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Published: September 23, 2023

What Is Euflexxa Injection?

Knee osteoarthritis is an unfortunate condition that can affect one’s life quality to the point where even the simplest tasks (like walking or standing up) can become unmanageable. On the way to recovery, people may try numerous medications and traditional procedures, like physical therapy, massages, microneedling, and other similar methods. The main problem is that general treatments are not always enough to help with severe cases, so at this point, it’s time to get creative.

One of the effective products for knee joint pain relief is Euflexxa. This brand-name injectable is based on sodium hyaluronate, making it a thick gel that can replace the absent fluids between knee joints. Today’s article highlights all the essentials about this product: its composition, working principle, limitations, and other crucial details that specialists and their patients should be aware of. Join us in this exciting journey to the world of healthy knee joints!

Euflexxa: What Is It and How Should You Use It?

Euflexxa – an innovative injectable created for people with knee osteoarthritis who can no longer benefit from regular painkillers. Its main task is to replace cartilage between the bones; without it (or if there’s not enough of it), people can feel discomfort and worsening pain, as well as notice frequent joint swelling and inflammation.

Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc. used sodium hyaluronate for this brand’s base, which is a substance naturally present in the human body. This way, this fluid between the bones can be restored to minimize unpleasant sensations associated with osteoarthritis.

To buy Euflexxa online, a person needs a prescription from their doctor because this brand doesn’t belong to over-the-counter ones. The solution comes in a pre-filled glass syringe with an ultra-thin needle for comfortable administration. It’s disposable, and it’s better to ask your local pharmacy about the disposal rules. The volume of each syringe is two milliliters with 20mg of the active drug. The administration process can only be performed by a doctor or any other healthcare professional who understands the peculiarities of the human anatomy and can infuse the gel precisely between affected joints.

Working Principle

As a sodium hyaluronate injection, Euflexxa can help people in numerous ways. After the administration, this product works in the following way:

  • Reduces inflammation in the knee joint;
  • Reduces sensitivity by blocking pain stimulus (so people can return to their painless daily activities);
  • Increases the amount of hyaluronic acid in the fluid and joint tissues;
  • Boost natural collagen and elastin production in the body, supporting it even after the product wears off.

Of course, it’s important to go through all essential check-ups before the treatment to ensure Euflexxa is a safe and effective option for an individual. If not, don’t be too disappointed, as numerous excellent alternatives are available on the market. Discuss all the worries with a doctor so they can answer all the questions and explain how Euflexxa can help your case.

Old patient suffering from knee pain
Patient with knee pain

Dosage Calculation and Administration Rules

Regarding joint pain treatment, the procedure protocol is similar to most injectables of this type. Before the procedure, a doctor should check a patient’s medical history and current health statement to ensure Euflexxa is the proper medication for their goals. Afterward, they calculate an adequate dose and create a gel administration schedule.

Euflexxa should be used in a series of three weekly intra-articular infusions. The solution arrives in pre-filled glass syringes with ultra-thin needles for a comfortable administration process. For a more comfortable procedure, a specialist should drain excess liquid from the affected knee if there is any. This step is essential to reduce joint swelling, as well as help Euflexxa settle better under the skin. Afterward, the product is infused into the mid-kneecap region; even though it may cause slight discomfort, there shouldn’t be any severe pain. Patients may experience some side effects once the procedure is over, but they shouldn’t last long (we will discuss it further in the article).

Three injections administered within five weeks are typically enough to feel all the procedure’s benefits. Afterward, it’s recommended to eliminate strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, running, and other activities that can put pressure on the treated area for at least 48 hours. That’s typically enough time for Euflexxa to settle. Also, a doctor should be informed about severe adverse reactions to provide help on one’s way to successful recovery.

Before and After Treatment Recommendations

Before the treatment, patients should ensure they are not allergic to Euflexxa’s components or hyaluronic acid in general. Also, pregnant women (and those planning to get pregnant soon) must inform a doctor about their conditions because it’s unknown how exactly Euflexxa can affect the fetus or a mother-to-be.

As for the aftercare recommendations, specialists recommend avoiding strenuous activities like jogging, heavy lifting, and tennis. To be safe, it’s even better to stand up carefully for the first 48 hours to ensure the gel settles properly in the target area. On top of that, people shouldn’t stay longer than an hour without a break for the first two days because it puts a lot of weight on the treated zone. If there are any signs of swelling or irritation in the target area, it’s better to apply ice carefully to the injection spot (it’s better to wrap it in something and not apply directly to the skin).

