Ilaris (canakinumab) is a brand-name prescription medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it to treat certain periodic fever conditions and certain types of Still’s disease.

Periodic fever conditions are a group of diseases that cause fever. This is usually due to an overactive immune system. Specifically, Ilaris is approved for use in:

  • children ages 4 years and older with certain forms of cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS), including:
    • familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome (FCAS), which can occur when your body gets too cold
    • Muckle-Wells syndrome (MWS), which occurs due to a specific mutation (abnormal change in a gene)
  • adults and children with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), a condition that may be more common in people of Mediterranean descent
  • adults and children with tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS), which is due to a genetic condition
  • adults and children with hyperimmunoglobulin D syndrome/mevalonate kinase deficiency (HIDS/MKD), a genetic disorder

In addition, doctors may prescribe Ilaris to treat Still’s disease, a form of arthritis. Still’s disease occurs when your body attacks itself. It causes swelling in your joints and other areas of your body. Specifically, Ilaris is approved for use in:

You’ll receive Ilaris as a subcutaneous injection from your doctor or another healthcare professional. You’ll go to your doctor’s office or the hospital to receive your injection. Ilaris belongs to a group of drugs called interleukin-1beta blockers.

At this time, Ilaris is only available as a brand-name drug. This medication is a biologic drug, and it currently doesn’t have any biosimilar forms.

For information about the dosage of Ilaris, including its strength and how you’ll receive the drug, keep reading. For a comprehensive look at Ilaris, refer to this article.

This article describes typical dosages for Ilaris provided by the drug’s manufacturer. However, your doctor will prescribe the Ilaris dosage that’s right for you.

Before you start treatment with Ilaris, talk with your doctor about the best dosage for you.

Ilaris form

You’ll receive Ilaris as a subcutaneous injection from your doctor or another healthcare professional. You’ll go to your doctor’s office or the hospital to receive your injection.

Ilaris strength

Ilaris comes in one strength: 150 milligrams per milliliter (mg/mL).

Typical dosages

Typically, your doctor will start your treatment with a low dosage. They may adjust it over time to reach the amount that’s right for you. Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, your doctor will determine the best dosage calculation to fit your needs.

Dosage for Still’s disease

The recommended dosage of Ilaris for Still’s disease is based on body weight in kilograms (kg). (One kg is about 2.2 pounds [lb].) This medication can be used in adults and children weighing more than 7.5 kg (about 16.5 lb).

The recommended dosage of Ilaris for this use is 4 mg per kg (mg/kg) every 4 weeks. And the maximum recommended dosage for this use is 300 mg every 4 weeks.

Below is an Ilaris dosage chart by weight for Still’s disease:

Body weightIlaris dosage
10 kg (about 22 lb)40 mg every 4 weeks
20 kg (about 44 lb)80 mg every 4 weeks
30 kg (about 66 lb)120 mg every 4 weeks
40 kg (about 88 lb)160 mg every 4 weeks
50 kg (about 110 lb)200 mg every 4 weeks
60 kg (about 132 lb)240 mg every 4 weeks
70 kg (about 154 lb)280 mg every 4 weeks
80 kg and up (about 176 lb and up)300 mg every 4 weeks

For specific information about the best dosage of Ilaris to treat Still’s disease, talk with your doctor.

Dosage for familial Mediterranean fever (FMF)

The recommended dosage of Ilaris for FMF is based on body weight in kg. If you weigh more than 40 kg (about 88 lb), your dosage will be 150 mg every 4 weeks. If this dosage doesn’t work for you, your doctor may increase it to a maximum of 300 mg every 4 weeks.

If you weigh 40 kg (about 88 lb) or less, your dosage would be 2 mg/kg every 4 weeks. So, a person weighing 30 kg (about 66 lb) would receive 60 mg every 4 weeks.

If a dose of 2 mg/kg isn’t working to manage your symptoms, your doctor may recommend a dose increase to 4 mg/kg. So, in the above example, the dosage would be 120 mg every 4 weeks.

Dosage for hyperimmunoglobulin D syndrome/mevalonate kinase deficiency (HIDS/MKD)

The recommended dosage of Ilaris for HIDS/MKD is based on body weight in kg. If you weigh more than 40 kg (about 88 lb), your dosage will be 150 mg every 4 weeks. If this dosage doesn’t work for you, your doctor may increase it to a maximum of 300 mg every 4 weeks.

If you weigh 40 kg (about 88 lb) or less, your dosage would be 2 mg/kg every 4 weeks. So, a person weighing 30 kg (about 66 lb) would receive 60 mg every 4 weeks.

If a dose of 2 mg/kg isn’t working to manage your symptoms, your doctor may recommend increasing your dose to 4 mg/kg. So, in the above example, the dosage would be 120 mg every 4 weeks.

Dosage for tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS)

The recommended dosage of Ilaris for TRAPS is based on body weight in kg. If you weigh more than 40 kg (about 88 lb), your dosage will be 150 mg every 4 weeks. If this dosage doesn’t work for you, your doctor may increase it to a maximum of 300 mg every 4 weeks.

If you weigh 40 kg (about 88 lb) or less, your dose would be 2 mg/kg every 4 weeks. So, a person weighing 30 kg (66 lb) would receive 60 mg every 4 weeks.

If a dose of 2 mg/kg isn’t working to manage your symptoms, your doctor may recommend increasing your dose to 4 mg/kg. In the above example, the dosage would be 120 mg every 4 weeks.

Dosage for cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS)

The recommended dosage of Ilaris for CAPS is based on body weight in kg. CAPS includes people taking Ilaris for either familial cold auto-inflammatory syndrome (FCAS) or Muckle-Wells syndrome (MWS).

