Skip to main content

Immune globulin and hyaluronidase (Subcutaneous)

Generic name: immune globulin and hyaluronidase [ hye-al-ure-ON-i-dase-HUE-man, ree-KOM-bi-nant, i-MUNE-GLOB-ue-lin ]
Brand name: HyQvia
Drug class: Immune globulins

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 30, 2024.

Subcutaneous route(Kit)

Warning: Thrombosis

Thrombosis may occur with immune globulin products, including immune globulin/recombinant human hyaluronidase. Risk factors may include advanced age, prolonged immobilization, hypercoagulable conditions, history of venous or arterial thrombosis, use of estrogens, indwelling vascular catheters, hyperviscosity and cardiovascular risk factors. Thrombosis may occur in the absence of known risk factors.

For patients at risk of thrombosis, administer immune globulin/recombinant human hyaluronidase at the minimum dose and infusion rate practicable. Ensure adequate hydration in patients before administration.

Monitor for signs and symptoms of thrombosis and assess blood viscosity in patients at risk of hyperviscosity .

Uses for immune globulin and hyaluronidase

Immune globulin and recombinant human hyaluronidase injection contains antibodies that make your immune system stronger. It is used for patients who have primary immunodeficiency (PI), including congenital agammaglobulinemia, common variable immunodeficiency, X-linked agammaglobulinemia, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, and other severe combined immune system problems.

Immune globulin injection belongs to a group of medicines known as immunizing agents. It is used to prevent or treat diseases that occur when your body has a weak immune system. Immune globulin contains antibodies that make your immune system stronger. Hyaluronidase injection is a spreading substance that helps improve the uptake of immune globulin into the body.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before using immune globulin and hyaluronidase

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of immune globulin and recombinant human hyaluronidase injection in the children younger than 2 years of age. Safety has not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies on the relationship of age to the effects of immune globulin and recombinant human hyaluronidase injection have not been performed in the geriatric population, geriatric-specific problems are not expected to limit the usefulness of immune globulin and recombinant human hyaluronidase injection in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related blood clotting problems, kidney or heart problems, which may require caution for patients receiving immune globulin and recombinant human hyaluronidase injection.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Proper use of immune globulin and hyaluronidase

A doctor or other trained health professional will give you this medicine. It is given as a shot under your skin, usually in the stomach or thigh. You or your caregiver may be trained to prepare and inject this medicine at home. Be sure that you understand how to use the medicine.

This medicine comes with a patient information leaflet and patient instructions. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

If you are using this medicine at home, you will be shown the body areas where the medicine can be given. Use a different body area each time you give yourself an infusion. Keep track of where you give each infusion to make sure you rotate body areas. This will help prevent skin problems. Do not inject this medicine into skin with bony areas, blood vessels, scars, or areas that are inflamed or infected.

Allow the medicine to warm to room temperature for up to 60 minutes before using it. Do not warm it in any other way. Do not shake.

To use immune globulin and recombinant human hyaluronidase injection:

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

Missed Dose

This medicine needs to be given on a fixed schedule. If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.

Storage

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Store the medicine in its original container in the refrigerator for up to 36 months. You may also store it at room temperature for up to 3 months during the first 24 months from the manufacturing date printed on the carton. Do not freeze. Do not put it back in the refrigerator once kept in room temperature.

Throw away used needles and tubes in a hard, closed container where the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.

Detailed Hyaluronidase / immune globulin dosage information

Precautions while using immune globulin and hyaluronidase

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits for any problems that may be caused by this medicine. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

While you are being treated with this medicine, do not have any immunizations (vaccines) without your doctor's approval. Do not use mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccine for up to 6 months or measles vaccine for 1 year while using this medicine.

This medicine may cause a serious type of allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Tell your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, hives, chest pain, dizziness or lightheadedness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after receiving this medicine. Certain people, including those with IgA (an immunoglobulin) deficiency and antibodies against IgA and a history of hypersensitivity to human immunoglobulin or hyaluronidase products should not use this medicine.

This medicine may cause blood clots. This is more likely to occur if you have a history of blood clotting problems, heart disease, or atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), or if you are obese, take medicines containing estrogen, or must stay in bed for a long time because of surgery or illness. Check with your doctor right away if you suddenly have chest pain, shortness of breath, a severe headache, leg pain, or problems with vision, speech, or walking.

Check with your doctor right away if you start to have a stiff neck, drowsiness, fever, severe headache, nausea, vomiting, painful eye movements, or eye sensitivity to light. These could be symptoms of a serious condition called aseptic meningitis syndrome (AMS).

This medicine may cause bleeding (hemolysis). Tell your doctor right away if you have stomach or back pain, dark urine, decreased urination, difficulty with breathing, an increased heart rate, tiredness, or yellow eyes or skin after you receive the medicine.

Check with your doctor right away if you start having red or dark brown urine, lower back or side pain, a sudden weight gain, a swollen face, arms, or legs, decreased urine output, or any problems with urination after you receive this medicine. These may be symptoms of a serious kidney problem.

Check with your doctor right away if you start having chest pain, difficult, fast, or noisy breathing, sometimes with wheezing, blue lips and fingernails, fever, pale skin, increased sweating, coughing that sometimes produces a pink frothy sputum, shortness of breath, or swelling of the legs and ankles after receiving this medicine. These may be symptoms of a serious lung problem.

This medicine is made from donated human blood. Some human blood products have transmitted certain viruses (eg, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease) to people who have received them, although the risk is low. Human donors and donated blood are both tested for viruses to keep the transmission risk low. Talk with your doctor about this risk if you are concerned.

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect the results of certain medical tests.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Side Effects of immune globulin and hyaluronidase

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Less common

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Hyaluronidase / immune globulin side effects (more detail)

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

Available Dosage Forms:

Further information

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

Medical Disclaimer