Esbriet interactions: Alcohol, medications, and other factors

Before you start treatment with Esbriet, tell your doctor and pharmacist which prescription, over-the-counter, and other medications you take. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions. (To learn whether Esbriet interacts with supplements, herbs, or vitamins, see the “Esbriet and other interactions” section below.)

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Here’s a table of drugs that can interact with Esbriet. Keep in mind that this table doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with Esbriet. Some of these interactions are described in detail just below in “Drug interactions in depth.”

* For details about this interaction, see the “Drug interactions in depth” section below.
† For details about the side effects of Esbriet, see this article.

There aren’t any known interactions between Esbriet and alcohol. However, your doctor may advise you to avoid or limit alcohol consumption during Esbriet treatment.

This is because drinking alcohol while taking the drug may worsen some of Esbriet’s side effects. For example, you may have worsened headache, dizziness, or nausea.

In addition, consuming large amounts of alcohol can cause liver damage. Esbriet may increase levels of liver enzymes (a type of protein), which could be a sign of liver damage. Drinking alcohol during Esbriet treatment may increase this risk.

If you have questions about drinking alcohol while taking Esbriet, talk with your doctor.

Here’s a closer look at certain drug interactions of Esbriet.

Certain SSRIs

SSRIs are prescribed to treat certain mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression.

Interaction result: Taking Esbriet with certain SSRIs can increase your risk of side effects from either drug.

Interaction explained: Esbriet and certain SSRIs are broken down in your body by specific enzymes. (An enzyme is a type of protein.) Esbriet may slow down the activity of enzymes that break down certain SSRIs. Likewise, certain SSRIs may slow down the activity of enzymes that break down Esbriet.

As a result, taking Esbriet with certain SSRIs may lead to a high level of either drug in your body. And this can raise your risk of side effects from either drug.

Examples of SSRI drugs: Here are some SSRIs that may interact with Esbriet:

• citalopram (Celexa)
• fluvoxamine (Luvox)
• paroxetine (Brisdelle, Paxil)

Steps you or your doctor may take: Before taking Esbriet, tell your doctor if you take an SSRI. They can advise whether it’s safe to take Esbriet with the SSRI.

If you do take Esbriet with certain SSRIs, your doctor may watch you closely for side effects from either drug. In some cases, they may prescribe you a lower dosage of the SSRI to reduce your risk of side effects.

If you have other questions about Esbriet and SSRIs, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Certain blood thinners

Blood thinners are prescribed to treat and help prevent blood clots.

Interaction result: Taking Esbriet with certain blood thinners may increase the risk of side effects from the blood thinner.

Interaction explained: Certain blood thinners are broken down in your body by a specific enzyme. Esbriet may slow down the activity of this enzyme. Taking the drug with certain blood thinners may increase the risk of side effects by increasing the amount of the blood thinner in your system.

Examples of blood thinners: Blood thinners that may interact with Esbriet include edoxaban (Savaysa) and dabigatran (Pradaxa).

Steps you or your doctor may take: Before starting treatment with Esbriet, tell your doctor if you take a blood thinner. They can advise whether taking Esbriet with the blood thinner is safe.

If you do take Esbriet with a blood thinner, your doctor may prescribe you a lower dosage of the blood thinner. Doing so can help reduce your risk of side effects from the drug.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have other questions about Esbriet and blood thinners.

Cimetidine

Cimetidine (Tagamet HB) is available as a prescription and over the counter (without a prescription). It’s taken to help relieve heartburn.

Interaction result: Taking Esbriet with cimetidine can increase the risk of side effects from Esbriet.

Interaction explained: Esbriet is broken down in your body by certain enzymes. Cimetidine slows down the activity of these enzymes. As a result, taking Esbriet with cimetidine can lead to a high level of Esbriet in your body. This may increase your risk of side effects from Esbriet.

Steps you or your doctor may take: Before you begin Esbriet treatment, tell your doctor if you take cimetidine. They’ll likely advise you not to take these medications together. Your doctor can recommend alternative treatments for your condition.

If you have other questions about Esbriet and cimetidine, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Esbriet may have other interactions, such as with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests. You’ll find details below. Keep in mind that the following information does not include all other possible interactions with Esbriet.

Esbriet and supplements

It’s possible for drugs to interact with supplements such as vitamins and herbs.

