Adults with rheumatoid arthritis (condition in which the body attacks its own joints, producing pain, swelling, and loss of function) who were not helped by other disease-modifying antirheumatic medications can take anakinra alone or in conjunction with other therapies (DMARDs). In addition, anakinra is used to treat adults and children who suffer from neonatal-onset multisystem inflammatory disease (NOMID), a condition that produces inflammation and harms the neurological system, skin, and joints. Deficiency of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (DIRA; a condition in which the body attacks its own tissues, causing inflammation and harming the bones, nervous system, skin, lungs, liver, and joints) is another condition that anakinra is used to treat in both adults and children. The drug anakinra belongs to the group of drugs known as interleukin antagonists. It functions by preventing the body’s natural inflammatory agent, interleukin, from doing its job.

The subcutaneous injection form of anakinra is a solution (under the skin). It is typically administered once daily. Anakinra, however, may be used once or twice daily when treating neonatal-onset multisystem inflammatory illness. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Follow the anakinra injection instructions exactly. Use it only as directed by your doctor, neither more nor less often.

Your doctor’s office will administer your first anakinra subcutaneous injection to you. Your physician may then decide that you or a caretaker can administer the shots at home. Your doctor will demonstrate how to inject the medication for you or the recipient of it. The written directions for use that are provided with the drug should be read by both you and the person who will be injecting it. If you have any concerns regarding how to administer the drug through injection, be sure to see your physician or pharmacist.

Glass syringes with the anakinra injection are prefilled. Each box contains seven syringes, one for each day of the week. Only use one syringe at a time. Do not inject again, even if there is some solution remaining in the syringe after the first time. Used syringes should be disposed of in a container that won’t puncture. How to get rid of the puncture-resistant container should be discussed with your doctor or pharmacist.

30 minutes before you’re ready to administer the medication, take it out of the refrigerator. It should be placed on a flat surface and given time to warm up. Do not shake the prefilled syringe or take off the lid covering the needle while removing it from the box.

Verify the prefilled syringe to make sure the printed expiration date is still current. Examine the liquid in the syringe closely. The liquid should be clear and free of big particles, clouds, or other impurities. Do not inject the drug if there are any issues with the syringe or the container; instead, contact your pharmacist.

A 2-inch (5-centimeter) area surrounding the navel is off-limits when injecting anakinra in the front of the middle thighs or the lower portion of the stomach beneath the navel. The outer area of your upper arms, as well as the outer and higher sections of your buttocks, can receive the injection if someone else administers it to you. Every day, pick a fresh location to inject the drug. Never administer an injection to skin that is red, bruised, painful, hard, or scaly, or that has scars or stretch marks. Avoid injecting close to a visible vein under the skin.

The injection of anakinra might help you manage your symptoms, but it won’t make your problem go away. Anakinra injection should be continued even if you feel well. Without consulting your doctor, do not stop using anakinra injection.

For a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient, ask your pharmacist or doctor.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before taking anakinra,

• If you have an allergy to latex, anakinra, proteins derived from bacterial cells (E. coli), latex, or any other drug, let your doctor and pharmacist know right once.
• Inform your physician and pharmacist about all prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Incorporate any of the following: Golimumab (Simponi), infliximab (Remicade), abatacept (Orencia), certolizumab (Cimzia), etanercept (Enbrel), and golimumab. Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects. Tell your doctor about all of the medications you are taking, including any not on this list, as many other drugs may also interact with anakinra.
• If you have renal illness or have ever had asthma, let your doctor know.
  Inform your doctor if you are expecting, intend to get pregnant, or are nursing a baby. Call your doctor if you become pregnant while taking anakinra.
  Inform your doctor or dentist that you are using anakinra if you are having surgery, including dental surgery.
• You should be aware that receiving an anakinra injection may lower your resistance to bacterial, viral, and fungal infections and raise your chance of developing serious infections. Inform your doctor if you frequently contract any kind of infection, currently possess one, or suspect one. This includes transient infections (like herpes or cold sores), chronic illnesses that persist over time, and mild infections (like open cuts or sores). Call your doctor right away if you suffer any of the following symptoms during or soon after receiving an anakinra injection for treatment: Frequent, urgent, or painful urination; fever, sweats, or chills; sore throat; cough; warm, red, or painful skin or sores on your body; or other indicators of infection.
• You should be aware that using anakinra injection increases your risk of contracting tuberculosis (TB; a dangerous lung infection), particularly if you have the disease but are asymptomatic. If you have TB now or formerly had it, have lived in a nation where TB is widespread, or have been near someone with TB, let your doctor know. To determine whether you have a dormant TB infection, your doctor will conduct a skin test. Before you begin using anakinra injection, your doctor may prescribe medication to treat this infection if necessary. Call your doctor right once if you experience any of the following TB symptoms, or if any of them appear while you are receiving treatment: a cough, coughing up blood or mucus, weakness or exhaustion, weight loss, appetite loss, chills, fever, or night sweats.
• Avoid getting any shots without first consulting your doctor.

Keep eating normally unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.

The missed dose should be taken as soon as you remember. If the next dose is soon due, skip the missed one and carry on with your regular dosing plan. To make up for a missing dose, do not take a second one.

Side effects are possible with anakinra. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• At the injection site, there may be redness, swelling, bruising, itching, or pain
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Clogged nose
• Abdominal pain
• Aching joints

Some adverse effects can be very harmful. Call your doctor right away or seek emergency medical attention if you experience any of these symptoms or any of the ones detailed in the SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS section:

• Rash
• Itching
• Hives
• Lips, tongue, mouth, or face swelling
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Having trouble breathing
• Wheezing
• Sweating
• Quick or frantic heartbeat

Anakinra may raise the risk of developing some cancers, such as skin cancer and lymphoma (a disease that starts in the immune system cells that fight infection). Even if they do not use anakinra, people with long-term severe rheumatoid arthritis may have a higher-than-average chance of acquiring certain tumours. Discuss the dangers of using this drug with your doctor.

There may be more negative effects with anakinra. If you experience any strange issues while taking this drug, call your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

Syringes and other injectable supplies should be kept out of children’s reach. Syringes for anakinra should be kept in the fridge. Avoid freezing. shield against light.

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

As many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Additionally, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Keep all of your appointments with your physician and the lab. Before and during therapy, your doctor will order specific lab tests to monitor your body’s reaction to anakinra.

Do not share your medication with anybody else. Any queries you may have regarding medication refills should be directed to your pharmacist.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.