Sapropterin: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Sapropterin is a phenylalanine hydroxylase activator sold in the U.S. under one brand, for phenylketonurias. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
Key facts
- Drug class
- Phenylalanine Hydroxylase Activator
- Treats (across its forms)
- Phenylketonurias
- Available as
- Powder · Tablet
- Sold as
- Kuvan
- Prescription?
- Prescription only
- Generic available?
- Not in our catalog
How sapropterin is dosed
From the FDA label for Kuvan (application NDA022181). Other sapropterin products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
All patients with PKU who are being treated with KUVAN should also be treated with a Phe-restricted diet, including dietary protein and Phe restriction. ( 2.1 ) Starting Dosage Pediatric patients 1 month to 6 years: The recommended starting dosage of KUVAN is 10 mg/kg administered orally once daily. ( 2.2 ) Patients 7 years and older : The recommended starting dosage of KUVAN is 10 to 20 mg/kg administered orally once daily. ( 2.2 ) Dosage Adjustment Doses of KUVAN may be adjusted in the range of 5 to 20 mg/kg taken once daily. ( 2.2 ) Monitor blood Phe regularly, especially in pediatric patients. ( 2.2 , 5.3 ) Preparation and Administration See the full prescribing information for preparation and administration instructions. ( 2.3 ) 2.1 Recommendations Prior to KUVAN Treatment Treatment with KUVAN should be directed by physicians knowledgeable in the management of PKU. All patients with PKU who are being treated with KUVAN should also be treated with a Phe-restricted diet, including dietary protein and Phe restriction. 2.2 Recommended Dosage and Administration The recommended starting dosage of KUVAN is: Pediatric Patients 1 month to 6 years : 10 mg/kg (actual body weight) administered orally once daily. Patients 7 years and older : 10 to 20 mg/kg (actual body weight) administered orally once daily. Administer KUVAN with a meal, preferably at the same time each day [see…
Sapropterin side effects
Most common adverse reactions (≥4%) are: headache, rhinorrhea, pharyngolaryngeal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, cough, and nasal congestion. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. at 1-877-695-8826, or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch . 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to the rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice. PKU Clinical Studies The safety of KUVAN was evaluated in 7 clinical studies in patients with PKU (aged 1 month to 50 years) [see Clinical Studies ( 14 )] . In Studies 1-4 (controlled and uncontrolled studies), 579 patients with PKU aged 4 to 49 years received KUVAN in doses ranging from 5 to 20 mg/kg per day for lengths of treatment ranging from 1 to 164 weeks. The patient population was evenly distributed in gender, and approximately 95% of patients were Caucasian. The most common adverse reactions (≥4% of patients) were headache, rhinorrhea, pharyngolaryngeal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, cough, and nasal congestion. The data described in Table 3 reflect exposure of 74 patients with PKU to KUVAN at doses of 10 to 20 mg/kg per day for 6 to 10 weeks in two double-blind, placebo-controlled…
Who shouldn’t take sapropterin
None. None. ( 4 )
Sapropterin drug interactions
Table 4 includes drugs with clinically important drug interactions when administered with sapropterin dihydrochloride and instructions for preventing or managing them. Table 4: Clinically Relevant Drug Interactions Levodopa Clinical Impact Sapropterin dihydrochloride may increase the availability of tyrosine, a precursor of levodopa. Neurologic events were reported postmarketing in patients receiving sapropterin and levodopa concomitantly for a non-PKU indication [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )] . Intervention Monitor patients for a change in neurologic status. Inhibitors of Folate Synthesis (e.g., methotrexate, valproic acid, phenobarbital, trimethoprim) Clinical Impact In vitro and in vivo nonclinical data suggest that drugs that inhibit folate synthesis may decrease the bioavailability of endogenous BH4 by inhibiting the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase, which is involved in the recycling (regeneration) of BH4. This reduction in net BH4 levels may increase Phe levels. Intervention Consider monitoring blood Phe levels more frequently during concomitant administration. An increased dosage of KUVAN may be necessary to achieve a biochemical response. Drugs Affecting Nitric Oxide‑Mediated Vasorelaxation (e.g., PDE-5 inhibitors such as sildenafil, vardenafil, or tadalafil) Clinical Impact Both sapropterin dihydrochloride and PDE-5 inhibitors may induce vasorelaxation. A reduction in blood pressure could occur; however, the combined use of these medications has not been evaluated in humans. Intervention Monitor blood pressure. Inhibitors of Folate Synthesis (e.g., methotrexate, valproic acid, phenobarbital, trimethoprim) : Can decrease endogenous BH4 levels; monitor blood Phe levels more frequently and adjust KUVAN dosage as needed. (7 ) Drugs Affecting Nitric Oxide‑Mediated Vasorelaxation (e.g., PDE-5 inhibitors) : Potential for vasorelaxation; monitor blood pressure. ( 7 )
Every sapropterin product we track (1)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
Only one: Kuvan.
What sapropterin pills look like
Imprint codes, colour and shape from the FDA’s labelling data. Match the imprint on your pill — or search any imprint.
| Imprint | Strength | Colour | Shape | Maker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P;720 | 100 mg | yellow | round | — |
Sapropterin recalls
From the FDA Enforcement database. A recall covers specific lots — not the drug as a whole.
Javygtor (sapropterin dihydrochloride) Tablets 100mg
Failed Impurities/Degradation Specifications
Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Inc. · Nov 22, 2024
Sapropterin Dihydrochloride Powder for Oral Solution 100mg
Sub-potent Drug; powder discoloration associated with decreased potency
Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Inc. · Apr 8, 2024
Javygtor (sapropterin dihydrochloride) Powder for Oral Solution 100mg
Sub-potent Drug; powder discoloration associated with decreased potency
Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Inc. · Apr 8, 2024
Can you crush or split sapropterin?
At least one sapropterinproduct is labelled to be swallowed whole — crushing an extended-release tablet releases the whole day’s dose at once. Which applies depends on the form you were given.
What each sapropterin label says about crushing, splitting and chewingHow long sapropterin keeps
No sapropterin label we read sets a separate limit for after opening, but they do specify how it must be stored — and the stability behind any date assumes those conditions.
Does sapropterin expire? The in-use limits and storage rules from its labelsRelated calculators
Frequently asked questions
What is sapropterin?
KUVAN (sapropterin dihydrochloride) is an orally administered Phenylalanine Hydroxylase activator (or PAH activator). Sapropterin dihydrochloride, the active pharmaceutical ingredient in KUVAN, is a synthetic preparation of the dihydrochloride salt of naturally occurring tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4). Sapropterin dihydrochloride is an off-white to light yellow crystals or crystalline powder.
What kind of drug is sapropterin?
The FDA classifies sapropterin as a phenylalanine hydroxylase activator. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
Can you take sapropterin with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run sapropterin against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What forms does sapropterin come in?
Across the brands we track, sapropterin is currently marketed as powder and tablet, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Is there a generic sapropterin?
We do not currently list a generic-labelled sapropterin product. That does not always mean none exists — it means none appears under a generic name in the FDA data we track. Ask your pharmacist.
Has sapropterin been recalled?
The FDA's Enforcement database lists 3 recall records whose product description mentions sapropterin. The most recent: Javygtor (sapropterin dihydrochloride) Tablets 100mg (Nov 22, 2024). A recall applies to specific lots, not to the drug as a whole — check the record for the affected lot numbers.
Cite this page
- APA
- pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Sapropterin: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/sapropterin
- MLA
- “Sapropterin: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/sapropterin.
We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Read the full FDA label for sapropterin on DailyMed (NIH) ↗.