Expected Longevity of Euflexxa

After the injection session in the doctor’s office, patients must wait a bit for the product to start working. Typically, it takes from a few days to two weeks for the gel to settle and create a cushion meant to eliminate musculoskeletal pain. As for the results, after receiving all three injections, people may expect up to six months of pain relief.

Still, the effect can vary for different people based on their age, current health condition, the severity of the problem, and some other aspects. Thus, it’s recommended to plan a maintenance treatment every year not to let the gel wear off completely from the treated zone.

Safety Information to Keep in Mind

A safe and non-problematic experience is the main thing in the medical sphere. It doesn’t matter whether you are trying to cure knee osteoarthritis or deal with back pain – the main goal is to provide pain relief in the safest way possible. Due to this reason, such things as contraindications and adverse reactions must be discussed beforehand to ensure a patient has a clear understanding of the product recommended for their treatment. It’s a doctor’s duty to highlight all the essentials about Euflexxa during the consultation, explain how it works, and ensure a patient is aware of all the risks. Let’s cover all the details in this paragraph.

Limitations

Before the treatment, a patient should inform a healthcare provider immediately if they suffer from any conditions that can be considered contraindications. First of all, people with known hypersensitivity to hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, and hyaluronan. The procedure cannot be performed if there is a knee infection present or if there are wounds or irritations around the target zone.

Pregnant women should be careful because, even though there is no proof of Euflexxa injections damaging a mother-to-be, the research about its effect on the fetus is limited. We recommend talking to a doctor to consider all the pros and cons and make a conscious decision regarding Euflexxa after considering all the risks.

A good thing about this brand is that it’s purified from specially bioengineered bacteria, so it’s not as immunogenic as other injectables for knee pain. For example, products such as Supartz, Orthovisc, Synvisc, and others contain chicken or rooster combs and cannot be used for individuals with egg or poultry allergies.

PLEASE NOTE: Interested in exploring joint health solutions? Discover the differences between Euflexxa and Cortisone therapies in our article.

Adverse Reactions

As for the side effects, these can be divided into two main categories: common and rare. The second type is typically more severe, so a specialist should be informed as soon as any of those are noticed.

Standard adverse reactions include the following:

  • Irritations in the injection site (redness, swelling, unpleasant warmth, etc.);
  • Stomach pain, diarrhea, and nausea;
  • Joint and muscle pain;
  • Severe headache and dizziness;
  • Back pain, trouble walking;
  • Flu-like symptoms (sore throat and runny nose).

Most patients manage to avoid these side effects; even if they do occur, a few days are enough for a complete recovery. However, if they don’t disappear, informing a medical professional is better to ensure a patient is safe.

Now, let’s cover rare yet severe side effects:

  • Difficulty swallowing;
  • Bluish skin discoloration in the treated zone;
  • Fever and severe dizziness;
  • Persistent pain in the Euflexxa administration spot;
  • Swelling of any facial parts (eyelids, lips, face in general);
  • Trouble breathing and tightening feeling in the chest;
  • Irregular heartbeat.

In case any of those are noticed, a doctor must be informed to provide immediate medical help. Severe side effects shouldn’t cause too much trouble if taken under control on time. That’s why paying attention to unusual symptoms is the key to a successful injection session.

SIDE NOTE: Are you looking to assess the advantages and disadvantages of Euflexxa? Delve into our article, “Evaluating Pros and Cons of Euflexxa,” for insightful information that can guide you in making informed decisions about this treatment.

To Sum Up

Euflexxa is an effective injectable prescribed to individuals with severe cases of knee osteoarthritis. The main task of this product is to replace the absent tissue surrounding bones’ ends – cartilage. If there is not enough of that between the bones, it may lead to joint pain, swelling, and inflammations, making it quite challenging to perform even basic daily tasks like walking and running.

To ensure the injection works properly, it should be administered in three portions with a few days intervals. Afterward, patients may expect up to fifteen months of pain relief; to ensure the results don’t fade away, specialists recommend having yearly maintenance treatments to ensure enough supportive liquid between the joints. Of course, a consultation in the doctor’s office is required to understand whether Euflexxa is a suitable option for an individual. On this note, it’s time to end the article. Thank you for visiting our blog, and stay tuned for more exciting blog posts!