Lung Conditions

Get Email Updates

Lung Conditions Guide

Alison Beaver Guide

Have a question? We're here to help. Ask the Community.

ASK

Free Newsletter

Receive the latest and greatest in women's health and wellness from EmpowHER!

Image

ask: Are there any drugs that can stop Idiopathic Pumonary Fibrosis ?

By Anonymous August 26, 2010 - 3:51pm
 
Rate This
1 comments View Comments
 
Rate This
1 comments View Comments

All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.

Around the Web

Add a Comment1 Comments

Pat Elliott

Anon - Thanks for your question and welcome to EmpowHER. For those who don't know, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic disease that causes inflammation and fibrosis (scarring) of tissue in the lungs.

Treatment is highly variable and typically patients are given a very individualized treatment plan. Yes, medications may be included. If I'm understanding your question correctly, you want to know if the medications can cure or reverse this. The answer is no. The types of medications that are generally used are ones that reduce inflammation. Some doctors also add medications to suppress the body's immune system. These treatments can prevent further scarring of the lungs and help increase the patient's survival rate, but they don't work for everyone.

Treatment also often includes oxygen therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation. In some cases a lung transplant may be warranted.

As with all chronic conditions, IPF requires lifelong treatment and attention. We have a Pulmonary Fibrosis community on the EmpowHER site with many helpful articles, and you can also find good information from the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, including this page on treatments: http://www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org/Treatment

The National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute also has extensive information on treatment: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/ipf/ipf_treatments.html

Let us know if you have additional questions, and we hope your treatment goes well.

Take care,
Pat

August 26, 2010 - 6:30pm
Image CAPTCHA
By hitting submit, you agree to EmpowHER's terms of service and privacy policy

Improved

619 Health

Changed

293 Lives

Saved

210 Lives
3 lives impacted in the last 24 hrs Learn More

Take our Featured Poll

Have you ever had problems with your mental health? What did you do about it? :
View Results