Managing FMF

Once your child has been diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF), you should begin working with a doctor on a treatment plan that's right for your child.

Medicines

While there is no cure for FMF, there are certain medicines that your child's doctor may recommend to relieve flares and other FMF symptoms.

Over-the-counter medicines

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

Prescription medicines

Colchicine
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
Biologics

ILARIS for FMF

One type of biologic is ILARIS^®, the only once-monthly biologic medicine that is FDA approved to treat FMF. Find out more about ILARIS and how it works to treat FMF.

Exercise in Children with FMF

Your child's healthcare team may consider adding light exercise to your child's FMF treatment plan. Exercise can help keep your child's joints flexible and may even help reduce pain.

In addition to building and keeping confidence in their physical abilities, exercise may also help children with FMF by:

Keeping joints flexible
Building muscle strength
Improving fitness

Increasing energy
Reducing pain

It's important to remember that intense physical activity can act as a trigger for FMF symptoms. So it's a good idea to ask your child's doctor about the activities that are best for your child.

Next: Taking ILARIS

More

Less

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

ILARIS can cause serious side effects, including increased risk of serious infections. ILARIS can lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections. Your healthcare provider should:

test you for tuberculosis (TB) before you receive ILARIS
monitor you closely for symptoms of TB during treatment with ILARIS
check you for symptoms of any type of infection before, during, and after treatment with ILARIS

Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any symptoms of an infection such as fever, sweats or chills, cough, flu-like symptoms, weight loss, shortness of breath, blood in your phlegm, sores on your body, warm or painful areas on your body, diarrhea or stomach pain, or feeling very tired.

You should not receive ILARIS if you are allergic to canakinumab or any of the ingredients in ILARIS.

Before receiving ILARIS, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:

think you have or are being treated for an active infection
have symptoms of infection
have a history of infections that keep coming back
have a history of low white blood cells
have or have had HIV, Hepatitis B, or Hepatitis C
are scheduled to receive any immunizations (vaccines). You should not get 'live vaccines' if you are receiving ILARIS.
are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It is not known if ILARIS will harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant while receiving ILARIS.
are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed. It is not known if ILARIS passes into your breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will receive ILARIS or breastfeed.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take:

medicines that affect the immune system
medicines called interleukin-1 (IL-1) blocking agents such as Kineret^® (anakinra) or Arcalyst^® (rilonacept)
medicines called Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) inhibitors such as Enbrel^® (etanercept), Humira^® (adalimumab), Remicade^® (infliximab), Simponi^® (golimumab), or Cimzia^® (certolizumab pegol)
medicines that affect enzyme metabolism.

Ask your healthcare provider if you are not sure.

ILARIS can cause serious side effects including:

serious infections
decreased ability of the body to fight infections (immunosuppression). For people treated with medicines that cause immunosuppression like ILARIS, the chances of getting cancer may increase.
allergic reactions. Allergic reactions can happen while receiving ILARIS. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms of an allergic reaction: rash, itching and hives, difficulty breathing or swallowing, dizziness, or feeling faint.
risk of infection with live vaccines. You should not get live vaccines if you are receiving ILARIS. Tell your healthcare provider if you are scheduled to receive any vaccines.

The most common side effects of ILARIS when used for the treatment of TRAPS, HIDS/MKD, and FMF: cold symptoms, upper respiratory tract infection, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea (gastroenteritis), and injection site reactions (such as redness, swelling, warmth, or itching)

Tell your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.

What is Macrophage Activation Syndrome (MAS)?

MAS is a syndrome associated with SJIA and some other auto-inflammatory diseases like HIDS/MKD that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if your SJIA symptoms get worse or if you have any of these symptoms of an infection:

a fever lasting longer than 3 days
a cough that does not go away
redness in one part of your body
warm feeling or swelling of your skin

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide.

INDICATION

ILARIS^® (canakinumab) is a prescription medicine injected by your healthcare provider just below the skin (subcutaneous) used to treat adults and pediatric patients with the following Periodic Fever Syndromes

Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Associated Periodic Syndrome (TRAPS)
Hyperimmunoglobulin D Syndrome (HIDS) also known as Mevalonate Kinase Deficiency (MKD)
Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF)

All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Managing FMF

Medicines

ILARIS for FMF

Exercise in Children with FMF

Leaving Novartis