Esbriet and herbs

There are no specific reports of herbs interacting with Esbriet. However, that doesn’t mean herbal interactions won’t occur or be recognized in the future. Because of this, it’s important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products during Esbriet treatment.

Esbriet and vitamins

There are no specific reports of vitamins interacting with Esbriet. However, that doesn’t mean vitamin interactions won’t occur or be recognized in the future. Because of this, you should talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any vitamin product with Esbriet.

Esbriet and food

There were no reports of food interactions with Esbriet. If you’d like to learn more about eating certain foods during treatment with Esbriet, talk with your doctor.

Esbriet and vaccines

There aren’t any known interactions between Esbriet and vaccines. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to find out whether you’re due to receive any vaccines.

Esbriet and lab tests

Esbriet isn’t known to interact with any lab tests. If you have concerns about this medication interacting with lab tests, talk with your doctor.

ESBRIET INTERACTION WITH CANNABIS OR CBD

Cannabis (often called marijuana) and cannabis products, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have been specifically reported to interact with Esbriet.

The exact effect of cannabis products on Esbriet may vary from person to person. In some cases, cannabis products may raise the level of Esbriet in the body. This can increase your risk of side effects from Esbriet.

In other cases, cannabis products may decrease the level of Esbriet in the body. This can cause Esbriet to be less effective.

Before you start treatment with Esbriet, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you use cannabis. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions.

Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.

Certain medical conditions and other factors may increase the risk of interactions with Esbriet. Before you take this drug, be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history. Esbriet may not be the right treatment option for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health.

Health conditions or factors that might interact with Esbriet include:

• Smoking: Before taking Esbriet, tell your doctor if you smoke. Smoking may worsen symptoms of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (the condition Esbriet is prescribed to treat). Smoking can also make Esbriet less effective. Due to these risks, your doctor will likely recommend that you stop smoking while taking Esbriet. You can talk with your doctor or view this article for tips to stop smoking.
• Liver problems: Before starting Esbriet treatment, tell your doctor if you have a liver problem, such as liver failure. Having a liver problem can raise the level of Esbriet in your body, increasing your risk of side effects. Esbriet may also increase levels of liver enzymes (a type of protein), which may worsen any liver problem you already have. Your doctor may check your liver with blood tests before and during Esbriet treatment. They’ll advise you on whether Esbriet is a safe treatment option. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe you a lower Esbriet dosage if you have a liver problem.
• Kidney problems: Before taking Esbriet, tell your doctor if you have a kidney problem, such as kidney failure. Esbriet may not be a safe treatment option for people with kidney failure who are receiving dialysis. Your doctor can recommend whether Esbriet is safe to take or whether a lower Esbriet dosage may be needed.
• Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Esbriet or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Esbriet. Taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.
• Breastfeeding: It’s not known whether it’s safe to take Esbriet while breastfeeding. There isn’t enough information to determine whether the drug passes into breast milk or what effects Esbriet may have on a child who is breastfed. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to, talk with your doctor before taking Esbriet. They can talk with you about treatment options and ways to feed your child.
• Pregnancy: There haven’t been enough clinical trials to determine whether Esbriet is safe to take while pregnant. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, tell your doctor before starting Esbriet. They can advise you on the right treatment plan for you.

You can take certain steps to help prevent interactions with Esbriet. Your doctor and pharmacist are key resources, so reach out to them before starting treatment. For example, you should plan to do the following:

• Let them know if you drink alcohol or use cannabis.
• Tell them about any other medications you take, as well as any supplements, herbs, and vitamins.
• Create a medication list, which your doctor and pharmacist can help you fill out.

It’s also important to read the Esbriet label and other paperwork that may come with the drug. The label may have colored stickers that mention an interaction. And the paperwork, sometimes called the medication guide or patient package insert, may contain details about interactions.

If Esbriet doesn’t come with paperwork, you can ask your pharmacist to print a copy. If you need help reading or understanding this information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

You can also help prevent interactions with Esbriet by taking it exactly as your doctor prescribes.

Besides learning about interactions, you may want to find out more about Esbriet. These resources might help:

• Overview of Esbriet: For a general overview of Esbriet, you can see this article.
• Side effects: If you’re interested in the side effects of Esbriet, see this article. Another option is to refer to the Esbriet prescribing information.
• Facts about your condition: To learn more about idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, see our lists of respiratory system and pulmonary system articles.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.