Precautions

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

It is very important that your doctor check your or your child's progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly.

You will need to have a skin test for tuberculosis (TB) before you or your child start receiving this medicine. Tell your doctor if you or anyone in your home has ever had a positive reaction to a TB test.

Your body's ability to fight an infection may be reduced while you are being treated with canakinumab. It is very important that you call your doctor right away if you or your child have a fever, chills, cough, hoarseness, lower back or side pain, or painful or difficult urination.

This medicine may increase your risk of cancer. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about this risk.

Canakinumab may cause serious allergic reactions, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Tell your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, lightheadedness or dizziness, swelling of the face, tongue, and throat, trouble breathing or swallowing, or chest pain after you or your child receive the medicine.

Do not get any immunizations (vaccines), especially the live vaccines (eg, nasal flu virus vaccine) without your doctor's approval while you are being treated with this medicine.

This medicine may cause a life-threatening condition called macrophage activation syndrome (MAS). This usually occurs in patients with rheumatic conditions, including Still's disease, and must be treated immediately. Tell your doctor right away if you have a fever that lasts longer than 3 days, a cough that does not go away, redness in one part of your body, or warm feeling or swelling of your skin, or if symptoms of AOSD and SJIA become worse.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.