SYNVISC

SYNVISC is an FDA-approved therapy that has been used in over 2.2 million knees in the U.S. to provide pain relief from osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. The leading treatment of its kind in the U.S., SYNVISC may be able to offer you:

Up to 6 months of knee pain relief, which may lead to improved mobility, without surgery or pills*
None of the safety issues associated with oral medications
Double the pain relief when added to standard treatment, such as diet exercise, and non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory therapies (NSAIDs) like Aleve and Motrin

Coverage by Medicare and most insurance plans

* Treatment with SYNVISC may not eliminate the need for other OA medications.

How Does SYNVISC Work?

SYNVISC is a treatment option called a viscosupplement. It replaces damaged synovial fluid with a substance similar to that found in healthy joints of 18- to 27-year-olds.

In knees with osteoarthritis, normal joint fluid, called synovial fluid, becomes thinner, losing its ability to lubricate and cushion the knee joint. Without this cushioning, cartilage in the knee joint may wear down over time, causing pain and stiffness. SYNVISC can improve the cushioning and lubricating effects of synovial fluid that has been damaged by OA.

How is SYNVISC given?

SYNVISC is injected directly into the knee joint over the course of 3 doctor visits, 1 week apart. For maximum relief, you must receive all 3 injections.

When will treatment start to work?
Some patients may begin to feel better after the first injection, but most patients feel the greatest relief 8 to 12 weeks after beginning treatment with SYNVISC.

How long will the relief last?

Although all patients respond differently, OA knee pain relief may last up to 6 months.

Are there any side effects?

SYNVISC is generally well tolerated. Unlike pills, which are absorbed into the bloodstream, SYNVISC is injected directly into the knee, resulting in fewer safety risks. As with all viscosupplements, side effects are rare, but may include pain, swelling and/or fluid buildup around the knee. Other side effects, such as rash, have been reported rarely.

Only your doctor can tell you if SYNVISC is right for you. If your doctor does not provide SYNVISC, ask him or her for a referral, or click on our SYNVISC Provider Locator to find a doctor in your area.

How is SYNVISC Different from Other Treatments?

There are many treatment options for osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. When you are first diagnosed, your doctor will likely recommend diet, exercise and oral medications. If you don’t receive adequate pain relief, other options such as SYNVISC may be able to help.

Treatment Description SYNVISC Provides up to 6 months of OA knee pain relief with just 3 injections, 1 week apart. SYNVISC replaces damaged knee fluid with a substance similar to normal joint fluid. Over-the-counter and prescription oral medication Daily relief from mild to moderate OA knee pain may be provided by over-the-counter medications like Tylenol, Aleve and prescription medications like Celebrex. Steroid injection Provides several weeks of OA knee pain relief with one injection, which reduces inflammation but does not lubricate the knee joint. Surgery Extended relief from severe joint pain may be provided with arthroscopic surgery or knee replacement when other treatments have stopped providing adequate relief.

Only your doctor can tell you if SYNVISC is right for you. If your doctor does not provide SYNVISC, ask him or her for a referral, or click on our SYNVISC Provider Locator to find a doctor in your area.

Tylenol is a registered trademark of McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals, a Division of McNeil-PPC, Inc.
Aleve is a registered trademark of Bayer Consumer Care, LLC.
Celebrex is a registered trademark of Pfizer, Inc.

Can I Get SYNVISC More than Once?

Yes. If you've already experienced up to 6 months of pain relief from SYNVISC, but your knee pain has returned, ask your doctor if another course of SYNVISC treatment is right for you.

Keeping track of your knee pain and stiffness can help your doctor determine when it’s time for another SYNVISC treatment. Sign up to join In Step with SYNVISC for FREE and you can start an online knee pain diary that contains the information you and your doctor will need.