 reports
CONSTIPATION940 reports
CHEST PAIN935 reports
MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION935 reports
WEIGHT INCREASED909 reports
MUSCLE SPASMS882 reports
SOMNOLENCE878 reports
HYPERTENSION855 reports
BLOOD PRESSURE INCREASED834 reports
ANAEMIA796 reports
FEELING ABNORMAL774 reports
GAIT DISTURBANCE746 reports
CONDITION AGGRAVATED728 reports
HYPOTENSION721 reports
PANCREATITIS709 reports
URINARY TRACT INFECTION707 reports
DEHYDRATION692 reports
BLOOD TRIGLYCERIDES INCREASED686 reports
OEDEMA PERIPHERAL660 reports
INJECTION SITE PAIN618 reports
SEPSIS618 reports
CONFUSIONAL STATE605 reports
DIABETES MELLITUS599 reports
TREMOR587 reports
PARAESTHESIA584 reports
VISION BLURRED577 reports
ABDOMINAL DISCOMFORT568 reports
ERYTHEMA566 reports
CHILLS565 reports
CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENT563 reports
HYPERHIDROSIS563 reports
MUSCULAR WEAKNESS555 reports
RHABDOMYOLYSIS554 reports
RENAL IMPAIRMENT549 reports
DRUG HYPERSENSITIVITY538 reports
ATRIAL FIBRILLATION532 reports
PRODUCT DOSE OMISSION ISSUE523 reports
BLOOD CHOLESTEROL INCREASED519 reports
PANCREATITIS ACUTE514 reports
GASTROOESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE513 reports
DRUG DOSE OMISSION507 reports
NASOPHARYNGITIS504 reports
RENAL FAILURE ACUTE503 reports
SYNCOPE503 reports
CARDIAC FAILURE CONGESTIVE497 reports
GASTROINTESTINAL HAEMORRHAGE496 reports
BLOOD CREATININE INCREASED495 reports
HYPOAESTHESIA489 reports
SINUSITIS485 reports
PERIPHERAL SWELLING464 reports
ALOPECIA461 reports
PSORIASIS457 reports
PULMONARY EMBOLISM452 reports
DYSPEPSIA447 reports
LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS444 reports
MEMORY IMPAIRMENT443 reports
TACHYCARDIA433 reports
ABDOMINAL DISTENSION406 reports
BRONCHITIS406 reports
PALPITATIONS403 reports
CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE393 reports
EYE PAIN385 reports
HAEMOGLOBIN DECREASED385 reports
INCORRECT DOSE ADMINISTERED381 reports
BLOOD CREATINE PHOSPHOKINASE INCREASED379 reports

Key Safety Signals

  • Acute kidney injury and renal failure are key safety signals.
  • Drug interactions and dose omissions are significant safety concerns.
  • Serious adverse events account for over 64% of reports.

Patient Demographics

Adverse event reports by sex: Male: 23,048, Female: 21,707, Unknown: 79. The most frequently reported age groups are age 63 (959 reports), age 60 (940 reports), age 65 (914 reports). These demographics reflect reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Report Outcomes

Out of 48,065 classified reports for FENOFIBRATE:

  • Serious: 31,110 reports (64.7%) — includes hospitalization, disability, life-threatening events, or death
  • Non-Serious: 16,955 reports (35.3%)
Serious 64.7%Non-Serious 35.3%

The FDA classifies an adverse event as “serious” if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, congenital anomaly, or requires intervention to prevent permanent damage.

Demographics Breakdown

Reports by Sex

Male23,048 (51.4%)
Female21,707 (48.4%)
Unknown79 (0.2%)

Reports by Age

Age 63959 reports
Age 60940 reports
Age 65914 reports
Age 66911 reports
Age 62889 reports
Age 69886 reports
Age 70884 reports
Age 68873 reports
Age 64869 reports
Age 61852 reports
Age 71840 reports
Age 67836 reports
Age 59788 reports
Age 72780 reports
Age 58752 reports
Age 57742 reports
Age 55737 reports
Age 56730 reports
Age 54726 reports
Age 73708 reports

Demographics reflect voluntary FDA adverse event reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Drug Interactions & Warnings

Fenofibrate can interact with other drugs, and dose omissions are reported, indicating potential for underdosing or overdosing.

What You Should Know

If you are taking Fenofibrate, here are important things to know. The most commonly reported side effects include nausea, fatigue, diarrhoea, drug ineffective, dyspnoea. While many of these may be mild and temporary, you should contact your healthcare provider if any symptoms are severe or persistent. Monitor for signs of kidney injury and adjust dosing as needed. Be cautious with drug interactions and inform healthcare providers of all medications taken. If you experience a serious adverse reaction, seek emergency medical attention immediately or call 911. You can report side effects to the FDA's MedWatch program at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Regulatory Context

Regulatory oversight is ongoing, with a focus on monitoring serious adverse events and drug interactions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many adverse event reports has the FDA received for Fenofibrate?

