Kerendia Explanation: Function, price, dosage, potential adverse effects, and further details
Kerendia, a new treatment option for adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) related to type 2 diabetes, has recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This brand-name oral tablet contains the active drug finerenone, belonging to the nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) drug class.
Before starting treatment with Kerendia, it's essential to discuss any medical conditions or factors affecting your health with your doctor. This includes severe kidney problems, high blood potassium levels, adrenal insufficiency, liver problems, allergic reactions, pregnancy, or breastfeeding.
Taking Kerendia may cause mild or serious side effects. Mild side effects may include low blood pressure and low levels of sodium in the blood. Serious side effects may include high levels of potassium in the blood and allergic reactions. It's crucial to inform your doctor and pharmacist about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take, as well as any vitamins, herbs, and supplements.
Kerendia is not a cure for CKD and will not treat the condition. Instead, it is used as a long-term treatment option to help prevent conditions such as end stage kidney disease and heart attack. The dosage of Kerendia prescribed will depend on several factors, including kidney function, blood potassium level, and other medications taken.
It's recommended to take Kerendia once daily, at about the same time each day. If having trouble swallowing, the tablet can be crushed and mixed with water or other soft foods. Drinking alcohol during treatment with Kerendia may increase the risk of side effects, including low blood pressure and high blood sugar levels.
Before taking Kerendia, your doctor will measure your blood potassium level and kidney function with a blood test. The cost of Kerendia can vary depending on insurance, location, and pharmacy. Financial and insurance assistance may be available from the manufacturer of Kerendia.
The main FDA-approved alternatives to Kerendia for treating CKD related to type 2 diabetes mainly belong to the class of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2 inhibitors). These agents have been shown to reduce progression of CKD, cardiovascular events, and heart failure in patients with T2D and CKD. Examples include Farxiga (dapagliflozin), Jardiance (empagliflozin), and Invokana (canagliflozin).
These options differ mechanistically from Kerendia but may be used alone or in combination depending on patient factors and tolerability. In summary, the FDA-approved alternatives to Kerendia for this indication predominantly comprise SGLT2 inhibitors like Farxiga, which have complementary mechanisms and clinical benefits in reducing CKD progression and cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes patients.
CKD is a slow loss of kidney function over years and can cause symptoms such as swelling of hands or feet, difficulty breathing, or changes in urination. It's not known if Kerendia is safe to take during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, and it's recommended not to breastfeed or conceive while taking Kerendia and for at least 1 day after stopping treatment.
Kerendia works by decreasing the activity of mineralocorticoid receptors (MRs), which can cause swelling or scarring in the kidneys, heart, or blood vessels. By reducing this activity, Kerendia helps to reduce the risk of complications in adults with CKD related to type 2 diabetes, including worsening kidney function, heart attack, hospitalization for heart failure, end stage kidney disease, and death due to cardiovascular problems such as stroke.
Deciders managing adult patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) related to type 2 diabetes should be aware of other medical-conditions and factors that may affect health before prescribing Kerendia, such as severe kidney problems, high blood potassium levels, adrenal insufficiency, liver problems, allergic reactions, pregnancy, or breastfeeding.
Informal discussions with pharmacists about any prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs taken, as well as vitamins, herbs, and supplements, are crucial when starting treatment with Kerendia, a drug belonging to the nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) drug class.
Medical-conditions such as CKD are chronic diseases that require long-term treatments like Kerendia, an oral tablet designed to help prevent conditions such as end stage kidney disease and heart attack in patients with CKD related to type 2 diabetes.
