Hyqvia (Normal Immunoglobulin (Human) With Vorhyaluronidase Alfa)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Hyqvia Used For?
Hyqvia contains normal immunoglobulin (human) with vorhyaluronidase alfa. It belongs to a class of medicines called human immunoglobulins, which are antibodies found in healthy people’s blood that help fight infections.
Primary Uses
Hyqvia is used in adults and children aged 2 years and older who do not have enough antibodies in their blood. It can be used as antibody replacement therapy to raise antibody levels to normal. It’s also used for patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), a condition causing chronic inflammation of peripheral nerves that leads to muscle weakness and numbness mainly in the legs and arms.
How It Works
The vorhyaluronidase alfa component helps more immunoglobulin get absorbed into the body. For CIDP patients, the immunoglobulins are thought to help protect nerves from being damaged by the immune system, as CIDP occurs when the body’s defense system attacks peripheral nerves causing nerve damage and inflammation.
Blood Product Safety: Hyqvia is made from human blood with careful donor selection and testing. Multiple viral inactivation steps are used during manufacturing to ensure safety.
How to Take Hyqvia
Hyqvia must be infused under the skin exactly as your doctor has told you. Treatment will be started by your doctor or nurse, but you may be allowed to use it at home once you’ve received proper training and supervision.
Administration Instructions
Always wash your hands before procedures and use sterile methods. Hyqvia must not be mixed with other injectable medicines. Do not inject near infected or inflamed areas. The medicine comes as a dual vial unit – first infuse the vorhyaluronidase alfa (HY vial), then the normal immunoglobulin (IG vial). Allow vials to reach room temperature before use (up to 60 minutes). Do not heat or shake the vials.
What If You Miss a Dose?
Do not infuse a double dose to make up for a missed dose. If you think you’ve missed a dose, speak to your doctor as soon as possible.
Important: Do not begin home treatment until you have received complete instructions and adequate training from healthcare professionals.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Decreased appetite
- Migraine and headache
- Dizziness
- Burning sensation
- High or low blood pressure
- Nasal congestion
- Nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea
- Chest pain, oral pain
- Infusion site swelling, redness, or itching
- Fever or chills
- Back, muscle, or joint pain
- Fatigue, unusual weakness
- Swelling of hands, ankles or feet
- Feeling abnormal
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Serious allergic reaction: hives, swelling in mouth or throat, itching, trouble breathing, wheezing, fainting or dizziness
- Brain swelling: severe headache with nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, fever, sensitivity to light
- Kidney problems: reduced urination, sudden weight gain, swelling in legs
- Chest pain or tightness
- Blood clots: pain, swelling, warmth, redness, or lump in arms or legs
- Liver or blood problems: brown or red urine, fast heart rate, yellow skin or eyes
- Lung problems: chest pain, trouble breathing, blue lips or extremities
- Abnormal heart rate, blueness of lips or fingers
- Blurred vision
- Pain or tenderness, redness or swelling in arms and legs (other than at infusion sites)
Important Warnings
There are several important conditions and situations where Hyqvia should not be used or requires special caution.
Who Should Not Take Hyqvia
Do not use if you have severe immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency with history of hypersensitivity to human immunoglobulin treatment. Do not use if you’ve had anaphylactic or severe systemic reactions to IgG administration, have antibodies against IgA in your blood, have systemic hypersensitivity to hyaluronidase or vorhyaluronidase alfa, or are allergic to any ingredients in Hyqvia.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems or have had a vaccination recently. Your doctor may request regular monitoring of your kidney function after starting Hyqvia treatment.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while using this medicine.
Allergic Reactions: Stop infusion immediately and contact your doctor if you experience allergic reactions such as skin rash, itching, chest tightness, wheezing, dizziness, hives, faintness, chills, flushing, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, or swollen face.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with Hyqvia and affect how it works. Always tell your healthcare providers about all medicines you’re taking.
- Tell your doctor about any medicines, vitamins or supplements you buy without prescription
- Check with your doctor if you’re not sure about what medicines affect Hyqvia
- Tell doctors, dentists and pharmacists that you’re using Hyqvia
- If starting any new medicine, tell your doctor you’re using Hyqvia
Alcohol & Driving
Hyqvia has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive or use machines, but certain side effects may affect your ability to drive safely.
Driving and Operating Machinery
If you experience adverse reactions such as dizziness and nausea, wait for these to resolve before driving or operating machines.
Storage
Store Hyqvia at 2°C – 8°C in a refrigerator for the duration of its shelf life. Store in the original package to protect from light. Do not freeze. Keep out of reach and sight of children. Do not use after the expiry date printed on the label. Hyqvia contains no preservatives, so discard any medicine left in vials at the end of infusion.
Overdose Information
The effects of a Hyqvia overdose are not known. Tell your doctor immediately if you accidentally use more than instructed. Do not infuse a double dose to make up for a missed dose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hyqvia works as antibody replacement therapy to raise antibody levels in your blood to normal levels. The vorhyaluronidase alfa component helps more immunoglobulin get absorbed into the body, but specific timing for therapeutic effects should be discussed with your doctor.
Yes, you may be allowed to use Hyqvia at home once you have received the first few infusions under medical supervision and you (and/or your guardian) have been adequately trained. Do not begin home treatment until you have received complete instructions.
Stop the infusion immediately and contact your doctor if you experience allergic reactions such as skin rash, itching, chest tightness, wheezing, dizziness, hives, faintness, chills, flushing, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, or swollen face.
Talk to your healthcare provider before travelling. Plan to bring enough medicine for your treatment during this time. Obtain a written statement from your physician explaining why you need this medicine and injecting devices, otherwise you may not be allowed to bring it into the country you’re travelling to.
Allow vials to reach room temperature (up to 60 minutes). Do not use heating devices including microwave. Always wash your hands and use sterile methods. Check expiry dates and ensure liquids are clear without particles before use.
Do not infuse a double dose to make up for a missed dose. If you think you have missed a dose, speak to your doctor as soon as possible for guidance on when to take your next dose.
Yes, Hyqvia can be used in adults and children 2 years of age and older for both antibody replacement therapy and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) treatment.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.