Proper Use

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

This medicine is given as a shot under your skin. Rilonacept may sometimes be given at home to patients who do not need to be in the hospital. If you are using this medicine at home, your doctor will teach you how to prepare and inject the medicine. Be sure that you understand exactly how the medicine is prepared and injected.

This medicine comes with a patient instructions. Read and follow the instructions in the insert carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Use a new needle and syringe each time you inject your medicine.

You will be shown the body areas where this shot can be given. Use a different body area each time you give yourself a shot. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas. This will help prevent skin problems from the injections. Do not inject into skin areas that are bruised, red, tender, or hard.

This powder medicine must be mixed with the liquid provided in your dose kit. Mix the medicine only when you are ready to use it. Do not use if it is cloudy or has specks floating in it.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

  • For injection dosage form (vial):
    • For cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes and recurrent pericarditis:
      • Adults—At first, 320 milligrams (mg) given as two, 2-milliliter (mL) doses of 160 mg injected under the skin on the same day at 2 different sites. Your dose will be adjusted to 160 mg once a week, given as a single, 2 mL injection.
      • Children 12 to 17 years of age—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. At first, 4.4 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight up to 320 mg given as one or two, 2 mL doses injected under the skin. Your dose will be adjusted to 2.2 mg per kg of body weight up to 160 mg once a week, given as a single, 2 mL injection.
      • Children younger than 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For deficiency of IL-1 receptor antagonist:
      • Adults—320 milligrams (mg) given as two, 2-milliliter (mL) doses of 160 mg injected under the skin on the same day at 2 different sites once a week.
      • Children weighing 10 kilograms (kg) or more—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. At first, 4.4 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight up to 320 mg given as one or two, 2 mL doses injected under the skin on the same day at 2 different sites once a week.
      • Children weighing less than 10 kg—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store in the refrigerator. Do not freeze.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Once the powder medicine has been mixed with the liquid, this mixture may be stored at room temperature, away from direct light. You must use this mixture within 3 hours. Throw away any leftover mixture.

Throw away used needles in a hard, closed container that the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.