Information for adults who have been prescribed Kerendia®▼ (finerenone) for chronic kidney disease associated with type 2 diabetes
This section of the website is intended for patients in United Kingdom who have been prescribed Kerendia, to provide information on its use and support on how to take it appropriately. It is not intended to replace in any way the opinion of a healthcare professional.
You have been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease associated with type 2 diabetes. For specific information about your condition and appropriate treatment, please seek advice or opinion from your healthcare professional.
The frequently asked questions presented on this website are a common starting point for you and your healthcare professional when discussing the use of Kerendia for the treatment of stage 3 or 4 chronic kidney disease associated with type 2 diabetes.
If you have further questions around your medicine, please ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse, who will be able to answer these and provide you with more information as appropriate.
Please ensure you also read the patient information leaflet included in the pack with your medication.
What is Kerendia?
Kerendia contains the active substance finerenone. Finerenone works by blocking the action of certain hormones (mineralocorticoids) that can damage your kidneys and heart.
Kerendia can be used for the treatment of adults with chronic kidney disease (stage 3 and 4 with abnormal amounts of the protein albumin in the urine) associated with type 2 diabetes.
Chronic kidney disease is a long-term condition, whereby the kidneys gradually get worse at removing waste materials & fluid from your body.
Type 2 diabetes is when your body cannot keep your blood sugar levels at a normal level. Your body either does not produce enough of the hormone insulin or cannot use the insulin properly. This leads to a high level of sugar in your blood.
How do I take Kerendia?
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
How much you have to take
The recommended target dose and the maximum daily dose of this medicine is 1 tablet of 20 mg once daily.
- Always take 1 tablet once daily. Kerendia comes in two strengths in tablet form (10mg or 20mg).
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Before starting Kerendia your doctor will take a blood test to measure how well your kidneys are working and how much potassium is in your blood.
- After 4 weeks your doctor will test your blood again. Your doctor will then decide on the correct dose for you. This might be 1 tablet of 10 mg or 20 mg once daily.
- Your doctor may also tell you to interrupt or stop taking Kerendia, depending on the results of future blood tests.
Your doctor may decide on changes in your treatment after testing your blood.
How to take this medicine
Kerendia is taken by mouth. Take Kerendia at the same time every day. This makes it easier for you to remember.
Swallow the tablet whole – you can take it with a glass of water and with or without food. Do not take Kerendia with grapefruit juice or grapefruit.
If you cannot swallow the tablet whole, you can crush it and mix it with water or soft foods such as apple sauce, immediately before you take it.
If you think you have taken more Kerendia than you should have, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
If you forget to take Kerendia at your regular time that day, take the tablet as soon as you notice it that day.
If you miss a day, take the next tablet on the next day, at your regular time.
Do not take 2 tablets to make up for a forgotten tablet.
If you stop taking Kerendia
Only stop taking Kerendia if your doctor has told you. Your doctor may decide this after testing your blood.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
When should I not take Kerendia?
Do not take Kerendia if you:
- are allergic to finerenone or any of the other ingredients of this medicine.
- The other ingredients are: - Tablet core: microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, hypromellose 2910, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, sodium laurilsulfate.
- Tablet coat: hypromellose 2910, titanium dioxide, talc, iron oxide red (E 172, in Kerendia 10 mg film-coated tablets only), iron oxide yellow (E 172, in Kerendia 20 mg film-coated tablets only).
- are taking medicines that belong to the group of 'strong CYP3A4 inhibitors', for example:
- itraconazole or ketoconazole (to treat fungal infections)
- ritonavir, nelfinavir or cobicistat (to treat HIV infection)
- clarithromycin, telithromycin (to treat bacterial infections)
- nefazodone (to treat depression)
- -have Addison's disease (when your body does not produce enough of the hormones 'cortisol' and 'aldosterone')
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Kerendia if you have:
- ever been told you have a high level of potassium in your blood
- severe loss of kidney function or kidney failure
- moderate or severe liver problems
- mild, moderate or severe heart failure. This is when your heart does not pump blood as well as it should. It does not pump enough blood out of the heart in one beat.
