Frequently Asked Questions About HYALGAN®
These questions and answers about HYALGAN® are a good start, but may not give you
all the information you are looking for. Write down any additional questions or
concerns you may have in our Action TrackerSM and bring
them with you to your next medical visit. Your healthcare professional knows you
best, and is most qualified to answer your questions and determine if HYALGAN® is
right for you.
Take a quick quiz
to find out if HYALGAN® might be right for you.
When is HYALGAN® the right choice?
Who should not receive HYALGAN®?
How soon will I get pain relief with HYALGAN®?
How long will pain relief from HYALGAN® treatment last?
Can I get pain relief with fewer than 5 injections of HYALGAN®?
Will treatment with HYALGAN® be all that I need to relieve osteoarthritis
knee pain?
What are the most common side effects of treatment with HYALGAN®?
Can treatment with HYALGAN® be repeated?
Can HYALGAN® help my knee work better?
When is HYALGAN® the right choice?
HYALGAN® is for the treatment of osteoarthritis knee pain, when simple painkillers
or exercise and physical therapy are not enough. The treatment that's right for
you will depend on how far your OA has progressed, how much pain you are experiencing,
and what has worked (or not worked) for you in the past.
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Who should not receive HYALGAN®?
- Your healthcare professional will not administer HYALGAN® if you have had any previous
allergic reaction to HYALGAN® or similar material, such as other hyaluronate products.
- You should not have a HYALGAN® injection into the knee if you have infections or
skin diseases around the injection site.
- Consult your physician if you are allergic to products from birds such as feathers,
eggs, and poultry.
Your healthcare professional will review your medical history and examine your
knee to determine if an injection of HYALGAN® may be safely given.
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How soon will I get pain relief with HYALGAN®?
Pain relief varies from person to person and may depend on the severity of your
pain. In medical
studies, most patients noticed a difference within 1 week following the 3rd injection.
However, some patients did not get pain relief until after the 5 injections.
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How long will pain relief from HYALGAN® treatment last?
5 injections given at weekly intervals can provide most patients with long-lasting
pain relief for up to 6 months. The duration of pain relief you experience may vary.
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Can I get pain relief with fewer than 5 injections of HYALGAN®?
Some patients may experience benefit with 3 injections given at weekly intervals.
This has been noted in studies of patients receiving 3 injections who were followed for 60 days.
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Will treatment with HYALGAN® be all that I need to relieve osteoarthritis knee pain?
Everybody responds differently to pain. For some people, HYALGAN® will provide all
the osteoarthritis knee pain relief that's needed. Other people may get the greatest
pain relief by adding HYALGAN® injections to the nonprescription or prescription
medicines they're already taking. HYALGAN® has no known drug interactions, but if
you have questions about other medications you may be taking talk to your healthcare
provider.
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What are the most common side effects of treatment with HYALGAN®?
Side effects sometimes seen when HYALGAN® is injected into the knee are: pain, swelling,
heat, and/or redness of the joint as well as rash, itching, or bruising around the
HYALGAN® injection area. These reactions were generally mild
and did not last long.
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Can treatment with HYALGAN® be repeated?
Yes. HYALGAN® has been shown to be safe for repeat treatment in a 30 month study. In medical studies, HYALGAN®
treatment provided pain relief for 6 months. You and your healthcare professional
can decide when it's time to repeat the treatment.
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Can HYALGAN® help my knee work better?
OA of the knee has no cure, but the pain can be controlled. Treatment with HYALGAN®
can relieve the osteoarthritis knee pain that may be keeping you from doing the
things you want to do.
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Take a quick quiz to
find out if HYALGAN® might be right for you.