Drug Interaction Report

Using finerenone together with perindopril may increase potassium levels in the blood. High levels of potassium can develop into a condition known as hyperkalemia, which in severe cases can lead to kidney failure, muscle paralysis, irregular heart rhythm, and cardiac arrest. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. Your doctor may be able to prescribe alternatives that do not interact, or you may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring to safely use both medications. You should seek medical attention if you experience nausea, vomiting, weakness, confusion, tingling of the hands and feet, feelings of heaviness in the legs, a weak pulse, or a slow or irregular heartbeat, as these may be symptoms of hyperkalemia. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Finerenone may be taken with or without food. However, you should avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice during treatment with this medication. Grapefruit juice may significantly increase the blood levels and effects of finerenone. This can increase the risk of developing hyperkalemia, or high levels of potassium in the blood, which in severe cases can lead to kidney failure, muscle paralysis, irregular heart rhythm, and cardiac arrest. You may be more likely to develop hyperkalemia during treatment with finerenone if you are elderly, dehydrated, or have kidney disease, diabetes, or advanced heart failure. You should also avoid potassium-containing salt substitutes or over-the-counter potassium supplements during treatment with finerenone unless otherwise directed by your doctor. Seek medical attention if you experience nausea, vomiting, weakness, confusion, tingling of the hands and feet, feelings of heaviness in the legs, a weak pulse, or a slow or irregular heartbeat, as these may be symptoms of hyperkalemia. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Consumer information for this interaction is not currently available.

GENERALLY AVOID: Moderate-to-high dietary intake of potassium can cause hyperkalemia in some patients who are using angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. In some cases, affected patients were using a potassium-rich salt substitute. ACE inhibitors can promote hyperkalemia through inhibition of the renin-aldosterone-angiotensin (RAA) system.

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Administration with food decreased the biotransformation of perindopril to its active metabolite, perindoprilat, resulting in a decrease of perindoprilat bioavailability by 35% and a reduction in the plasma ACE inhibition curve of approximately 20%. When administered as part of a combination product with amlodipine and taken with food, perindopril and perindoprilat absorption rates have decreased by 18% and 14%, respectively, versus fasting. No effect of food on the extent of unmetabolized perindopril absorption has been observed.

MANAGEMENT: It is recommended that patients who are taking ACE inhibitors be advised to avoid moderately high or high potassium dietary intake. Particular attention should be paid to the potassium content of salt substitutes. Some authorities recommend administering perindopril before a meal, preferably in the morning. According to the prescribing information, the combination product containing perindopril and amlodipine may be taken with or without food.