The significance of finerenone in the treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) complicated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and specific heart failure is increasingly prominent. How to obtain the drug properly and ensure medication safety has become a key concern for patients and their families.
What Are the Purchase Channels for Finerenone?
Overseas Purchase
Patients may choose to consult and purchase finerenone at hospital pharmacies or licensed drugstores in countries or regions where the drug has been approved for marketing.
As drug prices may be affected by factors such as regional differences and exchange rate fluctuations, patients need to make a budget and plan in advance before purchase.
Purchase via Medical Service Institutions
Patients can consult domestic overseas medical service institutions that cooperate with international pharmacies or pharmaceutical enterprises.
These institutions can usually provide legal import channels as well as professional consultation and guidance.
Precautions for Finerenone Administration
Strictly Follow the Doctor's Instructions
Individualized dosage: The initial dosage shall be determined according to the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) — 20 mg once daily when eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m², and 10 mg once daily when eGFR is between 25 and < 60 mL/min/1.73 m².
Serum potassium level and eGFR should be re-examined 4 weeks after the start of treatment, and then the dosage should be adjusted to the target dose (the target dose for chronic kidney disease is 20 mg once daily; the target dose for heart failure is 20 mg or 40 mg once daily).
If eGFR decreases by more than 30% compared with the previous measurement, the original dosage should be maintained.
Contraindicated populations: The drug is contraindicated in patients with adrenal insufficiency, those hypersensitive to any component of the drug, and patients receiving potent CYP3A4 inhibitors.
Risk of Hyperkalemia
Serum potassium level must be ≤ 5.0 mEq/L before medication initiation. During treatment, regular monitoring of serum potassium is required, especially for patients with renal insufficiency or those taking drugs that affect potassium levels, for whom enhanced monitoring is necessary.
Clinical trials have shown that 14.0% of patients taking the drug developed hyperkalemia, among whom 0.9% required hospitalization.
Drug Interactions
Concomitant use with potent or moderate CYP3A4 inducers should be avoided, and concomitant use with moderate/weak CYP3A4 inhibitors should be carried out with caution. Dosage adjustment is required if necessary.
Consumption of grapefruit and its products should be avoided during medication.
Special Population Tips
Pregnant and lactating women: Clinical data on the use of finerenone during pregnancy are limited, and animal studies suggest potential developmental toxicity. Breastfeeding should be suspended and not resumed until 1 day after the last dose.
Patients with hepatic impairment: The drug is contraindicated in patients with severe hepatic impairment; enhanced monitoring of serum potassium is required for patients with moderate hepatic impairment.
Identification of Authentic Finerenone
Physical Mark Inspection
The tablets are film-coated shaped tablets: the 10 mg tablet is pink marked with “FI/10”; the 20 mg tablet is yellow marked with “FI/20”; the 40 mg tablet is gray-orange marked with “FI/40”.
Vigilance against counterfeit products is required if there is color fading, blurred text, or abnormal tablet shape.
Character and Solubility Test
Authentic finerenone appears as a white to yellow crystalline powder, which is almost insoluble in water.
If the drug does not conform to the above characteristics, administration should be discontinued immediately and the regulatory authority should be contacted.
