If you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or certain rare genetic (inherited) conditions, your doctor might suggest Kineret as a treatment option for you.

The medication keeret is used to treat.

  • Some adults have active RA, which means the condition is causing symptoms.
  • NOMID is a disease in children and adults.
  • Children and adults have a deficiency ofDIRA.

The active ingredient in Kineret is anakinra. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) Kineret comes as a liquid solution in single-use prefilled syringes. It’s given as an injection under your skin. Your doctor will show you how to give yourself Kineret injections at home.

For more information about Kineret, including details about its uses, see this in-depth article on the drug.

Kineret injections can cause mild to serious side effects. Continue reading to learn more.

Below are some of the more common side effects reported by people who took Kineret in studies.

More common side effects in people using Kineret for rheumatoid arthritis include:

  • Injection site reactions
  • The arthritis is getting worse.
  • The nose, sinuses, or throat can be infections.
  • There is a throbbing head.
  • nausea

There are more side effects in people using Kineret.

  • The injections site reaction.
  • There is a throbbing head.
  • vomiting
  • Joint It is a pain..
  • There is a high degree of There is a high degree of There is a high degree of There is a high degree of fever….

People using Kineret for deficiency of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist have more common side effects.

  • The nose, sinuses, and throat are affected by infections.
  • There is a skin rash.
  • There is a high degree of There is a high degree of There is a high degree of There is a high degree of fever….
  • Symptoms of the flu.
  • The The stomach flu..

The side effects explained section is where you can learn more about this side effect.

Mild side effects may occur for some people. Mild side effects have been reported with Kineret.

  • Injection site reactions
  • The nose, sinuses, or throat can be infections.
  • There is a throbbing head.
  • Joint It is a pain..
  • There is a high degree of There is a high degree of There is a high degree of There is a high degree of fever….
  • The arthritis is getting worse.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • There is a lot of diarrhea.
  • Symptoms of the flu.
  • The The stomach flu..
  • There is belly It is a pain..
  • There is a skin rash.*
  • high cholesterol

The side effects explained section is where you can learn more about this side effect.

“These side effects should be temporary. Some may be easy to manage. If you have any symptoms that bother you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Unless your doctor recommends it, don’t stop using Kineret.”

Kineret may cause mild side effects other than the ones listed above. See the Kineret prescribing information for details.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. If you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Kineret, visit MedWatch.

There have been serious side effects reported with Kineret.

If you develop serious side effects while using Kineret, call your doctor. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you have a medical emergency, immediately call the emergency number.

The side effects explained section is where you can learn more about this side effect.

In studies of Kineret, most side effects reported in children were the same as those seen in adults. But among people using Kineret for neonatal-onset multisystem inflammatory disease (NOMID), children ages 2 years and younger were more likely than older children or adults to have infections.

“If you have questions about your child’s risk of getting an infectious disease, talk to their doctor.”

Some of the side effects of Kineret can be found.

Injection site reactions

Kineret is given as an injection under your skin. Some people may have injection site reactions from this drug. In studies, injection site reactions were the most common side effects reported by people using Kineret.

Injection site reactions are examples.

  • skin is discolored
  • swelling
  • It is a pain.
  • It was bruised.
  • It was itching.
  • stinging

Mild injection site reactions from Kineret can be serious.

The most likely time for these reactions to occur is during your first month of treatment. They may last a few days or weeks, but they usually go away on their own.

What might help

“It is important to follow your doctor’s instructions for injecting Kineret. You can also talk to your pharmacist about more instructions or tips for giving yourself injections.”

You can also help prevent It is a pain.ful injections by allowing Kineret to reach room temperature before your injection. (You’ll store Kineret in the refrigerator when you’re not using it). You should also avoid injecting a Kineret dose into skin that’s already swollen or discolored.

Your doctor can also tell you how to manage injection site reactions if they happen. If you have It is a pain., skin is discolored, or swelling at the injection site, applying a cold compress may help. You can also ask your doctor if you can take It is a pain. medication such as Tylenol (acetaminophen).

“If you experience an injection site reaction that doesn’t go away, talk to your doctor.”

