This medication is used to treat certain types of lung
disease (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis- IPF, interstitial lung disease).
Both types of lung disease scar and stiffen your lungs, making it hard to
breathe. Nintedanib may help slow down the worsening of your lung
disease.
Read the Patient Information Leaflet if available from
your pharmacist before you start taking nintedanib and each time you get a
refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or
pharmacist.
Take this medication by mouth with food as directed by
your doctor, usually twice daily (about 12 hours apart). The dosage is
based on your medical condition and response to treatment. Follow your
doctor's instructions carefully.
Swallow the capsule whole. Do not crush or chew because
the drug has a bitter taste. Do not open the capsules. Wash your hands well
right away if your skin comes in contact with the content inside the
capsules.
Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit
from it. To help you remember, take it at the same times each
day.
Tell your doctor if your condition gets
worse.
Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, decreased
appetite, and weight loss may occur. If any of these effects last or get
worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Diarrhea, nausea, and
vomiting can be severe. Your doctor may have you drink more fluids if these
symptoms occur and prescribe medications to treat the diarrhea, nausea, and
vomiting.
Remember that this medication has been prescribed
because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the
risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious
side effects.
This medication may raise your blood pressure. Check
your blood pressure regularly and tell your doctor if the results are high.
Your doctor may control your blood pressure with
medication.
Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side
effects, including:
- unusual bruising/bleeding
- cough/stuffy chest
- foamy urine
- swelling ankles/feet/hands
- symptoms of liver problems (such as dark urine, yellowing
eyes/skin)
Get medical help right away if you have any very serious
side effects, including:
- symptoms of a heart attack (such as chest/jaw/left arm pain,
unusual sweating)
- symptoms of a stroke (such as weakness on one side of body,
sudden vision problems, trouble speaking)
- sudden/severe back pain or headache
- severe stomach/abdominal pain
- abdominal swelling
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare.
However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a
serious allergic reaction, including:
- rash
- itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat)
- severe dizziness
- trouble breathing
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If
you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or
pharmacist.
In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at
www.fda.gov/medwatch.
In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about
side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at
1-866-234-2345.
Before taking nintedanib, tell your doctor or pharmacist
if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product
may contain inactive ingredients which can cause allergic reactions or
other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or
pharmacist your medical history, especially of:
- liver disease
- heart disease (such as chest pain, heart attack)
- high blood pressure
- blood clots
- bleeding problems
- blood vessel problems (such as an aneurysm or a tear/break in
the aorta or other blood vessels)
- recent abdominal surgery
- stomach/intestinal problems (such as ulcers, diverticular
disease)
Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about
all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription
drugs, and herbal products).
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become
pregnant. You should not become pregnant while using nintedanib. Nintedanib
may harm an unborn baby. Your doctor should order a pregnancy test before
you start this medication. Ask about reliable forms of birth control (such
as condoms) while using this medication and for at least 3 months after the
last dose. If you become pregnant, talk to your doctor right away about the
risks and benefits of this medication.
It is unknown if nintedanib passes into breast milk.
Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.
Drug interactions may change how your medications work
or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not
contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you
use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and
share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the
dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.
Some products that may interact with this drug
include:
- drugs that can cause bleeding/bruising (including
antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel, NSAIDs such as ibuprofen/naproxen,
"blood thinners" such as warfarin/dabigatran)
Aspirin can increase the risk of bleeding when used with
this medication. However, if your doctor has told you to take low-dose
aspirin to prevent heart attack or stroke (usually 81-162 milligrams a
day), you should keep taking the aspirin unless your doctor tells you not
to. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
Other medications can affect the removal of nintedanib
from your body, which may affect how nintedanib works. Examples include
rifamycins (such as rifampicin), St. John's wort, drugs used to treat
seizures (such as carbamazepine, phenytoin), among others.
Cigarette smoking decreases blood levels of this
medication. Tell your doctor if you smoke or if you have recently stopped
smoking.
If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such
as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison
control center right away. US residents can call 1-800-222-1222. Canada
residents can call 1-844-764-7669.
Do not share this medication with others.
Lab and/or medical tests (such as blood pressure, liver
function) should be done before you start taking this medication and while
you are taking it. Keep all medical and lab appointments.
If you miss a dose, skip the missed dose. Take your next
dose at the regular time. Do not double the dose to catch
up.
Store at room temperature away from light and moisture.
Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from children and
pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them
into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when
it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste
disposal company.