Synvisc-One® is a medication that is used primarily to treat knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a condition in which the joints become stiff and painful as a result of deterioration due to excessive pressure and friction over time. The symptoms of osteoarthritis cannot be cured and the condition generally worsens over time, but medication may be used to temporarily reduce pain, swelling, stiffness, and other symptoms.
The symptoms of osteoarthritis are the result of cartilage, the thick fibrous tissue that acts as a cushion between the joints and bones, disintegrating over time. Without the cushioning from cartilage, the joints and bones rub against each other, and become painful or stiff to move. Synvisc-One® may help reduce the pain, stiffness, and swelling in the knees that results from osteoarthritis by providing the knee with hyaluronate sodium derivative, a fluid that mimics the body’s synovial fluid, which naturally provides cushioning in the knee joints. The additional fluid may reduce the friction between the joints and bones and help relieve pain and other osteoarthritis symptoms in the knees.
Synvisc-One® is administered directly into either knee or both knees as an injection. The administration process is generally performed by a doctor as an outpatient procedure and usually takes less than 10 minutes to be completed. Once the medication is injected into the knee, a person is typically recommended to avoid physically demanding activities that place pressure on the knee joints for at least 48 hours to prevent irritating the knees. The pain relief from the medication may take up to one month to kick in fully and may last up to six months. A patient may continue to safely receive injections whenever osteoarthritis symptoms return in the knees.
Certain side effects may occur in some patients after receiving a Synvisc-One® in their knees. Patients may experience increased pain or stiffness in the knee, but these symptoms generally subside within approximately 48 hours. The injection area may also temporarily appear swollen due to fluid retention in the knee after the injection of the medication. In rare cases, serious side effects that require immediate medical attention may occur as a result of the medication. These include rash, trouble breathing, dizziness, facial swelling, abnormal heartbeat, or pain or stiffness that is localized on one side of the body.
Although Synvisc-One® is generally considered safe overall, it may cause complications in some individuals that may make the medication too risky to use. The effects of the medication on newborns has not been established, so it is usually not recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Patients who are prone to infections in the joints may also not be recommended to use this osteoarthritis treatment as it may worsen their condition.