List of products in the National Drug Code with proprietary name . This medication is used alone or with other medications to treat rheumatoid arthritis. It helps to slow joint damage and reduces the joint pain/swelling caused by rheumatoid arthritis so that you can move better. Anakinra is a man-made form of a natural protein (interleukin-1 receptor antagonist) made by the body. It helps to block the effects of another protein (interleukin-1) which can cause joint pain/swelling/stiffness. Anakinra is also used to treat a certain condition called Neonatal-Onset Multisystem Inflammatory Disease (NOMID). It helps to improve symptoms of the disease such as fever, rash, joint pain, vomiting, and headache.