What is the treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?

No good treatemtns: Unfortunately, there are no good, effective treatments for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Many have been tried, such as steroids, anti-inflammatory drugs, and a drug called mucomyst, (acetylcysteine) but the studies done have not shown significant efficacy. Treatment is mainly supportive.

Very little: There are currently no successful therapies for ipf including lung transplantation. Steroids Imuran (azathioprine) and acetlcysteine were tried as a combo therapy with worse survival for the treatment arm. Exercise and oxygen may provide some benefit. Several new drugs are currently in evaluation but none have shown great promise except for marginally slowing the disease process.

Treatment for IPF: Currently there is no approved treatment for IPF. Prednisone is still used but data has failed to change the course of the disease. Several products under trial, pirfenidone has shown some suggestion in the progression of disease not currently approved. Current trials using stem cells is under way. Supportive treatment with oxygen and bronchodilators may be helpful.

None effective: Unfortunately there are no effective treatments for ipf. Currently n-acetyl cysteine and perfenidone are being studied, but at this time no effective treatment has been found.

Lung transplant: No effective medical therapy available. The only available treatment is lung transplant. Ask your lung doctor if you are a candidate for lung transplant. Enrolment with clinical trial with pirfenidone or n-acetylcysteine is an option.