Trikafta Dosages for Cystic Fibrosis: Your GoodRx Guide
Key takeaways:
Trikafta (elexacaftor / tezacaftor / ivacaftor) is a prescription-only medication used to treat cystic fibrosis. It comes as tablets for people age 6 years and older and as oral granule packets for children under 6.
The typical Trikafta dosage schedule consists of a morning dose and evening dose. But how much you take depends on your age and body weight (for children). Liver disease and drug interactions can also influence your Trikafta dosage.
If you miss a dose of Trikafta, take note of how much time has passed since you were supposed to take it. If more than 6 hours have passed, you may be instructed to skip your evening dose. But be sure to follow any instructions you’re been given.
Access savings on related medications
Table of contents
Trikafta (elexacaftor / tezacaftor / ivacaftor) is a prescription-only combination medication used to treat cystic fibrosis. It’s approved for people age 2 years and older with certain gene mutations related to cystic fibrosis.
Typically, people prescribed Trikafta take a morning dose and evening dose. But what’s a typical Trikafta dosage, and what happens if you miss a dose? Continue reading to learn more about Ttikafta.
Trikafta dosage forms
Trikafta is available in two different oral forms: tablets and granule packets. Both forms should be taken with a fat-containing meal or snack to help with absorption. Examples of fat-containing foods include whole-milk dairy products, eggs, and peanut butter.
Save over 40% on Qsymia with GoodRx
Discover the once daily Qsymia for weight management. Qsymia is for adults and children 12-17 in combination with a healthy diet and regular exercise.
You’ll take a dose in the morning, followed by an evening dose about 12 hours later. The morning and evening doses are not interchangeable. They each contain different active ingredients:
Morning dose: contains elexacaftor, tezacaftor, and ivacaftor
Evening dose: only contains ivacaftor
The amount of each active ingredient in your tablets or packets depends on your age and body weight (for children).
Oral granule packets
The oral granule packets are intended for children who are older than 2 and younger than 6. The packets come in a carton of weekly wallets. Each wallet contains 14 individual packets, organized by day of the week (Sunday through Saturday) and time of day (morning and evening). The morning and evening doses consist of 1 packet each.
To give your child a dose, open the packet and mix the granules with 1 tsp (5 mL) of liquid or soft food that’s room temperature or below. (Think applesauce, yogurt, or baby food.) Avoid mixing them with anything hot. Once mixed, the granules must be consumed within 1 hour.
Tablets
The oral tablets are intended for adults and children 6 years or older. Tablets should be swallowed whole. Do not crush or break them.
The tablets come in a carton of weekly blister cards. Each card contains 21 tablets, organized by day (Day 1, Day 2, etc.) and time of day (morning and evening). The morning dose consists of 2 tablets, while the evening dose is 1 tablet.
What’s the typical Trikafta dosage for adults?
The typical Trikafta dosage for adults is as follows:
Morning dose: 2 orange tablets taken at the same time, each containing elexacaftor 100 mg, tezacaftor 50 mg, and ivacaftor 75 mg
Evening dose: 1 light blue tablet containing ivacaftor 150 mg
What’s the typical Trikafta dosage for children?
The typical Trikafta dosage for children age 12 to 17 years old is the same as the typical dosage for adults. For children 2 to 11 years old, the typical Trikafta dosage depends on their exact age and body weight.
The table below shows the typical dosages for children 2 to 5 years old.
Body weight | Morning dose | Evening dose |
|---|---|---|
Under 14 kg (31 lbs) | 1 white and blue packet containing elexacaftor 80 mg / tezacaftor 40 mg / ivacaftor 60 mg | 1 white and green packet containing ivacaftor 59.5 mg |
14 kg and up | 1 white and orange packet containing elexacaftor 100 mg / tezacaftor 50 mg / ivacaftor 75 mg | 1 white and pink packet containing ivacaftor 75 mg |
The table below shows the typical dosages for children 6 to 11 years old.
Body weight | Morning dose | Evening dose |
|---|---|---|
Under 30 kg (66 lbs) | 2 light-orange tablets, each containing elexacaftor 50 mg / tezacaftor 25 mg / ivacaftor 37.5 mg | 1 light-blue tablet containing ivacaftor 75 mg |
30 kg and up | 2 orange tablets, each containing elexacaftor 100 mg / tezacaftor 50 mg / ivacaftor 75 mg | 1 light-blue tablet containing ivacaftor 150 mg |
Are there any dosage adjustments for health conditions or potential interactions?
There are several reasons why your prescriber may adjust your Trikafta dosage, including for health conditions and potential drug interactions.
If you have moderate liver disease, you may be prescribed a lower Trikafta dosage. For example, you may be instructed to skip the evening dose altogether. And for your morning dose, you may be told to skip or take fewer tablets on certain days. Trikafta should typically be avoided if you have severe liver problems.
Because of how it’s broken down in the body, drug interactions are common with Trikafta. Certain combinations can result in higher Trikafta levels in the body, potentially increasing the risk of side effects. Similar to adjustments for liver disease, you may be instructed to take Trikafta less often if you’re also taking an interacting medication.
Make sure your healthcare team has your full medical history and current medication list before starting treatment with Trikafta. This will help them determine the right Trikafta dosage for you.
What happens if you miss a dose of Trikafta?
If you miss a dose of Trikafta, the next step depends on how much time has passed since you were supposed to take the medication. Below are the missed-dose instructions provided by the manufacturer. Though, your healthcare professional may have you handle a missed Trikafta dose differently.
For a missed morning dose:
Late by 6 hours or less: Take the missed morning dose as soon as possible. Take your evening dose at the regularly scheduled time.
Late by more than 6 hours: Take the missed morning dose as soon as possible, then skip the evening dose for the day.
For a missed evening dose:
Late by 6 hours or less: Take the missed evening dose as soon as possible. Then, take your morning dose at the regularly scheduled time.
Late by more than 6 hours: Skip the missed evening dose. Then, take your morning dose at the regularly scheduled time.
If you have trouble remembering to take your Trikafta doses on time, talk to your pharmacist. You could also try a medication reminder app to see if that helps you stay on track.
What should you do if you take too much Trikafta?
There isn’t a lot of information available about what can happen if you take too much Trikafta. But it’s possible that you could experience new or worsening side effects, such as headache and abdominal pain.
If you think you or your loved one may have taken too much Trikafta, contact your prescriber or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 about next steps.
The bottom line
The typical Trikafta (elexacaftor / tezacaftor / ivacaftor) dosage and how it's taken depends on your age and weight (for children). Whether you’re taking the oral granules or tablets, remember to take the medication with a fat-containing meal. You’ll likely take a morning and evening dose.
Speak with your healthcare team if you have questions about your Trikafta dosage.
Why trust our experts?
References
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. (2023). Trikafta - elexacaftor, tezacaftor, and ivacaftor [package insert].
Was this page helpful?
Related Articles
Browse medications
View AllResearch prescriptions and over-the-counter medications from A to Z, compare drug prices, and start saving.