Hyaluronan

Generic name: hyaluronan [ HYE-al-URE-oh-nan ]
Brand names: Hymovis, Monovisc, Orthovisc
Dosage forms: intra-articular gel (24 mg/3 mL), intra-articular solution (30 mg/2 mL; 88 mg/4 mL)
Drug class: Viscosupplementation agents

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on Nov 20, 2024. Written by Cerner Multum.

What is hyaluronan?

Hyaluronan is similar to the fluid that surrounds the joints in your body. This fluid acts as a lubricant and shock absorber for the joints.

Hyaluronan is used to treat knee pain caused by osteoarthritis.

Hyaluronan is usually given after other arthritis medications have been tried without success.

Hyaluronan may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Hyaluronan side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Hyaluronan may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

• bleeding;

• increased knee pain; or

• signs of infection (warmth, swelling, redness) around your knee.

Common side effects of hyaluronan may include:

• joint pain, stiffness, or swelling;

• itching, numbness, or tingling;

• headache, dizziness;

• back pain;

• swelling, pain, redness, or mild discomfort where the medicine was injected.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

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Warnings

You should not receive hyaluronan if you have a bleeding disorder, certain allergies, or an infection in your knee or in the skin around your knee.

Before taking this medicine

You should not be treated with hyaluronan if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

• an allergy to gram positive bacteria proteins (ask your doctor if you are not sure);

• a bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia; or

• an infection in your knee or in the skin around your knee.

It is not known whether hyaluronan will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using hyaluronan.

It is not known whether hyaluronan passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Hyaluronan is not approved for use by anyone younger than 21 years old.

How is hyaluronan given?

Hyaluronan is injected directly into your knee joint. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.

You may be given more than one hyaluronan injection. If so, additional injections are usually given at least 1 week after your first injection.

Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully.

This medicine should give you relief from pain for several months.

Tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse.

Hyaluronan dosing information

Usual Adult Dose for Osteoarthritis:

Inject the contents of one prefilled syringe intraarticularly into the knee once a week for 3 to 4 weeks

Use: 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 (e.g., acetaminophen)

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since hyaluronan is usually given in a single dose, it does not have a daily dosing schedule.

If you need to receive more than one hyaluronan injection, call your doctor for instructions if you miss your next injection appointment.

What happens if I overdose?

Since hyaluronan is given by a healthcare professional in a medical setting, an overdose is unlikely to occur.

What should I avoid after receiving hyaluronan?

For at least 48 hours after your injection: Avoid jogging, strenuous activity, or high-impact sports such as tennis. Also avoid weight-bearing activity or standing for longer than 1 hour at a time.

What other drugs will affect hyaluronan?

Other drugs may interact with hyaluronan, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using.

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Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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