Hyalgan intra-joint hyaluronic acid

Hyalgan is a prefilled syringe containing a gel-like substance called hyaluronic acid. Hyalgan prefilled syringe often injected into the knee joint.

Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance found in the synovial fluid that surrounds joints. Hyaluronic acid gel, founded in Hyalgan, acts as a lubricant or emollient to enable bones to move smoothly over one another and as a shock absorber.

People with osteoarthritis usually have a lower than normal concentration of hyaluronic acid in their joints. The theory is that adding hyaluronic acid to an arthritic joint will facilitate movement and reduce pain.

Synovial fluid is a viscous substance found in the joint cavity, this fluid works to facilitate and lubricate the movement of the joint and help the joint to perform its function easily and prevent the occurrence of pain in the joint by limiting the friction of the joint bones.

In degenerative joint diseases (such as arthritis – Rheumatism or knee arthritis) the viscosity of the synovial fluid decreases, and thus pain, difficulty in movement, and swelling occur in the joints.

Hyalgan injected locally into the affected joint (e.g. knee joint, hip, shoulder and elbow joint).

Information you should know about Hyalgan

Hyalgan is injected locally into the joint (usually inside the knee joint), the patient should avoid activities that cause excessive friction in the knee such as running, jumping, or lifting weights for 48 hours after the injection.

The effect of Hyalgan injections will appear after one to two weeks, this effect will last for a period ranging from 4 to 6 months.

Hyalgan injections are not suitable for everyone: Some people with osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis of the knee) may not benefit from Hyalgan injections.

Hyalgan is most effective if the arthritis is in its early stages (mild to moderate).

Hyalgan needles are ready-to-use, pre-filled by the manufacturer, and ready for injection into the joint cavity. The volume of the liquid inside the syringe is 1 milliliters or 2 milliliter…. each milliliter of this injection contains 10 mg of a substance called sodium hyaluronate (and this substance is the active ingredient / active substance in this injection).

Indications

Hyalgan is used to reduce pain and improve the function of damaged joints as a result of degenrative joint diseases (such as arthritis, rheumatism or osteoarthritis) or as a result of trauma and accidents.

Hyalgan should only be used for large joints such as the knee, hip or shoulder joint.

Hyalgan can also be used (in lower doses – only 1 ml) in small joints (such as the vertebrae of the spine, the phalanx joints of the thumb finger in hand or big toe, as well as It can be injected into the temporomandibular joint).

Contraindications

Hyalgan must not be used in patients with hypersensitivity to the ingredients.

Although the components of the injection are very pure, allergic reactions may occur in individual cases (the possibility of an allergy to the product cannot be ruled out, even if by a small percentage), so caution must be exercised.

General precautions

The contents (liquid) of the Hyalgan syringe should be injected into the joint cavity. Injections into blood vessels or into the tissues surrounding a joint should be avoided.

There is no information on the safety of the use of Hyalgan injection in children, pregnant and lactating women, or in inflammatory joint disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

It is not recommended to use Hyalgan injections, in cases of joint oedema (swelling of the joint as a result of the accumulation of fluid in the joint area), and it is advisable to treat joint oedema first, then you can start injecting Hyalgan after two to three days of oedema treatment.

Side effects

Most of the side effects are at the injection site. patient may feel the following symptoms:

• Local pain in the injected joint.
• Sensation of heat at the injection site.
• Redness of the skin surrounding the joint.
• Swelling may occur in the injected joint.

After the injection, patients are advised to place ice bags (cold compress) on the injected joint for five to ten minutes, this will reduce the occurrence of these symptoms.

Use of an oral analgesic during the first few days of treatment may be beneficial for improving side effects.

Interactions with other medications

There is no information about incompatibilities or interactions between Hyalgan and any other drugs available for injection into the joint.

Dosage and directions for use

Hyalgan is injected into the joint to be treated once a week, and this dose can be repeated for 3 to 5 weeks, depending on your condition.

Several joints can be treated at the same time (more than one joint can be injected at the same time).

