Idebenone
About
Idebenone belongs to a group of medications called ‘antioxidant’ used to treat Friedreich ataxia and Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON). Friedreich ataxia is a rare inherited disorder that causes difficulty walking and speech impairment. LHON is an eye disease that is an inherited genetic disorder. It occurs due to a defect in the genes that affect the cells in the eye responsible for producing energy to function normally.
Idebenone contains ‘Idebenone’, which is a potent antioxidant. It acts by neutralising the free radicals, which cause damage to the tissues. It restores the ability of cells to produce energy. This effect provides the energy for the inactive cells to work normally, thereby improving lost vision in patients with LHON. It helps to reduce damage to the nervous system and the heart in Friedreich ataxia.
Idebenone is available in the form of tablets. You should take this medicine exactly as prescribed by your doctor. The common side-effects of Idebenone are nasopharyngitis (cold), cough, diarrhoea, and back pain. These side effects are usually mild and temporary. However, if any of these side effects persist or worsen, inform your doctor immediately.
Do not take Idebenone if you are allergic to Idebenone or any other contents present in it. Before taking Idebenone, inform your doctor if you have any blood-related disorders, or liver, or kidney problems. Also, inform your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Idebenone may make your urine reddish-brown in colour; however, it is harmless. Idebenone should not be used in children below 12 years of age. Idebenone may require dose adjustments in elderly patients. There is no sufficient data to prove the safe use of alcohol while taking Idebenone, so please consult your doctor. Idebenone may not affect your ability to drive.
Uses of Idebenone
Medicinal Benefits
Idebenone contains ‘Idebenone’, which is a potent antioxidant. It works by neutralizing the free radicals in the body that cause damage to the tissues. It can be well-tolerated in young and adult patients. It shows the best eyesight recovery when used in patients with Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy. Idebenone can slow down damage to the nervous system in patients with Friedreich ataxia, thereby improving symptoms.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Idebenone
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Nasopharyngitis (cold)
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Cough
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Diarrhoea
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Back pain
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Idebenone should be used with caution in patients with blood-related disorders, and liver, or kidney problems. Idebenone may cause a change in urine colour to reddish-brown. This effect is harmless and doesn’t require a change in dose or discontinuation of therapy. However, change in urine colour may also occur due to kidney or bladder problems. So, consult a doctor and do urine tests to rule out any kidney or bladder problems. Idebenone may advise you to check your eyesight before taking this medicine and during the treatment regularly. Idebenone contains lactose, so inform your doctor if you have an intolerance to sugars. Idebenone contains sunset yellow (a colourant), which may cause allergic reactions.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Idebenone may interact with medicines used to treat allergy (astemizole and terfenadine), a medicine used to treat heartburn (cisapride), a medicine used to treat muscle and speech tics associated with Tourette syndrome (pimozide), a medicine used to treat heart rhythm disorders (quinidine), a medicine used to treat migraine (dihydroergotamine and ergotamine), an anaesthetic (alfentanil), a medicine used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis (cyclosporine), medicines used to suppress immune systems (sirolimus and tacrolimus), and pain relievers (fentanyl).
Drug-Food Interactions: No interactions found.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Idebenone should be used with caution in patients with blood-related disorders, liver disease, and kidney problems.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionDo not consume alcohol while taking Idebenone as it may cause unpleasant side effects.
Pregnancy
cautionIt is not known whether Idebenone is safe to be used in pregnancy. Please consult your doctor before taking this medicine. Your doctor may prescribe this medicine if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Breast Feeding
cautionIdebenone may pass into breastmilk and cause harm to your infant. So, caution should be exercised, and it is advisable to consult your doctor before using it.
Driving
safe if prescribedIdebenone may not affect your ability to drive.
Liver
cautionThere is insufficient data to establish the safe use of Idebenone in patients with liver disease. Please consult your doctor. Your doctor may adjust the dose of this medicine or prescribe a suitable alternative based on your condition.
Kidney
cautionThere is insufficient data to establish the safe use of Idebenone in patients with kidney diseases. Please consult your doctor. Your doctor may adjust the dose of this medicine or prescribe a suitable alternative based on your condition.
Children
unsafeIdebenone is not recommended for use in children below 12 years of age.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Eat a healthy diet. Avoid foods rich in fats, sugar, and processed foods as they may increase oxidative stress in the body and increase the damage the tissues.
- Try to stay active and exercise regularly. Shed excess weight if you are overweight or obese.
- Meditate regularly as it helps in easing the stress.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption, as they can also increase oxidative stress in the body.
Special Advise
- Idebenone may alter blood cell count in the body, so your doctor may recommend a complete blood count (CBC) test regularly while using this medicine.
- Your doctor may advise you to undergo tests to evaluate liver function and eyesight while using this medicine.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Friedreich ataxia: A rare inherited genetic disorder that occurs due to a defect in the gene labelled FXN. This genetic defect causes damage to the parts of the brain, spinal cord, and heart. It causes ataxia, an impairment in coordinating voluntary movements such as walking and speech. Hence, this condition leads to unsteady posture, difficulty walking, and slurred speech.
Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON): This condition is an inherited genetic disorder that affects the eye. It occurs due to a defect in the genes that affect the cells in the eye responsible for producing energy to perform its vital functions. This condition leads to the inactivity of cells, thereby causing loss of vision or eyesight. Vision problems start as blurring of the eye in both eyes simultaneously or sequentially, leading to permanent blindness.
FAQs
Idebenone contains ‘Idebenone’, which is a potent antioxidant. It works by neutralizing the free radicals in the body that cause damage to the tissues. It improves vision impairment in patients with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy and reduces damage to the nervous system and the heart in Friedreich ataxia.
Idebenone can change urine colour to reddish-brown. However, this effect is harmless and improves after discontinuation of therapy.
The common side-effects of Idebenone are nasopharyngitis (cold), cough, diarrhoea, and back pain. These side effects are usually mild and temporary. However, if these side effects persist or worsen, inform your doctor immediately.
Idebenone is preferably taken with food to get its maximum benefits. Take this medicine at the same time every day for the best results.
Friedreich ataxia is a rare inherited genetic condition caused by a mutation in the FXN gene. It harms the brain, spinal cord, and heart, resulting in shaky posture, trouble walking, and impaired speech.