For these conditions, if you weigh more than 40 kg (about 88 lb), you’ll have a dosage of 150 mg every 8 weeks.

If your body weight is between 15 kg (about 33 lb) and 40 kg (about 88 lb), the recommended dose would be 2 mg/kg. So, a person weighing 30 kg (about 66 lb) would receive 60 mg every 8 weeks.

If this dose isn’t working to manage your symptoms, your doctor may increase it up to 3 mg/kg. In the example above, the dosage would be 90 mg every 8 weeks.

Children’s dosage

Ilaris is approved to treat Still’s disease, FMF, HIDS/MKD, TRAPS, and CAPS in children.

Children’s dosage for Still’s disease

The recommended dosage of Ilaris for Still’s disease in children, or systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, is based on body weight in kilograms (kg). (One kg is about 2.2 pounds [lb].) This medication can be used in children weighing more than 7.5 kg (about 16.5 lb).

The recommended dosage of Ilaris for this use is 4 mg/kg every 4 weeks. The maximum recommended dosage for this use is 300 mg every 4 weeks. So, if your child weighs 10 kg (about 22 lb), their dosage would be 40 mg every 4 weeks. For more information, refer to the Ilaris dosage chart in “Dosage for Still’s disease” above.

Children’s dosage for FMF, HIDS/MKD, and TRAPS

The recommended dosage of Ilaris for FMF, HIDS/MKD, and TRAPS in children is based on their body weight in kg. If your child weighs 40 kg (about 88 lb) or less, the recommended dosage would be 2 mg/kg every 4 weeks. So, a child weighing 10 kg (about 22 lb) would receive 20 mg every 4 weeks.

If a dose of 2 mg/kg isn’t working to manage your child’s symptoms, their doctor may recommend a dose increase to 4 mg/kg. In the above example, the dosage would be 40 mg every 4 weeks.

If your child weighs more than 40 kg (about 88 lb), the recommended dosage would be 150 mg every 4 weeks. If this dosage isn’t working to manage your child’s symptoms, their doctor may increase it to a maximum of 300 mg every 4 weeks.

Children’s dosage for CAPS

Ilaris can be used to treat CAPS in children ages 4 years and older. CAPS includes people taking Ilaris for either FCAS or MWS. The recommended dosage of Ilaris for these uses is based on body weight in kg.

If your child weighs between 15 kg (about 33 lb) and 40 kg (about 88 lb), the recommended dose would be 2 mg/kg. So a child weighing 20 kg (about 22 lb) would receive 40 mg every 8 weeks.

If this dose isn’t working to manage your child’s symptoms, their doctor may increase it up to 3 mg/kg. In the example above, this dosage would be 60 mg every 8 weeks.

If your child weighs more than 40 kg (about 88 lb), they’ll take the recommended dosage for adults with CAPS. To learn more, refer to “Dosage for cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS)” above.

Long-term treatment

Ilaris is meant to be a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Ilaris is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely receive it long term.

Below are some frequently asked questions and responses.

Is there an Ilaris dosage that’s prescribed to treat anxiety?

No, there isn’t a recommended Ilaris dosage for treating anxiety. Ilaris isn’t approved to treat anxiety, and it’s not known if it’s safe or effective at treating this condition.

Instead, Ilaris is only approved to treat certain periodic fevers or Still’s disease. (To learn about the approved uses of Ilaris, refer to this article.)

If you’re looking for a treatment option for anxiety, talk with your doctor. They’ll recommend the best treatment plan for you.

Do doctors determine Ilaris’s dosage by age? Can the drug be prescribed for a baby?

The dosage of Ilaris is based on many factors, including the condition it’s being used to treat and body weight. Your age may affect your body weight. However, age isn’t the main way doctors determine Ilaris’s dosage. To learn more about how Ilaris’s dosage is determined, refer to the “Ilaris dosage” section above. You can also refer to the “Factors that can affect your dosage” section below.

Doctors may prescribe Ilaris for children, depending on the condition being treated. For example, Ilaris is approved to treat cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes in children who are at least 4 years old and weigh at least 15 kilograms (kg).* This is about 33 pounds (lb). Ilaris is also approved to treat systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis in children ages 2 years or older who weigh at least 7.5 kg (about 16.5 lb).

Talk with your doctor to determine whether Ilaris is a safe treatment option for your child.

* One kg is about 2.2 lb.

The Ilaris dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:

  • the type and severity of the condition you’re using Ilaris to treat
  • your body weight
  • your age

Other medical conditions you have can also affect your Ilaris dosage.

Ilaris comes as a solution in a vial or bottle. Your doctor or another healthcare professional will give you Ilaris as a subcutaneous injection (an injection under the skin). You’ll go to your doctor’s office or a hospital to receive your injection.

Before getting your Ilaris injection, your doctor will discuss your dosage. If you’re taking Ilaris for cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS), you’ll get a dose every 8 weeks. However, if you’re taking the drug for another approved condition, you’ll get a dose every 4 weeks.

If you have any questions about how Ilaris will be given, talk with your doctor before getting your dose of medication.

If you miss your appointment for your dose of Ilaris, reschedule it as soon as possible.

To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or using a timer. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.

The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Ilaris for you, they’ll prescribe the dosage that’s right for you.

If you have questions about the dosage of Ilaris that’s best for you, talk with your doctor.

Besides learning about its dosage, you may want other information about Ilaris. These additional articles might be helpful:

  • More about Ilaris. For information about other aspects of Ilaris, refer to this article.
  • Details about arthritis. For details about your condition, visit our arthritis hub.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.