Nintedanib
About Nintedanib
Nintedanib is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with chronic lung conditions that cause progressive scarring, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. This medicine is designed to help slow down the decline in lung function by targeting the pathways that lead to lung tissue stiffening. By reducing this scarring process, it helps preserve your remaining lung function and capacity.
To achieve the best results, you must take Nintedanib consistently every day exactly as your doctor directs. It is highly recommended to take this capsule with food and a full glass of water to help manage common stomach-related side effects. Incorporating healthy habits, such as stopping smoking and staying well-hydrated, can also support your overall lung health during treatment.
The most common side effects associated with this medication include diarrhoea, nausea, and stomach pain. It is important to watch for these symptoms and consult your doctor immediately if you experience severe diarrhoea, signs of liver damage, or unusual bleeding.
Do not take this if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or have severe liver damage. Before starting this treatment, you must tell your doctor if you have a history of heart disease, liver problems, high blood pressure, or bleeding disorders.
Nintedanib may interact with certain medicines, including blood thinners, and smoking may reduce the amount of medicine in your body. Older adults can generally use this medicine, but they may need closer monitoring because liver problems and other health conditions are more common with age. Tell your doctor if you have any liver problems. People with mild liver impairment may need a lower dose and closer monitoring, while Nintedanib is generally not recommended for those with moderate or severe liver impairment. If you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or breastfeeding, consult your doctor before starting treatment.
Uses of Nintedanib
Medicinal Benefits
The primary benefit of Nintedanib is its ability to protect and preserve your lung function over time. By targeting the underlying chemical signals that cause tissue scarring, this medicine helps you maintain your breathing capacity and perform daily tasks more comfortably.
- Slower disease progression: It significantly reduces the speed at which lung scarring worsens, allowing you to maintain your active daily routines for a longer period.
- Lower risk of sudden worsening: It helps lower the risk of sudden, severe breathing crises, which are medically known as acute exacerbations.
- Better control over breathing decline: Regular use helps stabilise your overall lung health, giving you more predictability in managing your symptoms.
Directions for Use
- Nintedanib should be taken with meals to enhance its effectiveness.
- It is recommended to take Nintedanib twice daily or as advised by your doctor.
- Swallow Nintedanib as a whole with a glass of water.
- Do not crush, chew, or open it.
Storage
Side Effects of Nintedanib
Common Side Effects (Usually mild)
- Diarrhoea
- Nausea or vomiting
- Stomach pain or bloating
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
Serious Side Effects (Consult your doctor right away)
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, pale stools, or pain in the upper right side of the abdomen, which may be signs of liver problems
- Severe or persistent diarrhoea or vomiting, especially if you feel dizzy, weak, very thirsty, or light-headed
- Unusual bruising or bleeding, blood in the stool, coughing up blood, or bleeding that does not stop
- Severe stomach pain, fever, chills, nausea, or vomiting, which may be signs of a serious bowel problem
- Chest pain, sudden shortness of breath, a sudden severe headache, weakness or numbness on one side of the body, or difficulty speaking
- Signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, hives, or difficulty breathing
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Use reliable birth control: Women who can get pregnant must use highly effective birth control during treatment and for at least 3 months after stopping Nintedanib, as it can cause severe harm to an unborn baby.
- Watch for unusual bleeding: Tell your doctor immediately if you notice blood in your stool, cough up blood, or experience frequent nosebleeds.
- Monitor your blood pressure: This medication can raise your blood pressure, so check it regularly at home and share the results with your doctor.
- Check your skin and eyes: Regularly look for signs of yellowing (jaundice), which could indicate a liver problem.
- Tell all your healthcare providers: Inform your dentist or surgeon that you take Nintedanib before any procedure, as it can affect wound healing.
Drug Interactions
The following medicines may interact with Nintedanib and require closer monitoring or dose adjustments:
- Blood thinners: Taking this medicine with anticoagulants (such as warfarin) can increase your risk of serious bleeding.
- Enzyme blockers: Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (like ketoconazole or erythromycin) can increase the levels of Nintedanib in your blood, making side effects more likely.
- Enzyme inducers: Medicines like rifampicin can lower the level of Nintedanib in your blood, making it less effective.
- Laxatives: Combining this medicine with laxatives can worsen severe diarrhoea.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionIt is not known if alcohol interacts with Nintedanib. However, as a precautionary measure, you are recommended not to consume alcohol with the Nintedanib to avoid unpleasant side effects.
Pregnancy
unsafeNintedanib is listed as pregnancy category D. Because Nintedanib can cause harm to the fetus, women of childbearing potential should be advised to avoid becoming pregnant while receiving treatment with Nintedanib.
