The U.S. FDA-approved Pirfenidone to treat people with a lung disease called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) on 15th Sept 2014. 

Pirfenidone is used to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a type of lung disorder in which tissues of the lungs become scarred and inflamed, resulting in breathing difficulties.

Take the Pirfenidone tablet in a dose and duration prescribed by your doctor. Swallow the tablets whole with water. Take it during or after a meal to reduce the side effects. Do not crush or chew the tablets. Do not drink grapefruit juice while taking this medication.

The most common side effects of Pirfenidone are nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, tiredness, diarrhea, indigestion, headache, dizziness, skin reactions after exposure to sunlight, infections, weight loss, difficulty sleeping, changes in taste, cough, stomach pain, constipation, feeling bloated, heartburn, itchy, dry skin, muscle pain, joint pain, chest pain, shortness of breath.

Some serious effects are likely to occur while you are on the treatment with Pirfenidone are severe allergic reactions such as swelling of the face, lips, or tongue, wheezing, feeling faint, liver problems with the symptoms of yellowing of skin or eyes, dark urine, bruising, or bleeding.

This medicine should not be used if you have severe liver disorders or kidney disorders if you are taking fluvoxamine (which treats depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder), or if you are allergic to any of the ingredients of this medicine. Do not drink grapefruit juice while taking this medicine. This medicine may cause gastrointestinal disorders and elevation in liver enzymes. Hence consult your doctor before you start taking this medicine. Avoid exposure to sunlight, including sunlamps. Use sunscreen daily and cover your head, legs, and arms to reduce exposure to sunlight. Avoid taking other medications because certain medications, such as Ciprofloxacin and Fluvoxamine, may interact with the effects of Pirfenidone and reduce its effectiveness by causing undesirable side effects.

Abnormalities, such as dark or brown urine, bruises, bleeding than usual, or jaundice, must be notified immediately to your doctor. Pirfenidone tablets may cause harm to the unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant before taking this medicine. Breastfeeding is not recommended while taking Pirfenidone. Because the medicine can pass into breast milk, potentially harming a nursing infant. Consult the doctor for more information. Inform your healthcare provider about all your medicines, including prescription, over-the-counter, nutritional and vitamin supplements, vaccines, and herbal products.

Avoid smoking as it may reduce the efficacy of the Pirfenidone Tablet. Keep the Pirfenidone tablet out of sight and reach of children. Store at a temperature of 25°C. It is unknown if drinking alcohol while taking a Pirfenifone tablet is safe. Please speak with your physician. Your doctor will recommend you take a liver function test before starting the cycles with Perfinidone to monitor the functioning level. Take the tablet after a meal at the same time each day to reduce the side effects.

1. Roche Products Limited, Electronic medicines compendium (emc), [Revised on Nov 2020] [Accessed on 1st April 2023] https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.2731.pdf
2. Genentech USA, Inc, US Food and Drug Administration, [Revised on Jan 2017], [Accessed on 1st April 2023], https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/208780s000lbl.pdf
3. Pirfenex Tablets; Cipla Ltd; Ciplamed; Accessed on 1st April 2023; https://www.ciplamed.com/content/pirfenex-tablets

The drug information on this page is not a substitute for medical advice. It is meant for educational purposes only. For further details, consult your doctor about your medical condition to know if you are eligible to receive this treatment.