Discover the key information about Euflexxa shots, including their uses, potential side effects, and important warnings. Get answers to your questions about this knee osteoarthritis treatment.

What is Euflexxa?

Euflexxa is a medication that is similar to the fluid that surrounds the joints in your body. This fluid acts as a lubricant and shock absorber for the joints. Euflexxa is used to treat knee pain caused by osteoarthritis, particularly in patients who have not found relief from other arthritis medications.

When is Euflexxa Used?

Euflexxa is typically used when other arthritis medications have not been effective in treating knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. It may be prescribed as an alternative or additional treatment when over-the-counter medications, exercise, or physical therapy have not provided sufficient relief.

What are the Warnings and Precautions for Euflexxa?

You should not receive a Euflexxa injection if you have an infection in your knee or the skin around your knee. Euflexxa is also not approved for use by anyone younger than 21 years old. It’s important to tell your doctor if you have ever had blood clots, circulation problems in your legs, or any allergies to birds, feathers, or egg products.

How is Euflexxa Administered?

Euflexxa is injected directly into the knee joint by a healthcare provider. It is typically given once a week for 3 to 5 weeks, with your doctor providing specific dosing instructions. To help prevent pain and swelling, your doctor may recommend resting your knee or applying ice for a short time after the injection.

What are the Potential Side Effects of Euflexxa?

Common side effects of Euflexxa may include warmth, pain, redness, stiffness, bruising, or puffiness where the medicine was injected, as well as nausea, stomach pain, trouble walking, swelling in the hands or feet, back pain, joint pain, muscle pain, numbness or tingling, headache, dizziness, and respiratory symptoms like runny nose, stuffy nose, sneezing, or sore throat.

How Can I Avoid Complications After Euflexxa Injections?

For at least 48 hours after your Euflexxa injection, you should avoid jogging, strenuous activity, or high-impact sports like soccer or tennis. You should also avoid weight-bearing activity or standing for longer than 1 hour at a time. Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions on when it is safe to resume these activities.

What Interactions Should I Be Aware Of?

Euflexxa may interact with other medications, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and herbal products. Be sure to inform your doctor about all the medicines you are currently taking or planning to start using.

In summary, Euflexxa is a medication used to treat knee pain caused by osteoarthritis, particularly in patients who have not found relief from other treatments. It is important to follow your doctor’s instructions carefully and be aware of the potential side effects and interactions associated with this medication.

Does Euflexxa have any specific contraindications or restrictions for use?

Yes, Euflexxa should not be used if you have an infection in your knee or the skin around your knee. It is also not approved for use by anyone younger than 21 years old. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any history of blood clots, circulation problems in your legs, or allergies to birds, feathers, or egg products.

How long does it typically take for Euflexxa to start providing relief from knee pain?

The full effect of Euflexxa may take several weeks to develop, as it is usually given as a series of 3 to 5 weekly injections. Some patients may start to notice improvements in their knee pain within the first few weeks, but it’s important to complete the full course of treatment as prescribed by your doctor.

Can Euflexxa be used in combination with other arthritis medications?

Yes, Euflexxa may be used in combination with other medications for osteoarthritis, such as acetaminophen, NSAIDs, or topical pain relievers. However, it’s important to discuss all of your current medications with your doctor to ensure there are no interactions or safety concerns.

Are there any special storage or handling requirements for Euflexxa?

Euflexxa should be stored at room temperature, away from direct light. It should not be frozen. The medication should be kept out of the reach of children, and you should never share your Euflexxa with anyone else, as it is prescribed specifically for your individual condition.

Can Euflexxa be used to treat osteoarthritis in joints other than the knee?

No, Euflexxa is only approved for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. It should not be used to treat osteoarthritis in other joints, such as the hip or ankle, unless specifically recommended by your doctor.

Are there any long-term effects or risks associated with repeated Euflexxa injections?

The long-term safety of repeated Euflexxa injections is still being studied. Some patients may experience a gradual reduction in the effectiveness of the injections over time. It’s important to closely monitor any side effects and discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor, especially if you require multiple courses of treatment.