The FDA has received approximately 92,182 adverse event reports associated with Fenofibrate. These reports come from healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers through the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Note that the number of reports does not directly indicate the frequency of side effects, as adverse events are voluntarily reported and may be underrepresented.

What are the most commonly reported side effects of Fenofibrate?

The most frequently reported adverse events for Fenofibrate include Nausea, Fatigue, Diarrhoea, Drug Ineffective, Dyspnoea. By volume, the top reported reactions are: Nausea (2,913 reports), Fatigue (2,842 reports), Diarrhoea (2,681 reports). These figures reflect FDA adverse event reports and may not represent the true incidence rate of these side effects in all patients taking Fenofibrate.

What percentage of Fenofibrate adverse event reports are serious?

Out of 48,065 classified reports, 31,110 (64.7%) were classified as serious and 16,955 as non-serious. The FDA classifies an event as "serious" if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, or other medically significant outcomes. A higher serious-event ratio warrants closer attention but does not necessarily mean the drug is unsafe.

Who reports adverse events for Fenofibrate (by sex)?

Adverse event reports for Fenofibrate break down by patient sex as follows: Male: 23,048, Female: 21,707, Unknown: 79. This distribution reflects reporting patterns rather than actual risk differences between groups. Reporting rates can be influenced by prescribing patterns, disease demographics, and reporting behavior.

What age groups report the most side effects for Fenofibrate?

The most frequently reported age groups for Fenofibrate adverse events are: age 63: 959 reports, age 60: 940 reports, age 65: 914 reports, age 66: 911 reports, age 62: 889 reports. Age-related reporting patterns can reflect both the demographics of the patient population and potential age-related susceptibility to certain side effects.

Who manufactures Fenofibrate?

The primary manufacturer associated with Fenofibrate adverse event reports is Abbvie Inc.. Multiple manufacturers may produce generic versions of this drug. The manufacturer listed reflects the most frequently reported brand in FDA adverse event data.

What other side effects have been reported for Fenofibrate?

Beyond the most common reactions, other reported adverse events for Fenofibrate include: Headache, Dizziness, Pain, Asthenia, Fall. Less common side effects can still be clinically significant. Patients should report any unusual symptoms to their healthcare provider.

How do I report a side effect from Fenofibrate?

You can report adverse events from Fenofibrate to the FDA through their MedWatch program at www.fda.gov/medwatch, by calling 1-800-FDA-1088, or by completing Form FDA 3500. Healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers can all submit reports. Reporting helps the FDA monitor drug safety after approval.

What is Fenofibrate's safety score and what does it mean?

Fenofibrate has a safety concern score of 72 out of 100 (elevated concern). This score is calculated from the ratio of serious to non-serious adverse events, the diversity of reported reactions, and the overall volume of reports relative to usage. Nausea, fatigue, and diarrhea are the most common adverse reactions.

What are the key safety signals for Fenofibrate?

Key safety signals identified in Fenofibrate's adverse event data include: Acute kidney injury and renal failure are key safety signals.. Drug interactions and dose omissions are significant safety concerns.. Serious adverse events account for over 64% of reports.. These signals are derived from patterns in FDA reports and should be discussed with a healthcare provider for personalized assessment.

Does Fenofibrate interact with other drugs?

Fenofibrate can interact with other drugs, and dose omissions are reported, indicating potential for underdosing or overdosing. Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs you are taking before starting Fenofibrate.

What should patients know before taking Fenofibrate?

Monitor for signs of kidney injury and adjust dosing as needed. Be cautious with drug interactions and inform healthcare providers of all medications taken.

Are Fenofibrate side effects well-documented?

Fenofibrate has 92,182 adverse event reports on file with the FDA. Serious reactions, including acute kidney injury and renal failure, are frequent. The volume of reports for Fenofibrate reflects both the drug's usage level and the vigilance of the reporting community.

What is the FDA's position on Fenofibrate?

Regulatory oversight is ongoing, with a focus on monitoring serious adverse events and drug interactions. For the most current regulatory information, check the FDA's drug labeling database or consult your pharmacist.

Related Drugs

Drugs related to FENOFIBRATE based on therapeutic use, drug class, or shared indications:

MetforminSimvastatinAtorvastatinRosuvastatinMetoprolol
Important Disclaimer: This content is generated by AI analysis of FDA adverse event reports and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Adverse event reports submitted to the FDA do not prove that a medication caused the reported side effect. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication. If you experience a serious side effect, contact your doctor or call 911 immediately.