Cobenfy is a brand-name oral capsule prescribed for schizophrenia in adults. Cobenfy contains the active ingredients xanomeline and trospium chloride.
Drug details
Here is key information about Cobenfy.
- Drug classes: muscarinic agonist and muscarinic antagonist
- Generic available? no
- Prescription required? yes
- Controlled substance? no
- Year of FDA approval: 2024
Cobenfy is available only as a brand-name medication. It’s not currently available in generic form.
A generic drug is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs.
The Cobenfy dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:
- the severity of the condition you’re using Cobenfy to treat
- being age 65 years or older
- any side effects you may have
The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
Drug forms and strengths
Cobenfy comes as an oral capsule. It’s available in three strengths:
- 50 milligrams (mg) xanomeline/20 mg trospium chloride
- 100 mg xanomeline/20 mg trospium chloride
- 125 mg xanomeline/30 mg trospium chloride
Dosage for schizophrenia
For schizophrenia, the usual dosage of Cobenfy is one capsule taken twice daily.
Your doctor may gradually increase the strength of your dosage during the first week of treatment. The recommended dosage schedule is as follows:
- 50 mg xanomeline/20 mg trospium chloride twice daily for at least 2 days, followed by
- 100 mg xanomeline/20 mg trospium chloride twice daily for at least 5 days, then
- 125 mg xanomeline/30 mg trospium chloride twice daily for as long as your doctor recommends, based on your tolerability and response to treatment
If you have questions about the dosage of Cobenfy that’s right for you, talk with your doctor.
About taking Cobenfy
Here you’ll find information about key dosage issues.
- When to take: You’ll take Cobenfy twice daily. If possible, try to take the drug around the same time each day. Doing so helps keep a steady level of the drug in your body so it works effectively.
- If you miss a dose: The manufacturer of Cobenfy hasn’t provided recommendations for what to do about a missed dose. If you miss a dose of Cobenfy, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can advise you on whether to take a missed dose or skip it.
- Taking Cobenfy with food: You should take Cobenfy at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal. This is because taking Cobenfy with food may affect the level of the drug in your body. This could affect your risk of side effects and how well the drug works to treat your condition.
- Crushing, splitting, or chewing Cobenfy: Cobenfy capsules should not be crushed, split, or chewed. You’ll swallow the capsule whole. If you have trouble swallowing capsules, you can talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also refer to this article for tips on how to swallow a pill.
- Length of use: Cobenfy is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Cobenfy is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term.
- Length of time to work: Cobenfy starts to work after your first dose. In clinical trials, Cobenfy was shown to ease symptoms over a 5-week period. During treatment, your doctor will monitor your condition to see how well the drug is working for you.
Overdose
Taking more than the recommended dosage of Cobenfy can lead to serious side effects. Do not use more Cobenfy than your doctor recommends.
Overdose symptoms
Symptoms of an overdose can include:
- agitation
- abdominal pain, diarrhea, or vomiting
- blurred vision or dry eyes
- dizziness
- dry mouth or excessive saliva
- changes in heart rate or blood pressure
- seizures
- sweating more than is typical
- urinary retention
What to do in case of overdose
If you think you’ve taken too much of this drug, call your doctor. You can also call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. However, if your symptoms are severe, call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room right away.
Cobenfy can cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Cobenfy. These lists do not include all possible side effects.
For more information about the possible side effects of Cobenfy, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to manage any side effects that may be concerning or bothersome.
Note: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tracks side effects of drugs it has approved. If you would like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Cobenfy, you can do so through MedWatch.
Mild side effects
Here is a partial list of mild side effects of Cobenfy. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or view Cobenfy’s prescribing information.
Mild side effects of Cobenfy can include:
- abdominal pain
- blurred vision
- constipation
- cough
- diarrhea
- dizziness
- dry mouth
- excessive saliva
- increased heart rate
- indigestion, heartburn, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- nausea and vomiting
- sleepiness
Most of these side effects may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. However, if they become more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects from Cobenfy aren’t common, but they can occur. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency.
