Orthovisc

Call your doctor or go to the emergency room immediately if any signs of infection appear (red, excessive drainage, fever) and always follow your doctor's instructions.

When receiving Orthovisc, there are a few things to make a note of: 

• Do not participate in strenuous activities (such as high-impact sports or weight-bearing activities) for about 48 hours after receiving Orthovisc.
• Do not miss any scheduled follow-up appointments with your healthcare provider.
• Do not use certain disinfectants on your skin without first checking with your healthcare provider.

Do not receive Orthovisc if you:

• are allergic to Orthovisc or to any of its ingredients
• are allergic to products from birds, such as feathers, eggs, and poultry. If you are injected with Orthovisc and are allergic to bird products, you could develop an allergic reaction to the injections
• have an infection or skin disease in the area in which the injection is to be given

Since Orthovisc is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.

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.

This section provides information on the proper use of a number of products that contain hyaluronic acid. It may not be specific to Orthovisc. Please read with care.

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine. This medicine is given as a shot into your knee joint. It may take more than one injection for the pain to go away.

You will receive a series of shots of this medicine one week apart for a total of three or four injections.

Your doctor will check your progress closely while you are receiving this medicine. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to receive it.

Do not strain your knee joint for two days after receiving this medicine. Avoid activities such as jogging, soccer, tennis, heavy lifting, or standing on your feet for a long time.

Temporary pain or swelling in the knee joint may occur after receiving hyaluronic acid injection. Call your doctor if the pain or swelling in the knee persists or becomes worse after receiving this medicine.

Do not use this medicine with disinfectants containing quaternary ammonium salts (e.g., benzalkonium chloride). This may prevent hyaluronic acid injection from working properly.

Orthovisc (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.

Orthovisc is used to treat knee pain caused by osteoarthritis.

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

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

You may be given more than one 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.

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

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.

Common side effects of Orthovisc include: arthralgia and headache. Other side effects include: back pain. See below for a comprehensive list of adverse effects.