Hyaluronan

Hyaluronan is like the fluid that is found around your joints. This fluid helps to lubricate and cushion the joints.

Hyaluronan is used to help with knee pain that is caused by osteoarthritis.

Hyaluronan is typically given after other arthritis medications have been tried and did not work.

Hyaluronan may also be used for reasons that are not mentioned in this medication guide.

Hyaluronan is injected straight into your knee joint by a healthcare provider.

You might receive more than one hyaluronan injection. If that happens, the extra injections are usually given at least 1 week after your first one.

Make sure to follow your doctor's dosing instructions very closely.

This medicine should help relieve your pain for several months.

Let your doctor know if your symptoms do not get better, or if they get worse.

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.

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.

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

Hyaluronan may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor right away 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.

Usual Adult Dose for Osteoarthritis:

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

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

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

Since hyaluronan is administered by a healthcare professional in a medical setting, it is unlikely that you will receive too much.

For at least 48 hours after your injection: Avoid jogging, strenuous activities, or high-impact sports like tennis. Also, do not engage in weight-bearing activities or stand for more than 1 hour at a time.

Other drugs may interact with hyaluronan, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Inform each of your health care providers about all medicines you are currently using and any medicine you begin or discontinue.