Euflexxa injection Uses, Side Effects & Warnings

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Generic name: sodium hyaluronate (injection) [ SO-dee-um-HYE-al-yoo-RON-ate ]
Brand names: Durolane, Euflexxa, Gel-One, Gelsyn-3, Hyalgan, Supartz
Drug class: Viscosupplementation agents

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on Mar 17, 2023. Written by Cerner Multum.

What is Euflexxa?

Euflexxa is similar to the fluid that surrounds the joints in your body. This fluid acts as a lubricant and shock absorber for the joints.

Euflexxa is used to treat knee pain caused by osteoarthritis.

Euflexxa is usually given when other arthritis medications have not been effective.

Euflexxa may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Warnings

You should not receive a Euflexxa if you have an infection in your knee or in the skin around your knee.

Before taking this medicine

You should not receive Euflexxa if you are allergic to it, or if you have an infection in your knee or in the skin around your knee.

Euflexxa is not approved for use by anyone younger than 21 years old.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• blood clots or circulation problems in your legs; or

• an allergy to birds, feathers, or egg products.

It is not known whether Euflexxa will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant.

It may not be safe to breast-feed a baby while you are using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risks.

How is Euflexxa given?

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

Euflexxa is usually given once every week for 3 to 5 weeks. Follow your doctor’s dosing instructions very carefully.

To prevent pain and swelling, your doctor may recommend resting your knee or applying ice for a short time after your injection.

Read all patient information, medication guides, and instruction sheets provided to you. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Call your doctor for instructions if you miss an appointment for your Euflexxa.

What happens if I overdose?

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

What should I avoid after receiving Euflexxa?

For at least 48 hours after your injection, avoid jogging, strenuous activity, or high-impact sports such as soccer or tennis. Also avoid weight-bearing activity or standing for longer than 1 hour at a time. Ask your doctor how long to wait before you resume these activities.

Euflexxa side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Euflexxa may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

Common side effects of Euflexxa may include:

• warmth, pain, redness, stiffness, bruising, or puffiness where the medicine was injected;

• nausea, stomach pain;

• trouble walking;

• swelling in your hands or feet;

• back pain, joint pain, muscle pain;

• numbness or tingly feeling;

• headache, dizziness; or

• runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect Euflexxa?

Other drugs may affect Euflexxa, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

More about Euflexxa (sodium hyaluronate)

• Check interactions
• Compare alternatives
• Reviews (254)
• Side effects
• Dosage information
• During pregnancy
• Drug class: viscosupplementation agents
• En español

Patient resources

• Patient Information

Other brands

Durolane, Hyalgan, Supartz, Gelsyn-3, Supartz FX

Related treatment guides

• Osteoarthritis

Further information

• Your doctor can provide more information about Euflexxa.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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

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Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 4.02.

EUFLEXXA Intra-Articular: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosing

Uses

This medication is used to treat knee pain in patients with joint inflammation (osteoarthritis). It is usually used in patients who have not responded to other treatments such as acetaminophen, exercise, or physical therapy. Hyaluronate (also known as hyaluronan) is similar to a substance that occurs naturally in the joints. It may work by acting as a lubricant and shock absorber in the joint, helping the knee to move smoothly, thereby lessening pain.

How to use Euflexxa Syringe

Read the Patient Information Leaflet provided by your health care professional before you start using hyaluronate and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Your doctor will give this medication by injection into the affected joint, usually once a week. Skin disinfectants that contain ammonium salts (such as benzalkonium chloride) should not be used to prepare the injection site. Your doctor may need to remove extra fluid from the joint before injecting the medicine. Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment.

Hyaluronate should not be injected into a vein or artery because increased side effects may occur.

After receiving an injection of hyaluronate, you should avoid any activities that put stress on your knee (such as jogging, tennis, heavy lifting, standing on your feet for more than an hour) for 48 hours.

Also, after the injection, you may experience increased pain and swelling in the knee at first. If the pain or swelling continues or worsens, talk to your doctor promptly.

It is important to have this medication injected on schedule. It may take up to 3 injections before the full benefits of this medication occur.

Tell your doctor if your condition lasts or gets worse.

