Frequently asked questions

Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about treatment with HYALGAN®. If you have a specific question about treatment or about knee pain, please speak with your health care provider.


When is HYALGAN® the right choice for me?

HYALGAN® is for the treatment of osteoarthritis knee pain, when simple painkillers (like Tylenol® or Advil®) or exercise and physical therapy are not enough. The treatment that's right for you will depend on how far your osteoarthritis has progressed, how much pain you are experiencing, and what has worked (or not worked) for you in the past.

Brands listed are the registered trademarks of their respective owners.


Who should not receive HYALGAN®?

  • Your health care provider will not administer HYALGAN® if you have had any previous allergic reaction to HYALGAN® or similar material; ie, 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 health care provider will review your medical history and examine your knee to determine if an injection of HYALGAN® may be safely given.

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 third injection. However, some patients did not get pain relief until after the 5 injections.


How long will pain relief from HYALGAN® treatment last?

Five 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.


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.


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 health care provider.


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.


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, 1 cycle (5 injections) of HYALGAN® treatment provided pain relief for 6 months. Because osteoarthritis is a chronic and degenerative condition, you and your health care provider can decide when it's time to repeat the treatment.


Can HYALGAN® help my knee work better?

Osteoarthritis of the knee is a chronic and degenerative condition that 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.

Important Safety Information

HYALGAN is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to hyaluronate preparations. Intra-articular injections are contraindicated in cases of present infections or skin diseases in the area of the injection site to reduce the potential for developing septic arthritis.

Transient increases in inflammation in the injected knee following HYALGAN injection have been reported in some patients with inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis or gouty arthritis. Physicians should evaluate whether HYALGAN treatment should be initiated when objective signs of inflammation are present.

The effectiveness of a single treatment cycle of less than 3 injections has not been established.

Patients should be advised to avoid any strenuous or prolonged weight-bearing activities within 48 hours following intra-articular injection.

Use caution when injecting HYALGAN into patients who are allergic to avian proteins, feathers and egg products.

Joint effusion, if present, should be removed prior to injection.

The safety and effectiveness of HYALGAN has not been established in children or in pregnant or lactating women. It is unknown whether HYALGAN is excreted in human milk.

In the US clinical trial of 495 patients, the only adverse event showing statistical significance vs placebo was injection-site pain. Other adverse events included gastrointestinal complaints, headache, local ecchymosis and rash, local joint pain and swelling, and local pruritus. However, the incidence of these events was similar in the HYALGAN-treated and placebo groups. In other clinical studies, the frequency and severity of adverse events occurring during repeat treatment cycles did not increase over that reported for a single treatment cycle.

Indication

HYALGAN is indicated for the treatment of pain in osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee in patients who have failed to respond adequately to conservative nonpharmacologic therapy and to simple analgesics, eg, acetaminophen.

You are about to leave this Web site.

Fidia Pharma USA does not review the information contained on this Web site and/or database for content, accuracy, or completeness. Use of and access to this information is subject to the terms, limitations, and conditions set by the Web site and/or database producer.

Fidia Pharma USA makes no representation as to the accuracy or any other aspect of the information contained on such Web site and/or database, nor does Fidia Pharma USA necessarily endorse such Web site and/or database.

Click the "CONTINUE" button below to go to the page you requested, or the "CANCEL" button to return to the previous page.