What Condition Does Sodium Hyaluronate Treat and Its Price?
Sodium Hyaluronate is an intra-articular injection. It is indicated for the management and treatment of pain in the knee due to osteoarthritis. It is meant to be used in patients who do not get effective pain relief from simple pain medication and therapy. This medicine has recently been approved in the US. It works directly into the knee by injection.
What condition does Sodium Hyaluronate treat?
Sodium hyaluronate is used for the treatment of knee pain due to arthritis. It is usually given to patients when all other arthritis medications have not been effective.
How does Sodium Hyaluronate work?
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally found all over the body. It is somewhat like joint fluid, which is all over the body. Sodium hyaluronate is a thick elastic polymer particularly in areas of the body that need lubrication. It acts as a lubricant and shock absorber for the joints.
Knee osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, is the result of wear and friction. This type of arthritis is very common in older adults. Common clinical symptoms may include:
- Knee stiffness and swelling
- Knee pain that’s gradual in onset and worsens with movement
- Pain after prolonged resting or sitting
The exact way how this injection work is not well understood. It is believed that it helps support the cartilages and restore the synovial fluid in the knee. As a result, reducing also the pain and swelling associated with osteoarthritis.
What is the dosage of Sodium Hyaluronate?
Sodium Hyaluronate is injected directly into the knee joint. Your doctor will provide you with the injection, typically, 20 milligrams once a week. It is usually injected every week for 3 to 5 weeks for a total of five injections.
Use it very carefully. Your doctor may recommend you to rest your knee or apply ice for a short time after injecting to prevent pain and swelling.
What are the precautions in using Sodium Hyaluronate?
- Make sure that this prescription is right for you. If in doubt, you can ask and consult your doctor before using Sodium Hyaluronate.
- Let your pharmacist or doctor know if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a preservative in injection or if you have any allergies.
- Tell your healthcare team if you are using a product that contains chlorhexidine or ammonium salts.
- Tell as well if you have bleeding problems, blood clots, or circulation problems in your legs.
- If you have prescriptions, non-prescription medication, vitamins, herbal products, or food supplements, inform also your doctor or healthcare team.
- Before you start using Sodium Hyaluronate, carefully read the manufacturer’s information. It will give you more information about using the drops.
- Do not wear soft contact lenses while you are using the drops unless it is advised otherwise. There is a preservative in bottles of eye drops that may affect soft contact lenses.
- See your doctor right away if your symptoms do not improve within a few days.
- Do not use the injection if you have an infection in your knee or the skin area around the knee.
- Avoid doing strenuous activities that put lots of weight on your legs for the first 48 hours after receiving the injection. These activities include heavy lifting, jogging, playing tennis, or prolonged standing.
- Patients below 21 years of age should not use this product.
- It is not known whether this medication can harm an unborn baby. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant before using this injection.
Price of Sodium Hyaluronate vs. Hyalgan
Sodium Hyaluronate is an effective medicine in reducing knee pain caused by arthritis. The price of 1 syringe of 20mg 2ml is $59 only for sodium hyaluronate at rx2go.com. The brand name Hyalgan cost $146.86 per 1 syringe of 20mg 2ml.