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if you are taking any medication which may interact with Kerendia, which are listed on the 'Drug interactions with Kerendia' tab above.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Pregnancy
You should not take this medicine during pregnancy unless your doctor states it is clearly necessary. There might be a risk to your unborn baby. Your doctor will discuss that with you. You should use reliable birth control if you are able to become pregnant whilst on treatment with Kerendia. Your doctor will explain to you what type of birth control you can use.
Breast-feeding
You should not breast-feed while taking this medicine. It may harm your baby. If you are considering breast-feeding then please talk to your doctor.
Kerendia contains lactose
If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.
Kerendia contains sodium
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially 'sodium-free'.
Storing Kerendia
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the blister and packaging after the letters EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
This medicine does not require any special storage conditions.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
Drug interactions with Kerendia
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. Your doctor will tell you which medicines you can take. Your doctor may need to test your blood to make sure.
You must not take medicines that belong to the group of 'strong CYP3A4 inhibitors' while taking Kerendia, for example
- itraconazole or ketoconazole (to treat fungal infections)
- ritonavir, nelfinavir, or cobicistat (to treat HIV infection)
- clarithromycin, telithromycin (to treat bacterial infections)
- nefazodone (to treat depression)
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking other medicines while taking Kerendia,
- if you take for example
- amiloride or triamterene (to remove excess water from your body in the urine)
- eplerenone, esaxerenone, spironolactone or canrenone (medicines similar to finerenone)
- trimethoprim, or a combination of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole (to treat bacterial infections)
- potassium supplements, including some salt substitutes
or if you take other medicines that may increase the level of potassium in your blood. These medicines may be unsafe for you.
- if you take for example
- erythromycin (to treat bacterial infections)
- verapamil (to treat high blood pressure, chest pain and fast heartbeat)
- fluvoxamine (to treat depression and 'obsessive-compulsive disorder')
- rifampicin (to treat bacterial infections)
- carbamazepine, phenytoin, or phenobarbital (to treat epilepsy)
- St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) (a herbal medicine to treat depression)
- efavirenz (to treat HIV infection)
or if you take other medicines that belong to the same groups of medicines as the ones listed above (certain 'CYP3A4 inhibitors' and 'inducers'). You may have more side effects, or Kerendia may not work as expected.
- if you take several other blood pressure lowering medicines. Your doctor may need to watch your blood pressure.
Kerendia with food and drink
Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice as long as you take Kerendia. If you do, you may get too much finerenone in your blood. You may have more side effects.
Possible side effects with Kerendia
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Side effects that your doctor may see in your blood test results
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)
- High potassium level (hyperkalaemia). Possible signs of high potassium level in the blood may include weakness or tiredness, feeling sick (nausea), numbness in the hands and lips, muscle cramps, decreased pulse rate.
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
- Low sodium level (hyponatraemia). Possible signs of low sodium level in the blood may include feeling sick (nausea), tiredness, headache, confusion, muscle weakness, spasms or cramps.
- Decrease in how well the kidneys filter blood (glomerular filtration rate decreased).
- High uric acid level (hyperuricemia)
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
- Decrease in a protein (haemoglobin) that is found in your red blood cells.
Other side effects
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
- Low blood pressure (hypotension). Possible signs of low blood pressure may include dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting.
- Itching (pruritus).
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed on this webpage. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/ or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
RP-KER-GB-0291 | Date of preparation: September 2023
This area of the website is intended for patients in the UK who have been prescribed Kerendia (finerenone).
Report Possible Side Effects
▼This medicine is subject to additional monitoring. This will allow quick identification of new safety information.
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/ or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
You can also report side effects and quality complaints to Bayer Plc. Further information is available on the "contact" tab at www.bayer.co.uk.
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
