CARRY ON.
KINERET® (anakinra) can
accompany you on your trips.
Whether it is a quick business trip, a family reunion, or a grand world tour, you probably have a need to travel and your treatment shouldn't stop you. And there is no reason for KINERET to slow you down. Remember to keep your medication cold until it is time to take it (2°C-8°C or 36°F-46°F), and try to keep a regular injection schedule. How? We’ve gathered some ideas from our KINERET® On TRACK™ nurses and other people taking KINERET. And, of course, if you have a situation we haven’t covered, a KINERET On TRACK pharmacy specialists can help you with how to store KINERET.
For questions about your treatment, read the KINERET Prescribing Information, and/or ask your doctor.
KINERET TIP: KEEP YOUR COOL
No matter if you go by car, train, or plane, one of the challenges of travel is keeping your medication cool in transit. These tips may help:
Use a refrigerator thermometer inside your travel container to make sure medication stays in range (2°C-8°C or 36°F-46°F).
- Bring extra plastic zip-top bags in case you need more ice.
- On long flights, enlist your flight attendant’s help in
refreshing your ice pack to keep medication cold throughout the
trip. On the ground, all kinds of businesses use ice and are usually happy to fill a plastic zip-top bag for you to keep a day’s supply cold until it is time to inject.
- If there is no refrigerator in your hotel room or you need to leave your luggage for the day, the front desk should be able to help you with refrigeration. To be sure, call ahead before you go.
- For multiday trips (such as camping), keep medication cool longer by placing your travel container inside a larger cooler (such as for food).
PACK IT UP
There are lots of ways to carry your KINERET when you travel, but three options stand out:
INSULATED TRAVEL BAG FOR MEDICATIONS
A soft-sided cooler, especially designed to house medications and related
supplies, may have compartments for medication, a gel pack, supplies, and even papers.
A FREEZABLE LUNCH BAG
With a built-in gel pack and flat folding for easy storage, this is a handy option for a short
trip.
ADAPTED CONTAINER
Wrap individual KINERET syringes in bubble wrap, then add small ice packs. Place them in a wide-mouthed
thermos or small styrofoam box that can fit in your bag.
TSA IS ON YOUR SIDE
When traveling by air, it's a good idea to keep your medication in your carry-on baggage if possible. Airlines and the TSA have special arrangements for people taking liquid injectable medications, such as KINERET. You should be able to take a full supply of medication aboard along with syringes to administer it and ice/gel packs to keep it cool. Always check with your airline and the TSA before traveling in case the guidelines have changed. If you are traveling with your medication, these tips may help:
KEEP IT ORGANIZED
Keep your medications in a separate case and tell security that you have medications to be screened. While there is no evidence that airport X-rays damage medications, you can request a visual inspection, if you prefer.
BRING PERMISSION
While not legally necessary, navigating security can be easier with a doctor’s note stating that it is necessary for you to travel with KINERET. Leave your KINERET in its original container with the prescription label.
Reference: 1. https://www.tsa.gov/travel/special-procedures.
Accessed August 16, 2016.
INDICATIONS
KINERET® (anakinra) is a prescription medicine called an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) used to:
- Reduce the signs and symptoms and slow the damage of moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in people aged 18 years and older when 1 or more other drugs for RA have not worked
- Treat people with a form of Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS) called Neonatal-Onset Multisystem Inflammatory Disease (NOMID)
- Treat people with Deficiency of Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist (DIRA)
KINERET is not for children with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Who should not take KINERET?
People who are allergic to:
- Proteins made from bacteria called E. coli. Ask your healthcare provider if you are not sure
- Anakinra or any of the ingredients in KINERET. See the end of the patient leaflet for a complete list of ingredients in KINERET
What information should I know before starting KINERET?
Before you use KINERET, tell your healthcare provider if you:
- Have an infection, a history of infections that keep coming back, or other problems that can increase your risk of infections
- Are scheduled to receive any vaccines. People using KINERET should not receive live vaccines
- Have kidney problems
- Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if KINERET will harm your unborn baby
- Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if KINERET passes into your breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will use KINERET or breastfeed
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. KINERET and other medicines may affect each other and cause serious side effects. Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take certain other medicines that affect your immune system called Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) blockers. Ask your healthcare provider for a list of these medicines if you are not sure. Know the medications you take. Keep a list of your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new prescription.
What are the possible side effects of KINERET?
KINERET may cause serious side effects, including:
- Serious infections. KINERET may lower your ability to fight infections. During treatment with KINERET, call your healthcare provider right away if you get an infection, have any sign of an infection including a fever or chills, or have any open sores on your body. You may get an infection if you receive live vaccines while you use KINERET. You should not receive live vaccines while you use KINERET
- Allergic reactions. Stop using KINERET and call your healthcare provider or get emergency help right away if you have any of these symptoms of an allergic reaction: swelling of your face, lips, mouth, or tongue; trouble breathing; wheezing; severe itching; skin rash, redness, or swelling outside of the injection site area; dizziness or fainting; fast heartbeat or pounding in your chest (tachycardia); or sweating. People with DIRA may have an increased risk of allergic reactions, especially in the first several weeks
- Decreased ability of your body to fight infections (immunosuppression). It is not known if treatment with medicines that cause immunosuppression, like KINERET, affect your risk of getting cancer
- Low white blood cell count (neutropenia). KINERET may cause you to have a lower number of certain white cells (neutrophils). Neutrophils are important in fighting infections. You should have blood tests before starting treatment with KINERET, then monthly for 3 months. After the first 3 months you should have your blood tested every 3 months for up to 1 year
The most common side effects of KINERET include:
- Injection site skin reactions, including redness, swelling, bruising, itching, and stinging. Most injection site reactions are mild, happen early during treatment, and last about 14 to 28 days. Injection site reactions have been observed less frequently in people with NOMID
- RA gets worse with treatment, if you already have RA
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Joint pain
- Fever
- Feeling like you have the flu
- Sore throat or runny nose
- Sinus infection
- Pain in your stomach area
Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away. These are not all of the possible side effects of KINERET. For more information ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
Please see full Prescribing Information.
