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Prescribing Information

BUILDING YOUR ESBRIET ROUTINE

Starting right and staying strong on treatment

As you begin taking Esbriet® (pirfenidone), you may find that you need to make small changes to your usual routines. Try these helpful suggestions for how to build good habits.

Setting good habits can help you start strong and continue with your treatment as prescribed. You can also download and use the Tracking Your Journey journal to help you stay on top of your IPF treatment.

Building good habits

Establishing a new habit as part of your routine, such as remembering to take your Esbriet as directed by your doctor, may take time. Here are some tips to help you build good habits so you can start and stay strong on treatment:

Tips for your Esbriet routine
Check out these downloadable resources for more help while on treatment


Important things to keep in mind when starting Esbriet 

  • IPF is progressive, so slowing its decline can be an important goal of treatment
  • Starting and staying on Esbriet treatment as prescribed by your doctor can be an important way to help preserve more of the lung function you have today by slowing disease progression
  • Once you begin taking Esbriet, you may not “feel” different, because Esbriet does not treat the symptoms of IPF and does not reverse the scarring in your lungs
  • IPF worsens at different rates in different people. With or without Esbriet, lung function may continue to decline. Remember, the goal is to slow the decline. Your doctor will conduct lung function tests to measure how IPF is affecting your lungs over time

Patient Ambassador Becki

I have a little notebook I take with me to doctor appointments. I jot down the date of the appointment, the reason for my appointment, any procedures or tests I’ve had, medical history, current medications, and any questions I have for the doctor....during the appointment I write down what the doctor tells me in my trusty notebook and try to repeat it back or get clarification on what I don’t understand. It’s been a very helpful tool for me." 

Becki
Esbriet Ambassador

 

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About Esbriet

Esbriet® (pirfenidone) is a prescription medicine used to treat people with a lung disease called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

It is not known if Esbriet is safe and effective in children.

Before you take Esbriet, tell your doctor if you:
  • have other medical conditions (particularly liver or kidney problems).
  • are a smoker.
  • are or plan to become pregnant or breastfeed (Esbriet has not been studied in these patients).
  • are taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements.
What are the possible side effects of Esbriet?

Esbriet may cause serious side effects, including:

  • liver problems. Call your doctor if you have symptoms such as yellowing of your skin or eyes, dark or brown urine, pain on the upper right side of your stomach area, bleeding or bruising more easily than normal, or increased fatigue. Your doctor will also do regular blood tests to check your liver.
  • sun sensitivity and rash. When you are outside, use sunscreen (SPF 50) and wear a hat and clothes that cover your skin to avoid getting a sunburn.
  • stomach problems. Esbriet may cause stomach problems such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, indigestion, heartburn, and stomach pain.

Your doctor may change your dose or discontinue Esbriet if side effects do not go away.

The most common side effects of Esbriet include upper respiratory tract infections, feeling tired, headache, dizziness, loss of appetite, sinusitis, insomnia, or weight loss.

These are not all the possible side effects of Esbriet.

What should you avoid while taking Esbriet?
  • Direct exposure to sunlight, or light from sunlamps and tanning beds.
  • Other medicines that can make your skin sensitive to sunlight.
  • Smoking, which may affect how well Esbriet works.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch or to Genentech at 1-888-835-2555.

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information, for additional important safety information.

    • Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Advance notice of methodological changes for calendar year (CY) 2018 for Medicare Advantage (MA) capitation rates, Part C and Part D payment policies and 2018 call letter. https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Health-Plans/MedicareAdvtgSpecRateStats/Downloads/Advance2018.pdf. Posted February 1, 2017. Accessed October 17, 2017.

      Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Advance notice of methodological changes for calendar year (CY) 2018 for Medicare Advantage (MA) capitation rates, Part C and Part D payment policies and 2018 call letter. https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Health-Plans/MedicareAdvtgSpecRateStats/Downloads/Advance2018.pdf. Posted February 1, 2017. Accessed October 17, 2017.