n. a drug used to lower levels of *very low-density lipoproteins in patients with *hypertriglyceridaemia who have not responded to diet, weight reduction, or exercise (see fibrates). Side-effects include diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and nausea and vomiting.
pl. n. a class of drugs, chemically related to fibric acid, that are capable of reducing concentrations of triglycerides in the blood (see hypertriglyceridaemia); they may also reduce plasma *low-density lipoproteins and they tend to raise the levels of the beneficial *high-density lipoproteins. Fibrates are used for treating hyperlipidaemia; they include *bezafibrate, ciprofibrate, fenofibrate, and *gemfibrozil. Fibrates can have adverse effects on muscle (see myositis).... fibrates