Skin rash

Some people may have a There is a skin rash. with Kineret. In studies, rash was a common side effect in people using Kineret for deficiency of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (DIRA) or for neonatal-onset multisystem inflammatory disease (NOMID).

It can be a side effect of Kineret, but it can also be a symptom of an injection site reaction. It is a symptom of NOMID.

What might help

Most of the time, the rashes from Kineret are mild and go away on their own. If you are concerned about your rash, talk to your doctor.

To relieve a rash caused by Kineret, you can moisturize your skin with lotions or creams. Ask your doctor which hydrating cream is best for you. Some people may need cortisone creams to treat a There is a skin rash.. Cortisone helps relieve It is itchy., skin is discolored, and swelling.

Antihistamines can help treat a There is a skin rash. caused by Kineret. Before taking an over-the-counter medication for a rash, make sure it is safe to take with Kineret.

Infections

Kineret may cause infections in some people. This was a common side effect in studies of the drug. Examples of these infections include the common cold and infections of the nose, sinuses, or throat.

Symptoms of an infection may include:

  • There is a high degree of There is a high degree of There is a high degree of There is a high degree of fever….
  • “It’s cold.”
  • A sore throat or cough is what it is.
  • The breath was very thin.
  • A nose that is stuffy.

Infections from Kineret are mild in most cases, but they can be serious in some cases.

People using Kineret with Enbrel (etanercept) for rheumatoid arthritis may have a higher risk of infections.

What might help

Your doctor can give you tips to help prevent infections during your Kineret treatment.

If you think you have an illness during your treatment, talk to your doctor.

If you have a serious infection with Kineret, your doctor may have you stop your treatment until your infection is cleared.

Inform your doctor about any other drugs you are taking. Enbrel and other medications are not recommended for use with Kineret because they may raise your risk of infections.

You should not get live vaccines during your treatment for Kineret because it weakens your immune system and can raise your risk of infections. Live vaccines are meant to protect against a weakened form of a virus. People with weakened immune systems can get serious infections from a live vaccine. Before you receive any vaccines, ask your doctor.

If you are concerned about your risk of getting an infectious disease, talk to your doctor.

Low levels of neutrophils

Kineret can cause low levels of neutrophils (a type of white blood cell). Having low levels of these cells can raise your risk of infection.

Neutropenia can be a long-term side effect of Kineret.

What might help

Your doctor will check your levels before you get Kineret. If your levels are too low, your doctor may have you take other medications to raise your neutrophils.

You will have your neutrophil levels checked every month during your first 3 months of treatment. Your doctor will check your levels every 3 months for a year after that.

Low levels of the lysphoid-causing lysphoid-causing lysphoid-causing lysphoid-causing lysphoid-causing lysphoid-causing lysphoid-causing lysphoid-causing lysphoid-causing Your doctor can give you tips on how to prevent infections.

If you have questions about your risk of an infection, talk to your doctor.

Allergic reaction

Some people can have an allergic reaction to Kineret. Mild to serious symptoms can be present.

  • There is a skin rash.
  • It is itchy.
  • flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
  • “It’s usually under your skin, but it can be anywhere.”
  • It can be hard to breathe if you have swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat.

In studies, people using Kineret for deficiency of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (DIRA) had a higher risk of an allergic reaction in the first few weeks of treatment.

What might help

If you have a mild rash, call your doctor. They may suggest a treatment to help you. Examples include:

  • an over-the-counter oral antihistamine, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
  • A product that is applied to the skin.

If your doctor confirms you have an allergic reaction to Kineret, they will decide if you should continue using it.

If you have a severe allergic reaction, you should call the emergency number. These symptoms could be life threatening and need immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you have a serious allergic reaction to Kineret, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Doctors will keep a close eye on people using Kineret to treat DIRA. The first few weeks of starting Kineret have a high risk of allergic reaction.

Keeping track of side effects

Take notes on any side effects you are having during your treatment. You can share this information with your doctor. This is helpful when you are starting to use a combination of treatments.

Side effect notes can include things.

