WHY is this medicine prescribed?
Rilonacept injection is used to treat cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS; inherited conditions in which the body attacks its own tissues causing inflammation, joint and muscle pain, rash or other skin lesions, fever and chills, eye redness or pain, and fatigue), including familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome (FCAS), and Muckle-Wells syndrome (MWS) in adults and children 12 years of age or older. Rilonacept injection is also used to treat deficiency of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (DIRA; a disorder in which the body attacks its own tissues causing inflammation and damages bones, nervous system, skin, lungs, liver, and joints) in adults and children who weigh at least 22 pounds (10 kg). Rilonacept injection is also used to treat recurrent pericarditis (swelling of the sac around the heart) and also to prevent the return of pericarditis in adults and children 12 years of age or older. Rilonacept is in a class of medications called interleukin antagonists. It works by blocking the activity of interleukin, a substance in the body that causes inflammation.
HOW should this medicine be used?
Rilonacept comes as a powder in a vial to be mixed with a liquid to inject subcutaneously (under the skin). To treat CAPS, FCAS, or MWS or to treat or prevent pericarditis in adults, it is usually given as two injections for the first dose, followed by one injection once a week. To treat CAPS, FCAS, or MWS or to treat or prevent pericarditis in children, the drug is usually given as one or two injections for the first dose, followed by one injection once a week. To treat DIRA, is usually given as one or two injections once a week. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use rilonacept injection exactly as directed. Do not use more or less of it or use it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Your doctor or nurse will show you or a caregiver how to mix and inject a dose of rilonacept injection at home. Before you use rilonacept injection for the first time, you and the person who will be giving the injections should read the manufacturer's information for the patient that comes with it. These instructions describe how to mix and inject a dose of rilonacept. Be sure that you understand these directions. Ask your healthcare provider if you have any questions about when you should use the medication, where on your body you should inject the medication, how to give the injection, or what type of syringe and needle to use.
You should mix the medication right before you plan to inject it. However, you may mix the medication in advance, store it at room temperature, and use it within 3 hours.
Always look at rilonacept solution before injecting it. Check that the expiration date has not passed and that the liquid is clear and colorless to slightly yellow. The liquid should not contain visible particles. Do not use if it is expired or if the liquid is cloudy, discolored, or contains particles.
You may inject rilonacept in the front of the middle of your thighs or in your lower stomach except for the 2-inch (5-centimeter) area around the navel (belly button). If someone else is giving you the injection, it can be injected into the outer area of your upper arms. Use a different spot for each injection. Do not inject into an area where your skin is red, bruised, tender, or hard. Do not inject close to a vein you can see under the skin.
Do not reuse or share syringes or needles. Dispose of used vials, syringes, and needles in a puncture-resistant container that is out of the reach of children. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about how to dispose of the puncture-resistant container.
Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient.
Are there OTHER USES for this medication?
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
What SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS should I follow?
Before using rilonacept injection,
What SPECIAL DIETARY instructions should I follow?
Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.
What should I do IF I FORGET to take a dose?
Call your doctor if you forget to inject a dose of this medication. Your doctor will tell you when to inject the missed dose and when to inject your next scheduled dose. Do not inject a double dose to make up for a missed one.
What SIDE EFFECTS can this medicine cause?
Rilonacept may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms or those listed in the SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS section, call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:
Rilonacept may increase the risk of developing certain types of cancer. Talk to your doctor about the risks of using this medication.
Rilonacept may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).
What should I do in case of OVERDOSE?
In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at http://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.
What should I know about STORAGE and DISPOSAL of this medication?
Keep this medication in the carton it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it in a refrigerator and protect from light. Medication that has been mixed may be stored at room temperature and used within 3 hours. Dispose of any medication that is outdated or no longer needed.
Keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers are not child-resistant. Always lock safety caps. Place the medication in a safe location - one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. http://www.upandaway.org
Dispose of unneeded medications in a way so that pets, children, and other people cannot take them. Do not flush this medication down the toilet. Use a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist about take-back programs in your community. Visit the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for more information.
What OTHER INFORMATION should I know?
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor may order certain lab tests to check your body's response to rilonacept.
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.
Keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines, vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements you are taking. Bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to the hospital. You should carry the list with you in case of emergencies.
This report on medications is for your information only, and is not considered individual patient advice. Because of the changing nature of drug information, please consult your physician or pharmacist about specific clinical use.
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. represents that the information provided hereunder was formulated with a reasonable standard of care, and in conformity with professional standards in the field. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, any implied warranty of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose, with respect to such information and specifically disclaims all such warranties. Users are advised that decisions regarding drug therapy are complex medical decisions requiring the independent, informed decision of an appropriate health care professional, and the information is provided for informational purposes only. The entire monograph for a drug should be reviewed for a thorough understanding of the drug's actions, uses and side effects. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. does not endorse or recommend the use of any drug. The information is not a substitute for medical care.
AHFS® Patient Medication Information™ Copyright, 2025. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists®, 4500 East-West Highway, Suite 900, Bethesda, Maryland. All Rights Reserved. Duplication for commercial use must be authorized by ASHP.
Selected Revisions: April 15, 2022.