Skip to main content

Ofev for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF): How does it work? What is it? Is it safe? What's the science behind it? Dosage? Side effects? Research studies? Evidence?

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic lung disease which progresses over time. It is characterized by thickening of the lung tissue without a known cause, and eventually leads to scarring (fibrosis) of the tissue. Scarring of the lung results in stiffness of the organ, which reduces the ability of the lung to expand and contract, causing impaired oxygen transfer from the lungs to the bloodstream. IPF presents in various ways in patients, for example, it can be seen through breath shortness, clubbing of the fingers, dry cough which never gets resolved, fatigue, and sometimes even unexplained weight loss. The disease tends to affect older individuals and has a vast impact on the quality of life for its patients. 

Ofev, is one of the most common medications administered when someone suffers from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. It is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) which targets multiple pathways involved in the process of scarring. In fact, it works specifically by inhibiting 3 main factors: platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). When it blocks the pathways for these growths, Ofev causes significant improvements in patients and reducing their symptoms.

The medication is administered orally in capsular forms: its dosage is 150mg twice daily (ideally in the morning and in the night) and taken after a meal. However, the dosage thereof is highly variable based on the condition of the patient's scar tissue, since any exceeding of the recommended dose can have hugely significant side effects. These side effects include: gastrointestinal effects (diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, etc.), elevated liver enzymes, decreased appetite and weight loss, headaches, and even high blood pressure. Because of these side effects, the medication is considered dangerous and risky for patients who are pregnant or are about to be pregnant, and people who have hepatic impairments.

The use of Ofev is greatly supported by medical research. For example, the INUPLSIS trial, was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 1,066 patients conducted in the past: they found that Ofev significantly reduced the RATE at which forced vital capacity (FVC (a measure of lung health)) decreased. Thus, it was established that Ofev heavily slowed down the rate at which lung tissue degraded. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Please add your name when you comment down below!

Popular posts from this blog

The top 4 diets for PCOS: DASH diet, high protein diet, reduced calorie diet, and the keto diet. Which is better?

 PCOS is a  condition wherein people have imbalanced hormone levels. These imbalances present themselves in the form of polycystic ovaries, chronic irregular periods, and higher levels of testosterone in the form of increased body/facial hair. Among people who have PCOS, 80% of patients will hold fat around their belly and gain weight because of the effects of hormonal imbalances on their bodies. These effects include insulin resistance, gut dysbiosis, low-grade inflammation and more.  To treat this weight gain, doctors tend to recommend different diets to PCOS patients. But, the efficacy of these diets are heavily dependent on the person's individual situation. There are four major dietary approaches used to lose weight for people with PCOS: Reduced calorie diets, DASH diets, high protein diets, and keto diets. For most people, a combination of all of these diets will work best.  Here's a short explanation of each of these diets:  1) Reduced calorie diet: You e...
Post a Comment
Read more

Eliglustat for Gaucher disease: How does it work? How is it consumed? Side effects? Is it safe? Efficacy? Research? Evidence?

Gaucher disease is a rare genetic disorder wherein the body lacks the ability to break down a specific kind of fat, which leads to accumulation thereof around various parts of the body, such as organs and bones. Eliglustat is one of the most common medications prescribed to help treat the disease by reducing production of the fat itself.  The disease is an inherited lysosomal storage disorder which is caused by an enzyme deficiency, specifically a low level of glucocerebrosidase. This enzyme breaks down a fat with a similar name, glucocerebroside. When the body lacks production of the enzyme, the fat accumulates around and in cells of the spleen, liver, and bone marrow. This causes a variety of symptoms in patients, and can present itself in bizarre ways like: enlarged spleens and livers, increased bone pain and occurrence of fractures, fatigue, anemia and even increased bruising.  Eliglustat, the medicine provided to patients, works in one way: substrate reduction. Basically,...
Post a Comment
Read more

How does oxymetazoline work to clear your nasal passages?

Oxymetazoline Hydrochloride is a topical nasal decongestant that is often found in most OTC nasal sprays like Otrivin in India. It works quite effectively with regards to relieving people from nasal congestion caused by things like colds, allergies, or sinusitis by constricting blood vessels in the nasal passages. The medication is an alpha-adrenergic receptor binder, meaning that it binds to the alpha-adrenergic receptors. These receptors are found on the smooth muscle cells which line blood vessels in the nasal mucosa. When oxymetazoline is applied to the nasal mucosa through droplets, it stimulates the receptors and triggers them to cause constriction of nasal blood vessels. Through vasoconstriction, there is a reduce in blood flow to the region, causing decreased swelling and inflammation. It also reduces how much mucus is produced, since it reduces the quantity of fluid that leaks into the passages. Thus, air can flow more freely in the passage, providing relief from the blocked n...
Post a Comment
Read more