Please read this leaflet carefully before you start to take Lopid. It contains important information about your treatment. If you have any questions, or if you are not sure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Lopid 300 mg are red and white capsules with "LOPID 300" printed on them. Each capsule contains 300 mg of the active ingredient Gemfibrozil and the inactive ingredients: polysorbate 80, maize starch, gelatin and the colourings E1 7t . E127 and E132. They are available in packs of 112.

Lopid 600 mg are white, film-coated, oval tablets with LOPID printed on them. Each tablet contains 600 mg of the active ingredient Gemfibrozil and the inactive ingredients: polysorbate 80, maize starch, silicon dioxide, hydroxypropyl cellulose, calcium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, methyl hydroxypropyl cellulose, propylene glycol and carnauba wax. They are available in blister packs of 56.

Having too much lipid (fat) in your blood, increases your risk of heart disease, but not all types of lipid have the same effect. Some types of lipid are bad for you (these are called LDL cholesterol and triglyceride) and some types actually protect you from heart disease (HDL cholesterol). Having too much, or the wrong sort of lipid in your blood is called hyperlipidaemia.

Lopid is one of a group of medicines called lipid regulating drugs". It decreases the amount of bad cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) and triglyceride in your blood. It also increases the amount of good cholesterol (HDL cholesterol) in your blood.

The Product Licence holder is Parke, Davis & Company, Usk Road, Pontypool, Gwent, U.K., and the manufacturer is Gödecke AG, Freiburg, Germany (a member of the Parke Davis group of companies).

Lopid is used to treat hyperlipidaemia (having too much fat in the blood) and to prevent heart disease in people with hyperlipidaemia.

Before you start to take Lopid.

Before you take Lopid, your doctor will try to control your blood lipids by treating any underlying condition (such as thyroid disease or diabetes) and giving you advice about: eating the correct diet, exercising, giving up smoking, cutting down on alcohol and, if necessary, losing weight. Continue to follow all this advice while you are taking Lopid. If you do not, you will not get the full benefit of treatment.

Your doctor will want to see you regularly while you are taking Lopid. especially for the first three months. This is to check that Lopid is having the correct effect on your blood lipids. You may also have routine blood tests for up to a year.

Adults and elderly: The normal dose is 600 mg (one tablet or two capsules) twice a day (1200 mg a day). A lower dose of 900 mg a day may be used if the normal dose does not agree with you or if you have kidney disease. A higher dose of 1500 mg a day may be needed sometimes. Your doctor will decide what dose is right for you. Follow the instructions on the label and do not change your dose unless your doctor tells you to.

• Children: Lopid is not recommended for children.
• Swallow your capsules or tablets whole, with a glass of water or milk. If you break them they taste unpleasant.
• If you are also taking resin granules for your hyperlipidaemia (colestipol or cholestyramine), do not take them at the same time as Lopid or for at least two hours before, or for at least two hours after, taking Lopid. If you do, you will make Lopid less effective.
• If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at the same time.
• If you accidentally take too much Lopid tell your doctor at once.

Lopid can sometimes cause side effects. The side effects reported most often are: stomach pain, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, wind, rash, (particularly an itchy or puffy rash), impotence, headache, dizziness, or blurred vision. Serious reactions are seen rarely:

• Angio-oedema. This is an allergic type reaction in which the face and tongue start to swell up. This may cause difficulty in breathing and you should see a doctor at once.