Side Effects

See also How to Use section.

Pain, swelling, redness/warmth/bruising at the injection site, or headache may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that this medication has been prescribed because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: back pain, severe headache, fast/pounding heartbeat, fever, tingling skin.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In the US – Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

In Canada – Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Precautions

Before using hyaluronate, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. For some brands, also tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to bird proteins, feathers, or egg products. This product may contain inactive ingredients (such as latex found in the rubber syringe cap of some brands), which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: knee joint infections, skin infections/problems in the area around the injection site, circulation problems in the legs.

During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.

It is unknown whether this drug passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Interactions

Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor’s approval.

Does Euflexxa Syringe interact with other drugs you are taking?

Enter your medication into the WebMD interaction checker

Overdose

If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison control center right away. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center.

It is important to get each dose of this medication as scheduled. If you miss a dose, ask your doctor or pharmacist right away for a new dosing schedule.

Not applicable. This medication is given in a clinic and will not be stored at home.

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Euflexxa 10 mg/mL (mw 2.4-3.6 million) intra-articular syringe

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CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.

COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects: Why They Happen and How to Manage Them

Mini Kamboj, Chief Epidemiologist at MSK, receives the vaccine.

After the injection, side effects may occur, which is typical for any vaccine. The good news is that COVID-19 vaccines have similar side effects, which are usually mild and short-lived, about 1-3 days.

The most common side effects include arm pain, weakness (feeling tired), headache, aches and fever. Serious side effects are very rare and can be treated.

This is hard to predict. Side effects are more likely to occur and may be more noticeable after a second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty®) or Moderna (Spikevax™) COVID-19 vaccine.

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If you experience side effects, that’s a good sign. They indicate that the vaccine is working and triggering the immune system.

After vaccination, your immune system recognizes something foreign. The immune system automatically launches a mild attack against it. This process teaches your immune cells to recognize and respond to invaders. That’s why you may experience side effects. Let’s put it this way: the body’s reaction to the vaccine is like training before a real fight.

If you were to become infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 after being fully vaccinated, your immune system would be ready for an even larger and more powerful attack to protect you.

Just because you don’t have side effects doesn’t mean the vaccine didn’t work. In clinical trials of the vaccine, more than half of the participants did not experience any side effects, but we are confident that the vaccine works effectively in these people too.

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If you experience pain or discomfort after vaccination, ask your doctor if you can take over-the-counter drugs such as ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).

Ways to relieve pain and discomfort in the hand:

• Cover the affected area with a cool, clean, damp cloth.
• Warm up your arm or do some exercise with that arm.

In most cases, discomfort from heat or pain is normal. Contact your doctor in the following cases:

• If redness and pain at the injection site worsens after 24 hours.
• If the side effects bother you a lot or don’t go away after a few days.

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You should wait for the vaccination and then monitor how you feel. If side effects occur, over-the-counter medications (such as Advil or Tylenol) can be taken to lower fever, reduce chills, or relieve headaches or body aches. It is extremely important that you do not take these drugs before getting vaccinated, as there are theoretical concerns that some pain medications may interfere with the immune response to the vaccine. It is also not clear whether taking medications beforehand actually helps reduce symptoms after vaccination.

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Several very rare cases of serious side effects have been identified and investigated, but scientists have concluded that the risk of developing serious complications due to COVID-19 is much higher than the risk of these side effects. Below is evidence of this careful and ongoing study.

• In mid-July 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that about 100 of the 13 million Americans who received the J&J vaccine developed Guillain-Barré syndrome. Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare neurological disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks nerve cells. More information can be found here »
• At the end of June 2021, the CDC reported that more than 1,200 Americans had heart muscle damage, possibly related to the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. Heart problems were very rare – for every million second doses of the vaccine given, there were 12.6 cases of heart muscle damage. More information can be found here »
• The CDC and FDA say that as of the end of November 2021, there were 54 cases diagnosed with a bleeding disorder called thrombocytopenia following the J&J vaccine (among 16.4 million doses). On Dec. 16, CDC experts recommended that Americans get Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna instead of the J&J vaccine. More information can be found here »

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Some patients may experience some enlargement or tenderness of the lymph nodes after administration of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines. In addition, swollen lymph nodes can be detected on medical imaging and mistaken for the progression of some types of cancer—primarily breast cancer, head and neck cancer, melanoma, and lymphoma.