Depending on the severity of the joint disease, and after completing the course of treatment (5 injections / one injection per week for five weeks), it is expected that the effect of Hyalgan injection (in improving the function of the treated joint and relieving pain) will last for 6 months.

The effect of 3 injections course of treatment (3 injections/one injection per week for 3 weeks) is not known.

5 injections or 3 injections treatment course can be repeated when needed, provided that the intervals between treatment courses are not less than 6 months.

The syringe is opened and removed from the paper packaging, and the rubber cap is removed just before injection.

The air must be removed from the syringe before starting the injection.

Use needles suitable for injection (size 19 G or 20 G).

Storage instructions

• Hyalgan should be stored between 2°C and 25°C.
• Do not use Hyalgan after the expiry date which is stated on the package.
• Hyalgan should be injected by a trained specialist.
• The expiry date of injections is 42 months after the date of production.

FAQs 

Does Hyalgan treat knee arthritis?

Hyalgan injection does not cure any degenerative joint disease, but it will improve the function of the treated joint (knee, shoulder or elbow), and will reduce pain for a long period of time that may reach 6 months.

It will also contribute to reducing (or stopping) your need For oral or topical pain relievers. It is worth noting that a large percentage of patients who were treated with Hyalgan expressed their satisfaction with the results.

Who are the target groups for treatment with Hyalgan injections?

Hyalgan is suitable for patients with the following conditions:

• Patients who suffer from arthritis (bone degeneration) in the joints (first, second and third stages).
• Patients with arthritis of the articular bones of the face.
• Patients who underwent surgeries on the knee joints (knee arthroscopy).
• Individuals with an active lifestyle, and athletes when the first signs of motor disability or pain in the joints appear.

What is the price of Hyalgan?

Hyalgan prefilled syringe  is available in some countries of the Middle East and North Africa, and the price of the package varies from one country to another – the higher the population of the country, the lower the price of the package, and vice versa, the lower the population density of the country, the higher the price of the package.

The price of one syringe package os Hyalgan ranges from 14 USD or its equivalent in local currency (lowest price) to 55 USD or its equivalent in local currency (highest price). The price will vary according to your country of residence.

What is the dose of Hyalgan?

The suggested dose is (20 milligrams) injected into the affected joint, once a week for 5 consecutive weeks.

What are Hyalgan injections?

Hyalgan is a prefilled injection (ready to use), to be injected locally into the knee, to help absorb shock and lubricate the joint bones (knee joint), allowing the bones forming the joint to glide over each other smoothly, and this leads to relieving the symptoms of bone  degeneration (Arthritis)>

Hyalgan injections are usually prescribed to people who suffer from arthritis (bone erosion) in the knee joint and who still suffer from pain in the knee joint despite taking non-prescription pain medications, exercising, or adjusting the diet.

If you have tried nonprescription pain medication, exercise program, or dietary modifications and still feel knee pain, tell your doctor and ask if Hyalgan  injections can help you.

Is Hyalgan covered by medical insurance?

Hyalgan injections are covered by most insurance companies (AXA, GLOBMED, UNICARE, PRIME HEALTH).

What are the side effects of Hyalgan?

The most common side effects are:

• Pain at the injection site.
• swelling.
• Feeling hot, and red around the knee.
• Fluid buildup around the knee.

Does local injection in the knee causes severe pain?

Your doctor will probably apply a local anesthetic to the injection site before he starts giving you Hyalgan injections.

What happens after the injection?

After the injection, it is recommended to avoid strenuous activities (for example, sports with a high impact on the joints such as tennis or jogging) or activities that require weight-bearing for about 48 hours after the injection.

You should consult your physician regarding the appropriate time to resume these activities.

When will I start to feel better after the injection?

Pain is expected to improve within one month after the injection of Hyalgan.

How long will the injection effect last?

Although all patients respond differently, the effect of Hyalgan injection in relieving pain usually lasts up to 6 months.

Can Hyalgan be injected into both knees?

Yes, you can have the treatment on both knees at the same time or at different times.

Tags: #M09AX01 – #knee_arthritis_medicines – #knee_arthritis_injections #hyaluronic_acid.