Nintedanib
Nintedanib is a kinase inhibitor capsule for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and other scarring lung diseases, stocked as Ofev 100mg capsules.
What nintedanib treats
Nintedanib slows the build-up of scar tissue in the lungs. It is used for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), where the scarring has no known cause. IPF is the most common form of pulmonary fibrosis: the lungs stiffen as scar tissue replaces normal tissue, breathing becomes harder, and the damage does not reverse. Nintedanib is also used for other long-term scarring lung diseases that are getting worse, and for lung scarring linked to systemic sclerosis (scleroderma), a condition that affects the skin and internal organs. In each case the aim is to slow the rate at which lung function falls, not to undo scarring that has already formed. The medicine belongs to a group called kinase inhibitors, which block enzymes involved in fibrous tissue growth.
Ofev capsules
PockDose stocks nintedanib as Ofev, 100mg capsules. Ofev is the brand name of the same medicine: the pack carries the brand name, and nintedanib is the ingredient.
How the capsules are taken
One capsule twice a day, roughly twelve hours apart, with food. Swallow each capsule whole with a drink of water; it is not chewed or crushed. Food matters here, because a meal improves how much of the capsule is absorbed, so doses are not taken on an empty stomach. If a dose is missed, leave it out and take the next one at the usual time — doubling up to catch up is not the way it is taken. This is a long-term medicine, taken every day rather than only when breathing feels worse.
Side effects to expect
Diarrhoea is the one most people notice, sometimes with nausea, vomiting, stomach pain or appetite loss that shows up as weight loss. Many of these ease after the first few weeks of treatment. Liver problems are the serious risk: yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, or pain in the upper right of the abdomen needs urgent attention, as does unusual bleeding or bruising. Pregnancy rules nintedanib out, because it can harm a developing baby.
What affects nintedanib levels
Two things lower nintedanib levels in the body: St John's wort, which is not combined with it, and smoking, which is why stopping before treatment starts is standard. Liver enzymes break the drug down, so other medicines that act on those same enzymes can raise or lower how much of it stays in the blood.
Sources
- Nintedanib: MedlinePlus Drug Information — National Library of Medicine
- Nintedanib (Cip) — healthdirect Australia
Where can I buy Nintedanib in Hong Kong?
Nintedanib can be ordered online with delivery to Hong Kong. The product is generic Ofev, also sold as Nintedanib capsules, in 100mg capsules. Every order ships in plain, unbranded packaging with nothing on the outside about the contents.
How are Nintedanib prices shown?
Prices vary between pack sizes. Every product page lists its current prices in HKD or in the currency you choose.
Do I need a prescription to order Nintedanib?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order nintedanib. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What brand names does nintedanib have?
Ofev is a brand name of nintedanib. Here, nintedanib can be bought online as generic Ofev. These are generics, not the original brand.
What is the difference between Ofev and nintedanib?
Ofev is the brand name of the medicine nintedanib, so both names describe the same active ingredient. PockDose stocks Ofev 100mg capsules, and nintedanib is what they contain. The capsules are swallowed whole, twice a day, with a meal.
How long does nintedanib take to work?
It does not relieve breathlessness within days. Nintedanib works slowly, reducing the rate at which lung function drops over months, so the change shows up on breathing tests rather than in how you feel each morning. People usually stay on it long term while it is doing that job.
Does nintedanib affect the pill?
Not directly: nintedanib does not lower the hormone levels a pill delivers. The catch is the diarrhoea and vomiting it often brings, which can stop a pill being absorbed, so a condom is added on those days. Reliable contraception carries on through treatment and for at least three months after the last capsule, because nintedanib can harm a developing baby.
How should I store nintedanib capsules?
Leave the capsules in their pack until a dose is due, and keep it somewhere cool, dry and out of direct sunlight. Heat and damp can soften the capsule shell. There is no need to refrigerate them.