Does Kerendia lower blood pressure?
Yes, low blood pressure (hypotension) has been reported as a common side effect with oral Kerendia tablets, occurring in at least 1% (1 out of every 100) of patients. In studies, low blood pressure (hypotension) occurred in 4.6% of patients taking Kerendia compared to 3% of patients taking a placebo.
In patients treated with Kerendia, the mean systolic blood pressure (the first or top number) decreased by 3 mmHg and the mean diastolic blood pressure (the second or bottom number) decreased by 1-2 mmHg during the first month, but remained stable thereafter. A normal blood pressure reading is usually less than 120 / 80 mmHg.
Kerendia can also cause high potassium levels and low sodium levels.
- Hyperkalemia (high potassium levels) occurred in 14% of patients taking Kerendia compared to 6.9% on placebo.
- Hyponatremia (low sodium levels) occurred in 1.3% of patients taking Kerendia vs. 0.7% of those in the placebo group.
Before starting treatment and while you are taking Kerendia, your doctor will monitor your potassium levels and kidney function using a simple blood test from your vein.
If you have any side effects, contact your doctor immediately to discuss them. Your doctor may need to change your dose. Do not change doses or stop the medication on your own. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects.
When was Kerendia approved by the FDA?
The FDA first approved Bayer’s Kerendia (finerenone) tablets in July 2021. It is classified as a non-steroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) for the treatment of adults with:
- chronic kidney disease (CKD) associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) to reduce the risk of sustained estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline, end-stage kidney disease, cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and hospitalization for heart failure.
- heart failure left ventricular ejection fraction (HF LVEF) ≥40% to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death, hospitalization for heart failure, and urgent heart failure visits.
Kerendia is approved to reduce the risk of:
- worsening of kidney disease
- kidney failure
- death due to cardiovascular (heart-related) disease
- heart attack
- hospitalizations or urgent visits due to heart failure
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How it works
Kerendia belongs to a class of medicines called mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonists.
The mechanism of how Kerendia works is thought to be due to blocking of the overactive mineralocorticoid receptor (on the kidney, heart or blood vessels) that may contribute to fibrosis (tissue scarring), inflammation and permanent damage in patients with type 2 diabetes or heart failure.
Kerendia blocks the mineralocorticoid receptor to lower activity and reduce inflammation and damage to the kidneys, blood vessels, and heart. Kerendia can slow chronic kidney disease from getting worse and also lower the risk of heart-related death, like having a heart attack, or needing to be hospitalized or have urgent visits for heart failure.
Phase 3 Studies for Kerendia
In Phase 3 studies for CKD, 5,674 patients received either Kerendia (2833) or placebo (2841) and were followed for 2.6 years. Kerendia use in adults lowered the risk of:
- sustained eGFR decline (a measure of how well your kidneys work)
- kidney failure or kidney death
- the combined risk for a cardiovascular (heart-related) death; non-fatal myocardial infarction (non-fatal heart attack), non-fatal stroke or hospitalization for heart failure.
In Phase 3 studies of patients with heart failure with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 40%, results showed that Kerendia achieved:
- a 16% relative risk reduction of the composite primary endpoint of CV death and total HF events, defined as hospitalization for HF or an urgent HF visit, compared to placebo (RR=0.84, 95% CI: 0.74-0.95, p=0.007), along with standard care in both groups.
- The treatment effect was consistent across all prespecified subgroups including with or without SGLT2i use.
This is not all the information you need to know about Kerendia (finerenone) for safe and effective use and does not take the place of your doctor’s directions. Review the full product information and discuss this information and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.
References
- Kerendia (finerenone) prescribing information. July 2025. Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc. Whippany, NJ. Accessed July 15, 2025 at https://labeling.bayerhealthcare.com/html/products/pi/Kerendia_PI.pdf
Read next
Does walking/exercise improve ejection fraction?
Exercise including walking can improve ejection fraction if it is done 3 to 5 times per week for at least 20 to 40 minutes per session at a moderate-intensity pace, but it must be built up gradually. With time, exercise can also help improve the strength and efficiency of the rest of your body, reduce hospitalizations, help maintain weight, and boost your quality of life. Continue reading
How can you check for heart disease at home?
You can check for heart disease at home by measuring your pulse rate and your blood pressure if you have a blood pressure monitor. To measure your pulse you will need an analog watch (one with a clock face rather than digital numbers) with a second hand. Place your index and middle finger of your hand on the hollow part of your inner wrist of the other arm, just below the base of the thumb. You should feel a tapping or pulse against your fingers, that is your heartbeat. Look at your watch and count the number of taps you feel in 10 seconds. Multiply that number by 6 to find out your heart rate for 1 minute. Continue reading
Does metoprolol lower resting heart rate?
Yes, metoprolol can lower resting heart rate. It is a beta-blocking medication that is used to lower blood pressure, as well as relieve chest pain from angina pectoris. It is also used for the treatment of heart failure and heart attack. Metoprolol comes in both immediate-release and long-acting formulations. Continue reading
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Drug information
- Kerendia Information for Consumers
- Kerendia prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side Effects of Kerendia (detailed)
- Kerendia user reviews (3)
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