Precautions and Warnings associated with Anakinra 

Anakinra:  What Should  I Tell My Healthcare Provider? 
You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking anakinra (Kineret®) if you have: 

• Any disease that weakens the immune system, such as diabetes, cancer, HIV, or AIDS 
• Any current infection 
• Infections that come and go (such as cold sores) 
• Plans to receive vaccinations 
• A history of hepatitis B infection or tuberculosis 
• Exposure to chickenpox or tuberculosis (TB) 
• Any allergies, including allergies to food, dyes, latex, or preservatives. 

Also, let  your healthcare provider know if you are: 

• Pregnant  or thinking of becoming pregnant 
• Breastfeeding.

Make sure to  tell your healthcare provider about all other medicines you are taking, including  prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. 

Specific Precautions  and Warnings With Anakinra 

Warnings  and precautions  to be aware  of prior to taking anakinra include the following: 

• This medication can increase  your risk of infections, including serious ones. You should not start anakinra  if you have an existing  infection (even a skin infection). While taking it,  tell your healthcare provider right away  if you think  you may have any type of infection. Anakinra may not be the best choice for people who get frequent infections. Combining it with certain other medications also increases  your risk of dangerous infections (see Drug Interactions With Anakinra). 
• Anakinra can cause certain infections (such as hepatitis B  or tuberculosis) that have become inactive in the body to become active again. Tell your healthcare provider if  you have ever had hepatitis B or tuberculosis before starting treatment. 
• Allergic reactions can occur with anakinra. These reactions include: 

                       *  Rashes 
                       *  Hives 
                       *  Itching 
                       *  Wheezing or difficulty breathing 
                       *  Unusual swelling. 

Let your healthcare provider know right away if you think you are having an allergic reaction to anakinra. Also, the needle cover of syringes contains dry natural rubber, which may cause reactions in people allergic to latex. 

• Anakinra is considered a pregnancy Category B medication. This means that it is probably safe for use during pregnancy, although the full risks are not currently known (see Kineret and Pregnancy). 
• It is not known if anakinra passes through breast milk. Therefore, if  you are breastfeeding or plan to start, discuss this with  your healthcare provider prior to taking the drug (see Kineret and Breastfeeding). 

Who Should Not Take Anakinra? 

You  should not take anakinra  if you are allergic to anakinra, Kineret, or any inactive components used to make the medication. Your healthcare provider or pharmacist has  a list of the inactive ingredients. 

Anakinra Warnings and Precautions: Final Thoughts 

There are a number of situations in which anakinra should not be taken, along with several precautions and warnings people should be aware of before starting  the medication.  However, it is possible that not all of  the warnings or precautions were discussed in this article. Therefore, you should talk with  your healthcare provider about the specific anakinra safety concerns that may apply  to you.