This side effect of the vaccine is more common after the second dose. It usually occurs within 2-4 days after vaccination and can last an average of 10 days.

On imaging, lymph node enlargement may be detected for a longer time. Therefore, our recommendations would be:

• If you experience these symptoms after vaccination, you should contact your doctor. In most cases, it is recommended to wait at least four weeks before undergoing an additional test, during which time the lymph nodes have decreased to normal sizes.
• Vaccination against COVID-19 should be given after routine medical imaging. If you have already been vaccinated, we recommend that you have routine breast exams, including mammograms and MRIs, no earlier than six weeks later.
• If you have had cancer, you should be asked to administer the COVID-19 vaccine, if possible, on the opposite side that was not affected by the cancer.
• If enlarged knots cause you discomfort, you can apply a warm compress. Acetaminophen or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be taken to relieve discomfort.

It is important to know that all types of vaccines can cause temporary enlargement of the lymph nodes. This may indicate that antibodies are being produced in the body, as it should be.

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Antibody testing to test for immunity to COVID-19 following Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccination is not recommended at this time. The COVID-19 antibody test used at MSK detects an immune response after infection with COVID-19. It does not analyze the immunity created after vaccination. This is why evaluation of vaccine response should not be scheduled routinely.

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Vaccines against COVID-19 are among the most effective in human history. They are just as effective, if not more effective, than the polio, chicken pox, measles, and flu vaccines.

The risk of getting sick after vaccination is minimal. Studies show that even if you get COVID-19 after receiving a vaccine, the disease is likely not to become severe. Flu vaccines are less effective than COVID vaccines, but they protect against flu complications and hospitalizations. Vaccines against COVID-19 are even more powerful.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines »

December 17, 2021

Additional resources

• Information leaflet for vaccinees and caregivers on emergency use of COVID-19 vaccines
• Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty®) Vaccine Instructions for Use
• Instructions for use of the Moderna vaccine (Spikevax™)
• Johnson & Johnson Emergency Vaccine Authorization Information Sheet

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Murom Regional Children’s Hospital – Post-vaccination reactions, adverse reactions of vaccines and possible complications

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GBUZ VO MRDB, city of Murom, Voykova street, 17, building 2. Call center: 8(49234)2-90-72

Post-vaccination reactions, adverse reactions of vaccines and possible complications

The nature of vaccine reactions

The introduction of both live and inactivated bacterial or viral vaccines into the human body leads to the development of the vaccine process, often accompanied by stereotypical clinical manifestations that occur in the form of general (fever, malaise, headache, etc. ) and local (hyperemia, soreness, infiltrate) reactions.

Vaccination reactions for inactivated vaccines are usually of the same type, but specific for live vaccines. They are characterized by a short-term and often cyclic course and usually do not cause serious disorders of the body. However, in cases where vaccine reactions manifest themselves as a pronounced pathological process, they are called post-vaccination complications.

The differences between post-vaccination reactions and post-vaccination complications are highly arbitrary. Therefore, both types of reactions are combined by the term “side reactions”.

In addition to the “true” post-vaccination complications, in the post-vaccination period, pathological processes can be observed resulting from the provoking effect of vaccinations. We are talking about the exacerbation of chronic diseases and the revival of latent infection in vaccinated people. at the same time, vaccinations are rather not a cause, but rather a condition conducive to the development of these processes.

Evidence of post-vaccination complications.

The appearance of clinical symptoms after the administration of a vaccine does not mean that the vaccine has caused these symptoms. The latter may be associated with the addition of some intercurrent infection, which can change and aggravate the body’s response to vaccination, and in some cases contribute to the development of post-vaccination complications.

