Synvisc (hylan GF 20) and Hyalgan (hyaluronic acid) are two brand-name drugs that can help with osteoarthritis knee pain. Usually, your doctor will give you an injection once a week.
One of the characteristics of osteoarthritis (OA) is the loss of cartilage in your joints, which acts as a protective cushion. While no treatment can reverse OA, Synvisc, and Hyalgan are two treatments that can help ease your knee pain.
These are products used for viscosupplementation. Read on to learn about their similarities and differences.
Viscosupplementation is a treatment that involves cushioning your knee joint with injections of a gel-like fluid. The fluid acts as a shock absorber and enables the bones to move more smoothly.
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Synvisc (hylan GF 20) and Hyalgan (hyaluronic acid) are both available as brand-name drugs. They’re made of a naturally occurring substance called hyaluronic acid, which can help cushion and lubricate your joints.
Both drugs are also second-line therapy. That means your doctor will likely have you try pain relievers, corticosteroid injections, physical therapy, and lifestyle modifications before prescribing them.
Both Synvisc and Hyalgan are safe and effective at reducing pain from OA. You may receive them by injection in a doctor’s office directly into the cavity surrounding your knee joint.
Both single-shot and multi-shot options are available, but
Depending on the formulation, you may need a series of injections to see the full benefits.
With both the single and multi-dose injections you may not experience relief until several weeks, but the benefits may extended out to several months.
Even though they’re both made of hyaluronic acid produced from chicken combs, Synvisc is chemically modified to increase its molecular weight. Hyalgan is not.
It’s thought that formulations with higher molecular weight are closer to the molecular weight and elasticity of the natural lubricants in the joints of young people. But research hasn’t shown whether Synvisc is more effective in people with OA.
Although there are 12 FDA-approved viscosupplementation products available in the United States, there are two Synvisc options and one Hyalgan option.
Your doctor will determine which one is best for you based on various factors like disease progression, tolerability of the injections, as well as cost.
They include:
- Synvisc-One: This is given as a single 6-milliliter (mL) injection.
- Original Synvisc: This is given as a 2-mL injection once a week for 3 weeks.
- Hyalgan: This is given as one injection per week for 5 weeks.
Understanding the possibility of complications and side effects is important when making any treatment decision.
Synvisc and Hyalgan have similar side effects. They include:
- fluid buildup around the joint
- pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site
Having repeated injections of Synvisc may cause a hypersensitivity reaction. This is a set of immune system responses to the product, including allergic responses.
This reaction may be uncomfortable or painful. Hypersensitivity reactions may happen after an injection even if they haven’t happened with previous injections.
OA knee pain becomes a real possibility with aging or injury. While treatments can’t reverse OA damage, they can decrease joint pain to make you more comfortable.
Several treatment options are available, and your doctor will recommend a therapy for you based on your medical history and the severity of your OA and joint pain.
If your doctor recommends viscosupplementation, Synvisc, Synvisc-One, and Hyalgan are a few options that work similarly and are safe.