Breast Feeding
consult your doctorConsult your doctor if you are breastfeeding; your doctor will decide whether Nintedanib can be taken by breastfeeding mothers or not.
Driving
unsafeNintedanib may significantly influence your ability to drive and use machines. You should not drive or operate machinery if you feel sick.
Liver
consult your doctorDose adjustment may be needed. Nintedanib is not recommended for patients with severe hepatic impairment. Please consult your doctor if you have a liver impairment or any concerns.
Kidney
consult your doctorDose adjustment may be needed. Nintedanib is not recommended for patients with an end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis. Please consult your doctor if you have kidney impairment or any concerns.
Children
unsafeNintedanib is not recommended for children below 18 years as safety and effectiveness have not been established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Drink plenty of fluids: Stay hydrated by drinking water throughout the day, which helps prevent dehydration if you experience diarrhoea.
- Eat small, frequent meals: If you experience nausea or a loss of appetite, eating small portions of bland foods throughout the day can make eating easier.
- Avoid smoking completely: Smoking speeds up lung damage and can significantly reduce how well Nintedanib works in your body.
- Get regular liver tests: Attend all scheduled appointments for blood tests, as your doctor needs to monitor your liver health closely during treatment.
- Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice: This fruit can affect how your body processes the medicine, potentially increasing the risk of side effects.
Special Advise
- Regular blood tests and occasional tests of your bone marrow will be carried out to check whether the treatment is working. If it does work, it will usually be taken for life.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF): Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis belongs to a group of interstitial lung diseases. It is an irreversible chronic disease marked by a progressive decline in lung function. The tissues in the lungs become inflamed and scarred over time, making it difficult to breathe properly. The scar tissue, known as fibrosis, becomes thick /stiff over time, making it hard for the lungs to work efficiently. This causes decreased lung function, which leads to increased breathlessness and coughing. Breathing difficulties can lead to other medical problems. Symptoms of IPF are shortness of breath, persistent dry cough, loss of appetite, weight loss, and rounded and widened tips of the fingers and toes.
FAQs
Nintedanib is used to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a disease marked by a progressive decline in lung function.
Nintedanib helps reduce the scarring and swelling in the lungs by decreasing the release/activity of naturally occurring growth factors in the body, thereby helping you breathe better.
Avoid smoking before starting the treatment while taking Nintedanib as smoking might alter the effectiveness of Nintedanib.
Nintedanib should be stopped when a person faces a serious side effect that affects life quality. Otherwise, it would be best to keep taking Nintedanib until your doctor asks you to stop it.
If you have any surgery, including dental surgery, please inform your doctor if you are taking Nintedanib as your doctor might stop Nintedanib before undergoing surgery.
In elderly patients, the risk of side effects is higher if you are taking Nintedanib. For the patients who are elderly, dose adjustment might be required, or your doctor might prescribe any other medication safe for the elderly.
It is not recommended to discontinue the Nintedanib without consulting your healthcare provider. Abruptly stopping the medication can lead to disease progression or other complications. Consult your healthcare provider for personalised guidance if you have concerns or experience side effects.
If you forget to take a dose of Nintedanib, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it's almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not double up on doses to make up for the missed one, as this can increase the risk of side effects.
Common side effects of Nintedanib may include nausea, tiredness, diarrhoea, indigestion, loss of appetite, headache, and photosensitivity in some individuals. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention and will resolve gradually over time. However, if you experience these side effects persistently, inform your doctor.
Nintedanib is not recommended for use in patients with severe liver impairment. Please consult your doctor if you have a liver impairment or any concerns before Nintedanib.
Yes, you should always take Nintedanib with food. This helps to reduce common stomach-related side effects like nausea and diarrhoea. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you struggle to manage stomach issues.
If you develop diarrhoea, drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration and contact your doctor immediately. They may recommend an over-the-counter anti-diarrhoeal medicine or adjust your dose. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicine.
No, Nintedanib does not cure lung scarring, and it cannot reverse scar tissue that has already formed. Instead, it works to slow down the progression of the disease and preserve your remaining lung function. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
You should limit or avoid alcohol while taking Nintedanib because both alcohol and this medicine can put stress on your liver, increasing your risk of liver damage. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about safe alcohol limits.
Your doctor will order regular blood tests to monitor your liver function. Since this medicine can cause liver damage, checking your blood helps ensure the medicine is safe for you to continue. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have concerns about these tests.
No, you should not take Nintedanib if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, as it can cause severe harm to an unborn baby. Women who can get pregnant must use highly effective birth control during treatment and for at least 3 months after. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about safe options.
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