In such cases, a thorough investigation should be carried out to prove a causal relationship between vaccination and the pathological syndrome. So, after the introduction of live viral vaccines, this connection is most proven when the vaccine strain is isolated and identified from the patient. However, after vaccination with a live polio vaccine, the vaccine strain can be excreted from the stool of the vaccinated person for several weeks, and therefore the appearance of clinical symptoms of encephalitis in this period does not mean at all that they are caused by the polio virus. More reliable evidence of causation in such cases may be isolation of the virus from a naturally sterile tissue or body fluid, such as the brain or cerebrospinal fluid.

Timing of reactions.

Side effects of vaccines usually appear within 4 weeks after immunization. only after BCG vaccination osteomyelitis can occur even 14 months after vaccination.

Reactions to inactivated vaccines usually develop early (within hours) and are of shorter duration.

With the introduction of live vaccines, reactions (other than allergic immediate type) cannot occur before the 4th day and more than 12-14 days after the introduction of measles and 30 days after the introduction of polio and mumps vaccine. This is due to the fact that common reactions after vaccination with live vaccines develop after the “incubation period” necessary for the reproduction of the microorganism.

Types of adverse reactions

There are local and general reactions. Local reactions usually occur at the injection site and range from mild redness, lymphadenitis to severe purulent abscess. General reactions are most often manifested in the form of allergic, as well as a slight or severe increase in temperature with the involvement of various systems and organs in the process, the most severe of which is damage to the central nervous system.

Common adverse reactions

Side effects may vary from vaccine to vaccine. However, there are a number of reactions that can occur in many cases:

• Allergic reactions to vaccine components.
• Mild disease effects.
• Live vaccines can be dangerous for people with weakened immune systems (immunodeficiencies).
• Local reactions at the injection site.
• Fever.

When using vaccines, there is also another danger – over time, the effect of the vaccine decreases, and the patient may become ill. However, the disease will be milder and cause fewer complications than in the unvaccinated.

The frequency of post-vaccination complications

The first place in the structure of post-vaccination complications is occupied by complications after DTP vaccination (up to 60% of all complications). It can be hoped that in the future, the widespread use of the acellular pertussis component will lead to a significant reduction in these complications.

Most common causes of complications

• Incorrect vaccine dosage
• Wrong choice of immunization technique
• Violation of equipment sterilization technique
• Vaccine prepared with wrong diluent
• Incorrect vaccine dilution
• Incorrect preparation of the vaccine (for example, the vaccine was not mixed before use)
• Vaccine contamination
• Improper storage of vaccine
• Contraindications were not taken into account

Vaccine reactions

Normal reactions to vaccines

Vaccine	Normal reactions
BCG	A papule appears at the injection site, then it erodes, after which a scar remains in its place.
Hepatitis B	Soreness at the injection site for 1-3 days.
DTP	Pain and slight swelling at the injection site, rise in body temperature to subfebrile – febrile numbers within 1-3 days, rarely more than 3 days.
OPV	Occurs without a general reaction of the body.
Measles, Rubella, Mumps	Soreness at the injection site and rarely low-grade fever.

Complications associated with vaccination

Contraindications to vaccination

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1. To vaccine groups:
   1. For all vaccines, a strong reaction to the previous dose. (A strong reaction is considered to be a rise in temperature above 40.0 degrees, at the injection site, edema and hyperemia with a diameter of more than 8 cm.)
   2. Live vaccines – IDS, (primary immunodeficiency, immunosuppression, malignancy, pregnancy)
2. For individual vaccines:
   1. BCG – child weight < 2000 g, keloid scar after 1st dose
   2. DTP – progressive disease of the nervous system, history of afebrile convulsions (afebrile convulsions are convulsions at a body temperature of less than 38.5 degrees and which were not before vaccination)
   3. ADS, ADS-M – no absolute contraindications
   4. GI (measles) – severe reaction to aminoglycosides
   5. HPV (mumps) – anaphylaxis to egg white
   6. Rubella – egg white anaphylaxis
   7. Influenza – anaphylaxis to egg white

Risk of complications after vaccination and risk after related infections

Severe complication rate after DPT compared with whooping cough complications

Complications	Whooping cough rate per 100,000 cases	Frequency after vaccination per 100,000 vaccinated
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