Pirfenex 400mg Tablet is a prescription medicine used in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. It reduces scarring and swelling in the lungs and helps to breathe better.

Pirfenex 400mg Tablet is best taken with food. Take it at the same time every day to get the most benefits. The dose and how often you take it depends on what you are taking it for. Your doctor will decide how much you need to improve your symptoms. You should take this medicine for as long as it is prescribed for you.

The most common side effects of this medicine include insomnia, headache, dizziness, dyspepsia, nausea, diarrhea, and photosensitivity. To overcome dizziness, avoid driving or attention-seeking activity. Some people may experience weight loss and other side effects. Monitor your weight regularly or ask for the doctor's advice in such cases. Your doctor also may perform a liver function test while on treatment with this medicine.

Before taking this medicine, let your doctor know if you have liver or kidney disease. Your doctor should also know about all other medicines you are taking as many of these may make this medicine less effective or change the way it works. It makes your skin sun-sensitive, wear protective clothing or apply sunscreen while in direct contact with the sun. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Uses of Pirfenex Tablet

Treatment of Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Benefits of Pirfenex Tablet

In Treatment of Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a lung disease caused by lung tissue becoming thick and stiff and eventually forming scar tissue within the lungs. The scarring, or fibrosis, seems to result from a cycle of damage and healing that occurs in the lungs. These changes are irreversible and the affected person may experience shortness of breath or dry cough as initial symptoms. Pirfenex 400mg Tablet reduces the scarring or fibrosis and makes breathing easier. You may experience some bothersome side effects. Discuss with your doctor if you have any doubts.

Side effects of Pirfenex Tablet

Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them

Common side effects of Pirfenex

Insomnia (difficulty in sleeping)
Headache
Dizziness
Tiredness
Sinus inflammation
Loss of appetite
Upper respiratory tract infection
Weight loss
Nausea
Indigestion
Diarrhea
Photosensitivity

How to use Pirfenex Tablet

Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Pirfenex 400mg Tablet is to be taken with food.

How Pirfenex Tablet works

Pirfenex 400mg Tablet is an antifibrotic medication. It works by blocking the action of a certain natural substance in the body that is involved in causing fibrosis. This reduces the scarring and swelling in the lungs and makes breathing easier.

Safety advice

Alcohol

CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

It is not known whether it is safe to consume alcohol with Pirfenex 400mg Tablet. Please consult your doctor.

Pregnancy

CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

Pirfenex 400mg Tablet may be unsafe to use during pregnancy. Although there are limited studies in humans, animal studies have shown harmful effects on the developing baby. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing it to you. Please consult your doctor.

Breast feeding

CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

Information regarding the use of Pirfenex 400mg Tablet during breastfeeding is not available. Please consult your doctor.

Driving

UNSAFE

Pirfenex 400mg Tablet may decrease alertness, affect your vision or make you feel sleepy and dizzy. Do not drive if these symptoms occur.

Kidney

CAUTION

Pirfenex 400mg Tablet should be used with caution in patients with kidney disease. Dose adjustment of Pirfenex 400mg Tablet may be needed. Please consult your doctor.
Use of Pirfenex 400mg Tablet is not recommended with severe kidney disease and dialysis patients.

Liver

CAUTION

Pirfenex 400mg Tablet should be used with caution in patients with liver disease. Dose adjustment of Pirfenex 400mg Tablet may be needed. Please consult your doctor.
Use of Pirfenex 400mg Tablet is not recommended in patients with severe liver disease.

All substitutes

For informational purposes only. Consult a doctor before taking any medicines.

Pirfenex 400mg Tablet

₹39.3/Tablet

Pirfemac 400 Tablet

Macleods Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd

₹27.1/tablet

31% cheaper

Pirfeza 400mg Tablet

Uniza Healthcare LLP

₹38/tablet

3% cheaper

Pirfedo 400 Tablet

Care Formulation Labs Pvt Ltd

₹39.73/tablet

1% costlier

Pirfib 400 Tablet

Chemo Healthcare Pvt Ltd

₹45/tablet

15% costlier

Fibrodone 400mg Tablet

Lupin Ltd

₹44.73/tablet

14% costlier

Quick tips

Pirfenex 400mg Tablet reduces scarring and swelling in the lungs, and helps you breathe better.
It is best to take this medicine with food and at the same time each day.
This medication may make you more sensitive to sun. Use sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors.
Stop smoking during treatment with Pirfenex 400mg Tablet as it can reduce the effect of the treatment.
It may cause dizziness or sleepiness. Do not drive or do anything requiring concentration until you know how it affects you.
It may cause weight loss. Monitor your weight regularly.
Your doctor may check your liver function regularly. Inform your doctor if you develop abdominal pain, loss of appetite, darkened urine or yellowing of the eyes or skin (jaundice).

Fact Box

Chemical Class

Pyridones Derivative

Habit Forming

Therapeutic Class

RESPIRATORY

Action Class

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)

Patient concerns

Can idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis be cured?

