Generic name:difelikefalin
Dosage form: intravenous (bolus) injection
Drug class:Peripheral opioid receptor agonists
What is Korsuva?
Korsuva is a synthetic peptide and opioid agonist that is injected to treat pruritus or itchy skin in adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who are undergoing hemodialysis.
Korsuva was the first therapy to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this condition when it was approved in August 2021.
Korsuva works by targeting and activating the kappa opioid receptors in your peripheral nervous system. It's not known exactly how this helps to treat pruritus, but it's thought an imbalance in mu- and kappa-opioid receptor system activity plays a role in the development of pruritus.
What is Korsuva used for?
Korsuva is a prescription medicine used to treat moderate-to-severe pruritus associated with CKD in adults undergoing hemodialysis.
Korsuva is not recommended in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (fluid taken from abdomen).
Important information
Korsuva may cause serious side effects, including:
- Dizziness
- Sleepiness. Sleepiness is more likely to occur in patients who are 65 years or older.
- Mental status changes, such as confusing
- Trouble walking (which may lead to falls).
Taking Korsuva with centrally acting depressant medications (including anti-depressants and medicines used for anxiety, epilepsy, insomnia), sedating antihistamines (allergy medicines that can cause drowsiness), and opioid analgesics (certain pain medications) may increase the likelihood of these side effects.
Who should not receive Korsuva?
Do not take Korsuva is your are allergic to difelikefalin or any of the other ingredients in Korsuva. See below for a complete list of ingred...
