Why don’t doctors recommend taking pirfenidone/Axri?

Pirfenidone/As an anti-fibrotic drug, Pirfenidone has been proven to be effective in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), but not all patients are suitable for this drug. When doctors decide whether to recommend pirfenidone to patients, they will consider a variety of factors to ensure patient safety and therapeutic effects.

Pirfenidone's side effects may be a big reason why doctors don't recommend its use. Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, rash, fatigue, and abnormal liver function. These side effects may affect the patient's quality of life to some extent, especially in the case of long-term treatment. Some patients may have stronger reactions to these side effects, resulting in reduced compliance and thus affecting the effectiveness of treatment. Therefore, doctors will evaluate the patient's physical condition and expected tolerance of the drug to decide whether to recommend the drug.

Pirfenidone may not be suitable for certain groups of people. For example, in patients with severely impaired liver function, the metabolism of pirfenidone may be affected, increasing the concentration of the drug in the body and exacerbating side effects. In addition, the drug is generally not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, and for patients with severe kidney disease. In these cases, doctors will tend to choose other treatment options to avoid potential risks.

In addition, doctors often consider how quickly a patient's disease progresses before recommending pirfenidone. If a patient's condition deteriorates very rapidly, a more aggressive treatment strategy may be needed rather than relying solely on pirfenidone. In this case, doctors may recommend a combination of other medications or an intervention such as a lung transplant. For some patients, pirfenidone is not effective in controlling the disease, so doctors will choose a more appropriate treatment plan based on the patient's specific situation.