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How are Symdeko tablets taken?

Medically reviewed by Judith Stewart, BPharm. Last updated on Sep 5, 2023.

Official answer

by Drugs.com

Symdeko (tezacaftor/ivacaftor tablets and ivacaftor tablets) is a cystic fibrosis (CF) treatment that is taken twice a day.

Symdeko is indicated for use in cystic fibrosis patients ages 6 years and older who have two copies of the F508del mutation, or who have at least one mutation in the CF gene that is responsive to treatment with Symdeko.

Symdeko is supplied as co-packaged tablets in two strengths:

  • tezacaftor 50 mg/ivacaftor 75 mg (white tablet) with ivacaftor 75 mg (light blue tablet)
    (for patients ages 6 to 11 years weighing less than 30 kg)
  • tezacaftor 100 mg/ivacaftor 150 mg (yellow tablet) with ivacaftor 150 mg (light blue tablet)
    (for patients ages 6 to 11 years weighing more than 30 kg or ages 12 years and older)

The Symdeko package contains two different tablets, that are taken orally.

For patients ages 6 to 11 years weighing less than 30 kg

The white tablet is marked with 'V50' and contains the medicines tezacaftor and ivacaftor. Take 1 white tablet in the morning.
The light blue tablet is marked with 'V 75' and contains the medicine ivacaftor. Take 1 light blue tablet in the evening.

For patients ages 6 to 11 years weighing more than 30 kg or ages 12 years and older

The yellow tablet is marked with 'V100' and contains the medicines tezacaftor and ivacaftor. Take 1 yellow tablet in the morning.
The light blue tablet is marked with 'V 150' and contains the medicine ivacaftor. Take 1 light blue tablet in the evening.

Take the morning tablet and the evening tablet about 12 hours apart.

Symdeko tablets should always be taken with food that contains fat. Fat helps the body absorb the medicine.

Examples of fat-containing foods include eggs, butter, peanut butter, cheese pizza, and whole-milk dairy products such as whole milk, cheese, and yogurt.

If you miss a dose of Symdeko and it is:

  • 6 hours or less from the time you or your child usually takes the morning or evening dose:
    Take the missed dose with fat-containing food as soon as possible. Then take the next dose at the usual time.
  • More than 6 hours from the time you or your child usually takes the morning or evening dose:
    Do not take the missed dose. Take the next dose at the usual time with fat-containing food.

Do not take more than your usual dose of Symdeko to make up for a missed dose.

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