Pirfenidone 267 mg Hard Capsules

What Pirfenidone is used for :

• Pirfenidone is used for the treatment of mild to moderate Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) in adults.

Do not take Pirfenidone :

• if you are allergic to Pirfenidone or any of the other ingredients of this medicine 
• if you have previously experienced angioedema with Pirfenidone, including symptoms such as swelling of the face, lips and/or tongue which may be associated with difficulty breathing or wheezing
• if you are taking a medicine called fluvoxamine 
• if you have severe or end stage liver disease
• if you have severe or end stage kidney disease requiring dialysis.

Warnings and precautions : 

• You may become more sensitive to sunlight when taking Pirfenidone.
• Avoid the sun whilst taking Pirfenidone. 
• You should not take other medicines, such as tetracycline antibiotics which may affect your light sensitivity
• You should tell your doctor if you suffer from kidney problems.
• You should tell your doctor if you suffer from mild to moderate liver problems.
• You should stop smoking before and during treatment with Pirfenidone. 
• Pirfenidone may cause dizziness and tiredness. 
• Pirfenidone can cause weight loss. 

Possible side effects  :

• These include skin reactions after going out in the sun or using sunlamps, feeling sick (nausea), tiredness, diarrhea, indigestion or stomach upset, loss of appetite, headache. infections of the throat or the airways going into the lungs and/or sinusitis, bladder infections, weight loss, difficulty sleeping, dizziness, feeling sleepy, changes in taste, shortness of breath, cough and aching joints.

Other medicines and Pirfenidone : 

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking: 

• Enoxacin (a type of antibiotic)
• Ciprofloxacin (a type of antibiotic)
• Amiodarone (used to treat some types of heart disease)
• propafenone (used to treat some types of heart disease)
• Fluvoxamine (used to treat depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder).
• Omeprazole (used in the treatment of conditions such as indigestion, gastroesophageal reflux disease)
• Rifampicin (a type of antibiotic).

How to take Pirfenidone :

• Your medicine will usually be given to you in increasing doses as follows:
• for the first 7 days take 1 capsule, 3 times a day with food (a total of 801 mg/day)
• from day 8 to 14 take 2 capsules, 3 times a day with food (a total of 1,602 mg/day)
• from day 15 onwards (maintenance), take 3 capsules, 3 times a day with food (a total of 2,403 mg/day).
• The recommended maintenance daily dose of Pirfenidone is 3 capsules three times a day with food, for a total of 2403 mg/day.
• Swallow the capsules whole with a drink of water, during or after a meal to reduce the risk of side effects such as nausea (feeling sick) and dizziness.
• If symptoms continue, see your doctor.

How to store Pirfenidone :

• Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
• Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the bottle label, blister and carton after EXP.
• The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
• Do not store this medicine above 30°C.