Serious side effects and their symptoms can include:
- urinary retention, which may include symptoms such as:
- urinary hesitancy (difficulty starting or maintaining urination)
- difficulty emptying the bladder
- painful urination
- slowed stomach emptying, which may include symptoms such as:
- abdominal bloating or pain
- nausea and vomiting
- feeling full soon after beginning to eat
- orthostatic hypotension (sudden drop in blood pressure upon standing), which may include symptoms such as:
- blurred vision
- dizziness
- lightheadedness
- extrapyramidal symptoms (movement disorders), which may include:
- drooling
- muscle spasms
- uncontrolled muscle contractions
- central nervous system effects, which may include:
- dizziness
- confusion
- hallucinations
- high blood pressure, which may not cause any symptoms
- allergic reaction
ALLERGIC REACTIONFor some people, Cobenfy can cause an allergic reaction.
In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious.
Ways to manage
For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.
For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Cobenfy, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as Cobenfy to treat certain conditions.
Cobenfy for schizophrenia
Cobenfy is approved to treat schizophrenia in adults.
Schizophrenia is a mental health condition that can affect a person’s behaviors, feelings, and thoughts. Symptoms may include delusions (false beliefs), hallucinations, and decreased expression of emotions.
To learn more about schizophrenia, visit our mental health hub.
Cobenfy and children
Cobenfy is not FDA approved for use in children. It’s not known whether the drug is safe or effective for children.
Cobenfy can interact with several other medications. However, the drug isn’t known to interact with any supplements or foods.
Before taking Cobenfy, 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 use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.
Interactions with medications
Here is a list of medications that can 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.
Medications that can interact with Cobenfy | • certain antidepressants, such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and paroxetine (Brisdelle, Paxil) • certain antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and fexofenadine (Allegra) • certain blood thinners, such as dabigatran (Pradaxa) and edoxaban (Savaysa) • anticholinergics, such as oxybutynin (Gelnique, Oxytrol) and darifenacin • buspirone • eletriptan (Relpax) |
Alcohol interaction
Alcohol is not known to interact with Cobenfy. However, drinking alcohol while taking Cobenfy may worsen some of the drug’s side effects. Examples include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and dizziness.
If you have questions about consuming alcohol while taking Cobenfy, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
As with all medications, the cost of Cobenfy can vary. The actual price you’ll pay depends on your insurance plan, your location, and the pharmacy you use.
Financial and insurance assistance: If you need financial support to pay for Cobenfy, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available.
A program called Cobenfy Cares is available for the drug. For more information and to find out whether you’re eligible for support, call 877-262-3639 or visit the program website.
Generic version: Cobenfy is not available in a generic form. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. Generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.
Learn more about saving money on prescriptions.
Other drugs are available that can treat schizophrenia. Some may be a better fit for you than others. If you’re interested in finding an alternative to Cobenfy, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you.
Here are a few examples of alternatives to Cobenfy:
- aripiprazole (Abilify, Abilify Maintena)
- brexpiprazole (Rexulti)
- lurasidone (Latuda)
- quetiapine (Seroquel, Seroquel XR)
- paliperidone (Invega, Invega Trinza, others)
If you can become pregnant, consider the following information about pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Cobenfy and pregnancy
It’s not known whether Cobenfy should be taken during pregnancy. However, there are also risks with having unmanaged schizophrenia while pregnant. (Cobenfy is prescribed to treat schizophrenia.)
If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor about potential treatments for schizophrenia during pregnancy. Together, you can consider the risks and benefits of treatment options and decide whether or not to take Cobenfy during pregnancy.
If you are prescribed Cobenfy during pregnancy, consider enrolling in a pregnancy registry. These registries collect information on the safety of certain drugs when taken during pregnancy. To learn more, visit the registry website or call 866-961-2388. You can also talk with your doctor.
Cobenfy and breastfeeding
It’s not known whether Cobenfy should be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.
This drug comes with several precautions.
Before taking Cobenfy, discuss your health history with your doctor. Cobenfy may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:
- digestive system problems
- kidney, liver, or gallbladder problems
- myasthenia gravis
- narrow-angle glaucoma
- prostate or bladder problems, including urinary retention
- being age 65 years or older
- previous allergic reaction to this or a similar drug
- pregnancy
- breastfeeding
Note: For more information about the potential negative effects of Cobenfy, see the “Cobenfy side effects” section.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.