All About Cobenfy

What is Cobenfy used for?

Cobenfy is used to treat schizophrenia in adults.

Schizophrenia is a long-term mental health condition that causes one to experience distortions in reality. It may cause symptoms such as:

• delusions (beliefs that are contrary to facts or evidence)
• hallucinations
• paranoia
• a lack of emotion or expressions
• difficulty completing typical activities of daily living

The mechanism of action (how a drug works) by which Cobenfy works to treat schizophrenia isn’t fully known. However, it’s thought that the drug increases acetylcholine (a type of neurotransmitter) levels in the brain, and decreases acetylcholine outside the brain, which may help ease symptoms of schizophrenia.

What are Cobenfy’s side effects?

Like most drugs, Cobenfy may cause mild to serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the more common side effects Cobenfy may cause, but they don’t include all possible side effects.

Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:

• your age
• other health conditions you have
• other medications you take

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Cobenfy. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.

Mild side effects

Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects that Cobenfy can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Cobenfy’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Cobenfy that have been reported include:

• nausea and vomiting
• indigestion
• constipation
• abdominal pain
• diarrhea
• increased heart rate
• dizziness
• heartburn
• dry mouth
• drowsiness

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Cobenfy can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Cobenfy, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects of Cobenfy that have been reported include:

• central nervous system effects, including hallucinations and severe drowsiness
• extrapyrimidal symptoms (EPS), such as involuntary muscle contractions and drooling
• high blood pressure
• dizziness when standing up (orthostatic hypotension)
• slowed stomach emptying
• urinary retention

ALLERGIC REACTION

For some people, Cobenfy can cause an allergic reaction.

In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should keep taking Cobenfy.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Cobenfy, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

What is Cobenfy’s dosage?

Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Cobenfy that’s right for you. The following are commonly used dosages, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes.

Form and strengths

Cobenfy is available as an oral capsule in three strengths:

• 50 milligrams (mg) xanomeline and 20 mg trospium (50 mg/20 mg)
• 100 mg/20 mg
• 125 mg/30 mg

Recommended dosages

For treating schizophrenia, your doctor will likely prescribe a starting Cobenfy dosage of 50 mg/20 mg taken twice per day. You’ll likely take this dose for at least 2 days. Then, your doctor may increase your dosage to 100 mg/20 mg taken twice per day. This dose should be taken for at least 5 days, after which your doctor may increase your dose to 125 mg/30 mg taken twice per day. This is the maximum recommended Cobenfy dosage

Questions about taking Cobenfy

Here are some common questions about taking Cobenfy.

• Can Cobenfy be chewed, crushed, or split? No, you should not chew, crush, or split Cobenfy. You also should not open the capsules. You should swallow them whole. If you have trouble doing so, you can get tips on how to swallow pills or ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
• Should I take Cobenfy with food? No, you should not take Cobenfy with food. Cobenfy should be taken at least 1 hour before or at least 2 hours after a meal.
• Is there a best time of day to take Cobenfy? Cobenfy can be taken at any time of day, but it’s best to take it around the same time each day. This helps keep a consistent level of the drug in your body, which helps Cobenfy work effectively.
• What if I miss a dose of Cobenfy? If you miss a dose of Cobenfy, take it as soon as you remember. But if it’s almost time to take your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at its usual time. You should not take two doses at once to make up for a missed dose. Doing so could raise your risk of side effects.
• Will I need to use Cobenfy long term? Cobenfy is typically used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that it’s safe and effective for your condition, you’ll likely take it long term.
• How long does Cobenfy take to work? Cobenfy begins to work after you take your first dose. In clinical studies, some people noticed improvements in schizophrenia symptoms within 2 weeks after starting treatment. But it may take up to 5 weeks before the drug takes full effect. Let your doctor know if you’d like to learn more about how they’ll monitor whether Cobenfy is working to treat your schizophrenia symptoms.

Overdose

Do not take more Cobenfy than your doctor prescribes, as this can lead to harmful effects.

Symptoms of overdose

Symptoms caused by an overdose can include:

• diarrhea
• dry eyes
• blurry vision
• excessive saliva or sweating
• high or low blood pressure
• increased heart rate
• urinary retention
• agitation or delirium
• seizures

What to do in case you take too much Cobenfy

Call your doctor if you think you’ve taken too much Cobenfy. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. Or go to the nearest emergency room.

What should be considered before taking Cobenfy?

It’s important to consider the following information before taking Cobenfy.

Interactions

Taking a drug with certain medications, vaccines, and foods can affect how the drug works. These effects are called interactions.

Before starting Cobenfy treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you take. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Cobenfy can interact with several other medications, certain supplements, and certain foods.

Drug interactions

The following list contains medications that may interact with Cobenfy. This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with Cobenfy. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Cobenfy and alcohol

Alcohol is not known to interact with Cobenfy. But alcohol may make schizophrenia worse. If you drink alcohol, your doctor may recommend limiting the amount you drink.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether it’s safe to take Cobenfy during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant or to breastfeed, talk with your doctor before starting Cobenfy treatment.

If you and your doctor decide you’ll use Cobenfy during pregnancy, consider joining The National Pregnancy Registry for Atypical Antipsychotics. This registry helps collect information on the safety of taking antipsychotic drugs, including Cobenfy, during pregnancy. You can learn more by calling 866-961-2388 or visiting the registry site.

Warnings

Cobenfy can sometimes cause harmful effects in people who have certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether Cobenfy is a good treatment option for you.

Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Cobenfy. Be sure to tell them if any of the following factors apply to you:

• bile duct problem
• chronic constipation
• enlarged prostate
• gallstones
• gastroparesis or other conditions that slow how quickly your stomach empties
• kidney problems
• liver problems
• myasthenia gravis
• narrow eye angle or narrow-angle glaucoma that isn’t treated
• pancreas problems
• ulcerative colitis
• urinary retention or other conditions that cause problems passing urine
• previous allergic reaction to Cobenfy
• pregnancy
• breastfeeding

What are some frequently asked questions about Cobenfy?

Find answers to some commonly asked questions about Cobenfy.

Is Cobenfy an antipsychotic?

Yes, Cobenfy is an antipsychotic medication in that it’s a medication used to treat a psychiatric disorder. But the manufacturer does not consider it an antipsychotic as its mechanism is different from traditional and atypical antipsychotics.

Cobenfy contains two active ingredients (what makes a drug work):

• xanomeline, which belongs to a group of drugs called muscarinic agonists
• trospium, which belongs to a group of drugs called anticholinergics

Cobenfy works differently than traditional and atypical antipsychotics, which are believed to work by affecting levels of dopamine. Cobenfy is the first FDA-approved medication for treating schizophrenia that doesn’t affect dopamine levels.

To learn more about Cobenfy and treating schizophrenia, see the “What is Cobenfy used for?” section. You can also ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Is Cobenfy used to treat bipolar disorder?

Cobenfy is not approved to treat bipolar disorder. Currently, it’s only approved to treat schizophrenia.

However, a doctor may still prescribe Cobenfy off-label to treat bipolar disorder. With off-label use, a drug is prescribed for a purpose other than its FDA-approved uses.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more about available medications for managing bipolar disorder.

Is Cobenfy an injection?

No, Cobenfy isn’t an injection. Cobenfy comes as an oral capsule that you take twice daily.

If you’d like to learn about injection options for schizophrenia treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Cobenfy cost and coupons

Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when you’re considering Cobenfy. What you’ll pay for Cobenfy may depend on several factors, such as your treatment plan and the pharmacy you use.

If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. The drug manufacturer’s Cobenfy Co-Pay Assistance Program may be available for you.