Dr. Manju Singh

Homeopathy

I would like to suggest you that please consult with your nearest homeopathy doctor because your case require detail case taking.

My mother is suffering from Interstitial Lungs disease since 4 yrs.She is on home oxygen since 3 yrs from then for atleast 14-16 hrs.Currently she is getting treatment from AIIMS,New Delhi and the medecines given are as under:- Pirfenidone (600mg-Thrice a day) Sildenafil (25mg-Thrice a day) Tab Uprise D3 for calcium-60000 units (Once a month) Tab DDR60-Once a day. The treatment has been for exactly 1 yrs and 3 months from now but the disease is still on a progressive mode.She is not improving.My family is very worried. Please help out with proper treatment for this disease.This disease is also known as Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). Best Regards Mayur PATIENT

Dr. Aanchal Maheshwari

Ayurveda

Case has to be correlated with Ayurveda, for this case has to be seen in person before starting the treatment as correlation of case with Ayurveda need to be done

Dr. Vijay Sharnangat

Medical Oncology and Hematology

Please consult chest physician

FAQs

What monitoring will I need during treatment with Pirfenex 400mg Tablet?

Your doctor will check your liver function before starting treatment with Pirfenex 400mg Tablet. This test will be repeated monthly for the first 6 months and then it will be done after every three months. In addition to that, your doctor will also monitor your lung function periodically in order to see the response to Pirfenex 400mg Tablet.

Why is it important to continue treatment with Pirfenex 400mg Tablet?

It is important to control the progression of the disease by preserving your lung function which cannot be restored, once lost. Hence, it is highly recommended to start and continue the treatment with Pirfenex 400mg Tablet as prescribed by your doctor. Doing so can help preserve the existing lung function.

What are the side effects of Pirfenex 400mg Tablet?

Most common side effects of Pirfenex 400mg Tablet include skin sensitivity to sunlight, nausea, tiredness, diarrhea, indigestion or upset stomach, loss of appetite, and headache. Other common side effects include infections of the throat or the airways, bladder infections, weight loss, difficulty sleeping, dizziness, sleepiness, changes in taste, hot flushes, shortness of breath, and cough. Additionally, one may experience stomach problems such as acid reflux, vomiting, bloating, abdominal pain and discomfort, heart burn, constipation, skin problems such as itchy skin, skin redness or red skin, dry skin, skin rash, muscle pain, aching joints/joint pains, weakness, chest pain, and sunburn. It is possible that after using Pirfenex 400mg Tablet blood tests may show increased levels of liver enzymes.

Is Pirfenex 400mg Tablet a steroid?

No, Pirfenex 400mg Tablet is not a steroid. It belongs to pyridines group of medicines. It is used to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in adults. In IPF, the tissues of the lungs get scarred and swell with time, which creates problem in breathing. This medicine helps reduce these effects to make you breathe better.

How do I know that Pirfenex 400mg Tablet is right for me?

Only you and your doctor can decide if Pirfenex 400mg Tablet is right for you. The doctor will only prescribe Pirfenex 400mg Tablet after assessing your condition. Based on your response to treatment and tolerability, you should continue the medicine.

If my disease is stable can I stop Pirfenex 400mg Tablet?

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive disease though its progression is unpredictable. Do not stop the medication without consulting the doctor. Continue taking Pirfenex 400mg Tablet to slow down the progression of the disease.

What should I avoid while taking Pirfenex 400mg Tablet?

You should restrict sun exposure, while taking Pirfenex 400mg Tablet. Wear sunblock daily and cover your arms, legs, and head to reduce exposure to sunlight. Along with that, avoid smoking as it decreases the effect of Pirfenex 400mg Tablet.

What is the survival rate of pulmonary fibrosis?

The median survival of patients with pulmonary fibrosis is 2-3 years, yet some people live much longer. The factors which can be held responsible for shortened survival are older age, smoking history, and lower body mass index. The other factors can be more severe extent of disease both radiologically and physical impairment, and the development of other lung complications or conditions.

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Tata 1mg's sole intention is to ensure that its consumers get information that is expert-reviewed, accurate and trustworthy. However, the information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of a qualified physician. The information provided here is for informational purposes only. This may not cover everything about particular health conditions, lab tests, medicines, all possible side effects, drug interactions, warnings, alerts, etc. Please consult your doctor and discuss all your queries related to any disease or medicine. We intend to support, not replace, the doctor-patient relationship.

References

Medscape. Pirfenidone. [Accessed 01 Apr. 2019] (online) Available from:
Pirefenidone. Brisbane, California: InterMune, Inc.; 2014. [Accessed 01 Apr. 2019] (online) Available from:
Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). [Accessed 01 Apr. 2019] (online) Available from:
CiplaMed. Pirfenidone [Prescribing Information]. [Accessed 05 Aug. 2023] (online) Available from:

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