Kineret

• Other side effects may include:
  Abdominal pain, bone and joint infections, diarrhea, flu-like symptoms, headache, nausea, serious infections such as cellulitis and pneumonia, sinus inflammation, upper respiratory infections

Why should Kineret not be prescribed?

You should not take Kineret if you are sensitive to or have ever had an allergic reaction to this medication.

Special warnings about Kineret

Because of Kineret's effect on the immune system, it has not been tested in people with immune disorders or chronic infections. Do not start taking this drug while you have an infection. Stop taking it and contact your doctor if you develop an infection. People with asthma have a higher risk of infection while using Kineret. Older adults are more prone to infections, and should use Kineret with caution.

Do not take a live vaccine while using Kineret; it's possible that you could contract the disease, although there's no evidence of this happening to date. It's also possible that Kineret could render any vaccination--live or killed--ineffective.

Use Kineret with caution if you have kidney disease. This condition makes a reaction to the drug more likely.

Kineret has not been tested in children under 18.

Possible food and drug interactions when taking Kineret

Arthritis drugs classified as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocking agents increase the risk of infection just as Kineret does, and taking the two types of drug together further increases the risk. Therefore, combining Kineret and a TNF-blocking agent is not recommended. TNF-blocking agents include:

Infliximab (Remicade)
Etanercept (Enbrel)

Special information if you are pregnant or breastfeeding

The effects of Kineret during pregnancy have not been adequately studied. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, tell your doctor. Kineret should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

It is not known whether Kineret appears in breast milk. Use the drug with caution while breastfeeding.

Recommended dosage

ADULTS

The dosage is one pre-filled, 100-milligram syringe each day. Higher doses have no greater effect.

If you suffer from kidney problems, your doctor will lower the dose to 100 milligrams every other day.

Overdosage

Kineret overdose has produced no serious reactions. However any medication taken in excess can have serious consequences. If you suspect an overdose, seek medical help immediately.