Sodium Hyaluronate, Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: hyaluronic acid derivative

Generic and brand names: sodium hyaluronate, injection; Amvisc; Amvisc Plus; Euflexxa; Healon; Healon5; Hyalgan; Orthovisc; Supartz; Provisc; Vitrax

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given as injections (shots) into a knee joint to treat knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. It is usually given to people whose pain has not been relieved by other treatments. These shots improve the quality of your own joint fluid to cushion, protect, and lubricate your knee joint.

This medicine may also be used during certain eye surgeries.

This medicine may be use for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have:

• an allergy to any medicine
• an allergy to eggs, birds, or feathers
• a skin disease
• an infection in or around the knee
• glaucoma

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

Injections are given by your healthcare provider. For arthritis, usually you will have several shots 1 week apart. It may take several weeks before you see the full effect of this medicine. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

For eye problems, your provider will inject this medicine during eye surgery.

What should I watch out for?

Avoid standing for long periods or strenuous activities such as jogging or tennis for 2 days after you get this shot.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat.

Serious: eye pain (if you received this medicine during eye surgery); severe pain or swelling of the knee with redness and a feeling of warmth.

Other: Pain, swelling, bruising, or redness where the shot is given, rash, itching, headache, nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhea, gas, back pain.

What products might interact with this medicine?

No significant drug interactions have been reported.

Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

____________________________________________________

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.

Developed by RelayHealth
Published by RelayHealth.
© 2009 RelayHealth and/or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.