Kerendia Dosages for Adults: Your GoodRx Guide

If you’re living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and Type 2 diabetes, your prescriber may suggest taking a medication called Kerendia (finerenone). This medication was the first in its class to be approved for adults with CKD caused by diabetes. Kerendia is a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that can help prevent worsening kidney function and lower the risk of cardiovascular problems that CKD causes.

When taking Kerendia, it’s always best to follow your prescriber’s instructions. They should take your medical history into account when recommending a dosage for you. But it can be helpful to know how the medication is usually prescribed. Below, we’ll discuss typical Kerendia dosages and other considerations to be aware of.

Good to know: Kerendia is only approved for use in adults. So we won’t discuss any children’s dosages in this article.

What’s the typical Kerendia dosage?

The typical starting Kerendia dosage is 10 mg or 20 mg by mouth once a day. The goal maintenance (long-term) dosage for many people is 20 mg once a day. So if you started with a 10 mg daily dosage, your prescriber may recommend increasing it to a 20 mg per day.

Your specific Kerendia dosage depends on your kidney function and blood potassium levels (more on this below). Your prescriber should check your kidney function and potassium levels before starting Kerendia and 4 weeks after you start it. Then, they’ll check these levels routinely while you’re taking it.

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You can take Kerendia at any time of day, with or without food. Just be sure to take it at about the same time each day. This helps Kerendia to provide consistent effects.

Can you crush Kerendia tablets?

Yes, you can crush Kerendia tablets. If you have trouble swallowing pills, you can crush Kerendia and mix it with water or a soft food like applesauce. Only do this right before taking it. And don’t store any crushed Kerendia for a later time. As soon as you’ve prepared your dose, consume the mixture right away.

Are there any dosage adjustments for health conditions?

Yes. As mentioned above, your Kerendia dosage depends on your kidney function and blood potassium levels. Your prescriber may also adjust your dosage if you take medications that interact with Kerendia.

Kerendia dosage for people with kidney problems

Your kidney function will help determine your starting Kerendia dosage. Before starting the medication, your prescriber will do some lab work and calculate your estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), a marker of kidney function.

Recommended starting dosages based on your eGFR are in the table below. Don’t try to adjust your Kerendia dosage on your own. Your prescriber will tell you if and when to make changes.

Kerendia dosage for people with high potassium levels

Kerendia can raise your potassium levels. This risk is greater for people living with severe kidney disease. High potassium (hyperkalemia) can cause abnormal heart rhythms, muscle weakness, and nausea. Before and after starting Kerendia, your prescriber should check your potassium levels regularly.

The table below describes how your Kerendia dosage might change at different potassium levels. But don’t adjust how you’re taking it on your own. Your prescriber will adjust your dosage.

*If your eGFR has decreased by more than 30%, your prescriber may recommend continuing the 10 mg per day dosage rather than increasing your dosage to 20 mg.

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• More about Kerendia: Pharmacists review things you should know about Kerendia, including how it works.

• Renal dosing: Here’s why prescribers adjust the dosages of many medications, including Kerendia, based on your kidney function.

• Drinks that impact kidney health: Experts list the best things to drink if you have kidney disease — plus drinks you should avoid.

If your prescriber asks you to pause Kerendia, they will let you know when you can restart the medication. Kerendia’s manufacturer suggests restarting at a 10 mg once-daily dosage when your blood potassium level is 5.0 mEq/L or less.

Kerendia dosage with interacting medications

Certain medications interact with Kerendia. Some can change the levels of Kerendia in your body (too high or too low). If you take one of these medications, you may need a dosage adjustment. Or you may need to avoid the combination altogether.

Medications and substances that can interact with Kerendia include:

• Certain antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro) and rifampin (Rifadin)

• Grapefruit and grapefruit juice

• Medications that contain ritonavir (Norvir), including Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir / ritonavir)

• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, such as lisinopril (Zestril)

• Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), such as losartan (Cozaar)

• Calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem (Cardizem) and verapamil

• Oral antifungal medications such as fluconazole (Diflucan)

• Amiodarone (Pacerone)

• St. John’s wort, an over-the-counter supplement

• Seizure medications such as carbamazepine

This isn’t a list of all possible Kerendia interactions. Sharing your medication list with your healthcare team can help them screen for possible interactions. They can let you know if you should make any changes to your regimen because of interactions.

What happens if you miss a dose of Kerendia?

If you miss a dose of Kerendia, take the missed dose as soon as you remember — but only if it’s on the same day. If you don’t realize that you missed a dose until the next day, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.

For example, if you take Kerendia in the afternoon and remember your dose in the evening, take it as soon as you remember. But if you don’t realize you missed your dose until the next morning, don’t take it. Just take your next Kerendia dose at its usual time. Don’t take an extra or double dose to make up for a missed one.

If you find that you’re regularly missing doses, there are tools that can help you remember. Setting an alarm on your phone, using a pill organizer, and downloading a medication reminder app can all help you stay on schedule. If you’ve missed multiple doses of Kerendia, let your healthcare team know so they can help you know what to do to get back on track.

What should you do if you take too much Kerendia?

If you accidentally take an extra dose of Kerendia, it’s unlikely to cause major problems. But you may notice more side effects, such as lowered blood pressure. However, you should let your healthcare team know if you take any amount of extra Kerendia, just to be on the safe side. They may want to monitor your potassium levels more closely.

If you take an excessive amount of Kerendia, effects can be more severe. Too much Kerendia can lead to extremely high potassium levels, which can cause serious heart problems, muscle weakness, and nausea or vomiting. If this happens, contact your prescriber or call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. If your symptoms seem severe or life-threatening, such as shortness of breath, get help right away by calling 911 or going to the nearest ER.

How to save on Kerendia

There are many ways to save on Kerendia, which is only available as a brand-name medication. GoodRx can help you navigate manufacturer copay cards and patient assistance programs to save money on your prescription.

• Save with a copay card. If you meet eligibility requirements, which include having commercial insurance, you could pay as little as $0 per month for Kerendia using a savings card from the manufacturer.

• Save with a patient assistance program. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for Kerendia’s patient assistance program. If you qualify, you could receive the medication at no cost.

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Written by:

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP, is a board-certified ambulatory care clinical pharmacist. In his early career, he provided direct patient care in a variety of settings, including hospital and community pharmacies, and in a primary care clinic as a clinical pharmacist.

Edited by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

Reviewed by:

Jennifer Gershman, PharmD, CPh, PACS

Jennifer Gershman, PharmD, is a licensed pharmacist in Florida. She has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 15 years and is currently a medical writer.

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