Hyaluronan Side Effects

Brand Names: Orthovisc

Please note - some side effects for Hyaluronan may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/ or 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).

Side Effects of Hyaluronan - for the Consumer

Hyaluronan

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Hyaluronan:

Mild bruising, heat, redness, swelling, or pain at the injection site; temporary achy feeling; temporary knee inflammation.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue).

Side Effects by Body System

Local

Local side effects have included erythema, edema, pain, and other injection site reactions in 0.2% to 2.5% of patients.

Musculoskeletal

Musculoskeletal side effects have included arthralgia, arthritis, arthropathy, Baker's cyst, bursitis, joint disorder, joint effusion, joint stiffness, joint swelling, pseudosepsis, localized osteoarthritis, aggravated osteoarthritis, ecchymosis, and knee arthroplasty.

Pseudosepsis has been characterized as severe joint inflammation with pain and effusion occurring 24 to 72 hours after injection and it may be more likely to occur after the second or third injection or with repeated courses. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, intra-articular steroids, and/or arthrocentesis are often required to treat pseudosepsis.

In a double-blind, controlled trial involving 226 patients with knee osteoarthritis the most frequent cause of discontinuation of sodium hyaluronate therapy was worsening of knee pain (11% vs. 13% with saline).

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects have included nausea, diarrhea, dyspepsia, and abdominal pain.

Other

The most common side effects have included arthralgia (12.6% vs 17.2% with saline and 0.8% with arthrocentesis), back pain (6.9% vs 12.2% with saline and 4.9% with arthrocentesis), headache (12.1% vs 16.6% with saline and 17.9% with arthrocentesis).

Other

Other side effects have included general fatigue and pain.

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