Kerendia (finerenone) is a brand-name drug that’s prescribed for certain complications of diabetic nephropathy in adults. As with other drugs, Kerendia can cause side effects. These include low blood pressure and high potassium.

Kerendia can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Kerendia in clinical trials.

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

Mild side effects can occur with Kerendia use. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Kerendia’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with Kerendia include:

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Kerendia and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

* An allergic reaction is possible after taking Kerendia. However, it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in clinical trials. To learn more, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.

Kerendia may cause serious side effects. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Kerendia’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Kerendia, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.
† An allergic reaction is possible after taking Kerendia. However, it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in clinical trials. To learn more, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.

Kerendia may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

How do side effects of Kerendia compare with those seen with Farxiga?

Farxiga (dapagliflozin) is a drug prescribed to lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. Kerendia is a drug prescribed to manage diabetic nephropathy in adults with type 2 diabetes. Due to several factors, these drugs may have side effects that are similar to and different from one another.

Side effects reported with Farxiga but not Kerendia include constipation, back pain, urinary tract infection (UTI), and diabetic ketoacidosis.

However, some of Kerendia and Farxiga’s side effects may cause similar symptoms. These symptoms include:

For more information about Farxiga’s side effects, see this article. To learn more about how Kerendia’s and Farxiga’s side effects compare, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Are side effects of Kerendia similar to those seen with spironolactone?

Spironolactone is a diuretic medication prescribed for heart failure. It’s also available as the brand-name drug Aldactone. Because it works in a similar way to Kerendia, the two drugs have some similar side effects.

Side effects that can happen with Kerendia or spironolactone include types of electrolyte imbalances. For example, both drugs may cause low blood sodium levels and high blood potassium levels.

For more information about how Kerendia and spironolactone compare, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Learn more about some of the side effects that Kerendia may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Kerendia.

Low blood pressure

It’s possible to develop low blood pressure while taking Kerendia. In clinical trials of the drug, this was a common side effect.

Symptoms of low blood pressure include:

You may have a higher risk of this side effect if you currently take blood pressure medication.

What you can do

Before you start taking Kerendia, tell your doctor if you take any medications to lower your blood pressure. They can determine whether this drug is safe for you to take.

During treatment with Kerendia, your doctor will monitor your blood pressure levels. They may also show you how to check your blood pressure at home.

If you notice symptoms of low blood pressure, talk with your doctor. They can recommend ways to increase it, such as adding more fluid or salt to your diet. If you take a blood pressure medication, they may adjust your dosage.

High blood potassium levels

It’s possible to experience high blood potassium levels while taking Kerendia. This was a commonly reported side effect in Kerendia’s clinical trials.

The level of potassium in your blood helps regulate your heartbeat. If your levels are too high, you may have a higher risk of heart problems.

High potassium typically doesn’t cause symptoms unless it becomes severe. At higher levels, symptoms include:

Certain factors may increase your risk of this side effect. These include having kidney problems, eating high potassium foods, and taking certain medications.

What you can do

Before you start taking Kerendia, it’s important to talk with your doctor about your health history. This includes any health conditions you may have or other medications you may take. Your doctor can determine whether Kerendia is safe for you to take.

During treatment with Kerendia, your doctor will closely monitor your potassium levels. They’ll typically give you a blood test before you start treatment and 4 weeks after. In addition, you’ll take another blood test 4 weeks after any dosage changes. To learn more about Kerendia’s dosage, see this article.

If you have an increased risk of high potassium levels or experience bothersome symptoms, talk with your doctor. They can recommend ways to keep your potassium levels in a safe range.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, Kerendia can cause an allergic reaction in some people. However, it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in clinical trials.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itching
  • flushing
  • swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What you can do

For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking Kerendia. However, if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Kerendia. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. These are considered drug-condition or drug-factor interactions. The conditions and factors to consider include:

High blood potassium levels. Kerendia may cause high blood potassium levels. If you already have this condition, taking Kerendia may make it worse. In addition, you may have a higher risk if you take certain other medications. This includes certain diuretics, such as spironolactone.

Before you start taking Kerendia, talk with your doctor about your potassium levels. They may adjust your other medications or monitor you more closely during treatment.

Certain medications. Before you take Kerendia, tell your doctor about any other medications you may take. Your body uses certain liver enzymes to process this drug. If you take a medication that affects your liver, Kerendia may be less effective. These include Dilantin (phenytoin), ketoconazole, and clarithromycin. Your doctor can advise whether Kerendia is safe to take with your other medications.

Severe liver problems. If you have a severe liver problem, such as cirrhosis, talk with your doctor before you take Kerendia. There’s not enough information to know whether this drug is safe to take with severe liver problems. Due to this risk, your doctor may not prescribe Kerendia for your condition. However, they can recommend other treatment options for you.

Severe kidney problems. Kerendia is prescribed to manage diabetic nephropathy in adults. Diabetic nephropathy is chronic kidney disease associated with type 2 diabetes. If you have another severe kidney problem, talk with your doctor. You may have an increased risk of high potassium levels. Your doctor may not prescribe Kerendia for your condition.

Adrenal gland problems. Before you start taking Kerendia, tell your doctor if you have adrenal insufficiency. With this condition, your adrenal glands don’t make enough of certain hormones, such as cortisol. Adrenal insufficiency can cause low blood pressure, low blood sodium levels, and high blood potassium levels. These are also side effects of Kerendia.

If you already have adrenal insufficiency, taking Kerendia may increase your risk of side effects. Due to this risk, your doctor will likely not prescribe Kerendia for your condition. However, they can recommend other treatment options for you.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding your child, Kerendia may not be safe for you to take. Kerendia’s safety during pregnancy or breastfeeding is not known. However, your doctor will likely recommend that you don’t breastfeed during treatment and for 1 day after your last dose. Before taking Kerendia, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe.

Alcohol consumption. If you drink alcohol, Kerendia may not be safe for you to take. Alcohol and Kerendia can both cause low blood sodium levels. In addition, alcohol can affect your blood sugar. This, in turn, may worsen symptoms of type 2 diabetes. If you have questions about drinking alcohol with Kerendia, talk with your doctor. For more information about type 2 diabetes and alcohol, see this article.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Kerendia or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Kerendia. Ask your doctor which other medications may be better options for you.

Kerendia may cause side effects. However, they’re uncommon and typically mild. If you’d like to learn more about Kerendia, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects from taking the drug.

Besides talking with your doctor, you can do some research on your own. These articles might help:

  • More information about Kerendia. For details about other aspects of Kerendia, refer to this article.
  • Cost. If you’d like to learn about Kerendia and cost, see this article.
  • Dosage. For information about the dosage of Kerendia, view this article.
  • A look at type 2 diabetes. For details about type 2 diabetes, see our diabetes hub.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.