  • When you had the side effect, what dose of the drug was taking?
  • How soon did you experience the side effect?
  • What are your symptoms?
  • How did it affect your daily activities?
  • What other drugs were you taking?
  • Other information is important to you.

Sharing notes with your doctor will help them learn more about how Kineret affects you. If needed, they can use this information to adjust your treatment plan.

There are answers to some frequently asked questions about Kineret.

Are there any long-term side effects of Kineret?

Yes. Kineret can cause low levels of neutrophils (a type of white blood cell). This could be a long-term side effect in some people.

If you are concerned about the long-term effects of your treatment, talk to your doctor.

Does Kineret cause weight gain?

No, Kineret doesn’t cause weight gain. This wasn’t a side effect reported in studies of the drug.

Other medications used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA), such as Actemra (tocilizumab) and Rinvoq (upadacitinib), may cause weight gain. But these medications aren’t in the same group of drugs as Kineret.

Some people using Kineret for RA may also be prescribed corticosteroids, which can cause weight gain when they’re used long term.

Talk to your doctor if you are concerned about weight gain from your medication.

Does stopping Kineret treatment cause withdrawal symptoms?

“No, ending your treatment doesn’t cause withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms are side effects that can occur when you stop using a drug that you have become dependent on.”

But it’s important to note that if you stop using Kineret, the symptoms of your condition (such as inflammation) might return. In studies of people using Kineret for neonatal-onset multisystem inflammatory disease (NOMID), those who stopped their treatment had their symptoms return. Restarting treatment with Kineret helped ease their symptoms.

Unless your doctor recommends it, you should not stop using it. If you need to stop your treatment, your doctor may replace it with another one to help manage the symptoms.

If you have certain medical conditions, keeret may not be right for you. These are drug-condition interactions. Other factors may affect whether or not you should use Kineret.

Before starting Kineret, you should talk to your doctor about your health history. The list has factors to consider.

Infections. Kineret works by weakening your immune system, which can raise your risk of infection. If you already have an infection, using Kineret could make it worse. Your doctor may want to treat any current infections before you start using Kineret. If you have an infection, talk with your doctor before starting treatment with Kineret.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Kineret or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Kineret. Ask them what other medications are better options for you.

Kidney problems. Your kidneys are responsible for clearing Kineret from your body. If you have kidney problems, your body may not be able to properly clear Kineret. Your doctor may prescribe a lower dosage of Kineret for you, especially if you have severe kidney problems (such as end-stage kidney disease). And while you use Kineret, your doctor may check your kidney function to make sure the dosage you’re using is safe. If you have kidney problems, talk with your doctor about whether Kineret is right for you.

Low levels of neutrophils. Kineret can cause low levels of neutrophils, which could raise your risk of infection. If you already have low levels, your doctor may wait for your levels to increase before prescribing Kineret. Your doctor may give you medication to raise your neutrophil levels. While using Kineret, your doctor will check your neutrophil levels regularly.

Alcohol and Kineret

It is safe to drink alcohol during your treatment. If you drink alcohol, you should talk to your doctor about how much you should drink.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while using Kineret

It’s not known whether it’s safe to use Kineret during pregnancy. But untreated rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS) can raise the risk of complications during pregnancy. CAPS is a group of illnesses that includes neonatal-onset multisystem inflammatory disease (NOMID), which Kineret is used to treat.

Giving birth before 37 weeks of pregnancy and a newborn with a low birth weight are possible effects of untreated RA or CAPS.

It is not known if Kineret is safe to use while breastfeeding.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you should talk with your doctor before using Kineret.

If you are concerned about the side effects of Kineret, you should talk to your doctor or pharmacist. They can tell you how to manage the side effects.

Some questions you may want to ask your doctor.

  • How can I prevent an infection during my treatment?
  • Is it possible that I have a higher risk of side effects with Kineret because I am older?
  • Is it possible to prevent infections with Kineret with supplements or other natural remedies?

If you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA), consider signing up for Healthline’s online newsletter to get helpful tips for managing your condition. You can also find support and advice from our Bezzy RA community.

Disclaimer: Healthline 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.