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

Kineret is a prescription medication that’s used to treat:

  • active RA in certain adults (“active” means the condition is causing symptoms)
  • neonatal-onset multisystem inflammatory disease (NOMID) in children and adults
  • deficiency of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (DIRA) in children and adults

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.

Like other drugs, Kineret injections can cause mild to serious side effects (also called adverse effects). Keep 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*
  • worsening of arthritis
  • infections of the nose, sinuses, or throat*
  • headache
  • nausea

More common side effects in people using Kineret for neonatal-onset multisystem inflammatory disease (NOMID) include:

  • injections site reaction*
  • headache
  • vomiting
  • joint pain
  • fever

More common side effects in people using Kineret for deficiency of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (DIRA) include:

  • infections of the nose, sinuses, and throat*
  • skin rash*
  • fever
  • flu-like symptoms
  • stomach flu

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

Some people may experience mild side effects while using Kineret. Examples of mild side effects that have been reported with Kineret include:

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary. And some may be easily managed, too. But if you have any symptoms that are ongoing or bother you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. And don’t stop using Kineret unless your doctor recommends it.

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.

Serious side effects that have been reported with Kineret include:

If you develop serious side effects while using Kineret, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

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 infection from Kineret, talk with their doctor.

Learn more about some of the side effects Kineret may cause.

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.

Examples of injection site reactions include:

  • skin discoloration
  • swelling
  • pain
  • bruising
  • itching
  • stinging

Most injection site reactions from Kineret are mild, but in some cases they can be serious.

These reactions are most likely to occur during your first month of Kineret treatment. They may last a few days or even weeks, but they usually go away on their own.

What might help

To help prevent injection site reactions, it’s important to follow your doctor’s directions for injecting Kineret. And for more instructions or tips on giving yourself injections, you can also talk with your pharmacist.

You can also help prevent painful 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 pain, skin discoloration, or swelling at the injection site, applying a cold compress may help. You can also ask your doctor if you can take pain medication such as Tylenol (acetaminophen).

If you experience an injection site reaction that doesn’t go away or is bothersome, talk with your doctor.

Skin rash

Some people may have 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).

Rash can be a side effect of Kineret, but it could also be a symptom of an injection site reaction or allergic reaction. It’s also a symptom of NOMID, which Kineret treats.

What might help

In most cases, rashes from Kineret are mild and usually go away on their own. But if you’re concerned about your rash, talk with 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 skin rash. Cortisone helps relieve itchiness, skin discoloration, and swelling.

Antihistamines are allergy drugs that can help treat a skin rash caused by Kineret. But before taking an over-the-counter medication for your rash, talk with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure it’s 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:

In most cases, infections from Kineret are mild, but they may 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 infection during your Kineret treatment, talk with your doctor right away.

If you have a serious infection with Kineret, your doctor may have you pause your treatment in some cases until your infection is cleared.

Before starting Kineret, tell your doctor about any other medications that you’re taking. Some medications, such as Enbrel, aren’t recommended for use with Kineret because combining them they may raise your risk of infection.

Because Kineret weakens your immune system and can raise your risk of infections, you should not get any live vaccines during your Kineret treatment. (Live vaccines contain a weakened form of a virus or germ they’re mean to protect against.) People with weakened immune systems can get serious infections from a live vaccine. Ask your doctor before receiving any vaccines during your Kineret treatment.

If you’re concerned about your risk of infection with Kineret, talk with 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.

In some cases, neutropenia can be a long-term side effect of Kineret.

What might help

Before prescribing Kineret, your doctor will check your neutrophil levels. If your levels are too low, your doctor may wait to prescribe Kineret, or they may have you take other medications to raise your neutrophils.

For your first 3 months of Kineret treatment, you’ll have your neutrophil levels checked with a blood test every month. After that, your doctor will check your levels once every 3 months for 1 year.

Having low neutrophil levels can raise your risk of infection. Your doctor can give you tips for preventing infections during your Kineret treatment.

If you have questions or concerns about your risk of an infection with Kineret, talk with your doctor.

Allergic reaction

Like most drugs, Kineret can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Symptoms can be mild to serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itchiness
  • flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
  • swelling under your skin, usually in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

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 mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms. Examples include:

  • an over-the-counter oral antihistamine, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
  • a topical product, such as hydrocortisone cream

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a mild allergic reaction to Kineret, they’ll decide if you should continue using it.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

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

Doctors will closely monitor people using Kineret to treat DIRA during the first few weeks of treatment. Their risk of allergic reaction is high during the first several weeks of starting Kineret.

Keeping track of side effects

During your Kineret treatment, consider taking notes on any side effects you’re having. You can then share this information with your doctor. This is especially helpful when you first start taking new drugs or using a combination of treatments.

Your side effect notes can include things such as:

  • what dose of the drug you were taking when you had the side effect
  • how soon you had the side effect after starting that dose
  • what your symptoms were
  • how it affected your daily activities
  • what other medications you were taking
  • any other information you feel is important

Keeping notes and sharing them with your doctor will help them learn more about how Kineret affects you. They can then use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed.

Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about Kineret’s side effects.

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’re concerned about your risk of long-term side effects during your Kineret treatment, talk with 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.

If you’re concerned about weight gain from your medications, talk with your doctor.

Does stopping Kineret treatment cause withdrawal symptoms?

No, ending your Kineret treatment doesn’t cause withdrawal symptoms. (Withdrawal symptoms are side effects that can occur when you stop using a drug that your body has 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.

You should not stop using Kineret unless your doctor recommends it. If you need to end your treatment, your doctor may replace Kineret with another treatment to help manage the symptoms of your condition.

Kineret may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions. These are known as drug-condition interactions. Other factors may also affect whether Kineret is a good treatment option for you.

Talk with your doctor about your health history before starting Kineret. The list below includes 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 should be safe to drink alcohol during your Kineret treatment. If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much may be safe to drink with your condition and treatment plan.

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.

Possible effects of untreated RA or CAPS may include giving birth before 37 weeks of pregnancy and a newborn having a low birth weight.

It’s also unknown if Kineret is safe to use while breastfeeding.

If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant or to breastfeed, talk with your doctor before using Kineret.

If you’re concerned about the side effects of Kineret, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can tell you which side effects to watch for and how to manage them.

Here are some examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor:

  • How can I prevent getting an infection while during my Kineret treatment?
  • Do I have a higher risk of side effects with Kineret because I’m over 65 years old?
  • To prevent infections with Kineret, could I use supplements or other natural remedies?

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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.