What to Expect Before and After Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy Q&A

Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy (IVIG) is an innovative treatment solution that helps strengthen the immune system, especially for individuals with weakened immune systems or various diseases.

It can be used to fight off infections and is utilized in the treatment of a wide range of conditions, including immune deficiencies such as immune thrombocytopenia, neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis, and lupus, and to prevent infections after various procedures.

IVIG administers the antibodies an individual’s body is not making on its own to fight infections. Due to the IV delivery system, IVIG is faster-acting and more potent than oral medications in most cases.

When it comes to how long it takes to see results from IVIG, it can vary depending on several individual circumstances, including overall patient health, the nature of the treated condition, and how they respond to treatment.

Providers at the Jean Walter Infusion Center work with individuals on a case-by-case basis to establish a custom treatment plan tailored to their unique needs. Patients can see the results of IVIG within days, weeks, or sometimes months.

Given the wide range of potential timeframes it can take before patients experience results, they should not panic if they do not notice immediate improvements. IVIG will be monitored by providers at the Jean Walter Infusion Center who will make adjustments to the treatment plan as necessary.

Several factors will influence how an individual will feel about the patient’s immunoglobulin infusions. The infusion itself usually takes between one and four hours to be administered, depending on the patient’s needs.

Most people do not experience any IVIG side effects, and the administration of the treatment is fairly comfortable. Typically, when individuals do experience side effects, they are minor and only briefly experienced. Common side effects include headaches, chills, flu-like muscle or joint pains, tiredness, nausea, fever, and rashes.

Typically, any side effects are most noticeable when individuals are having their first dose of IVIG if they’ve gone a long period between IVIG treatments, or if individuals are changing to a different brand of IVIG. Patients will be monitored for any adverse reactions that need to be addressed by providers at the Jean Walter Infusion Center.

How successful IVIG therapy will be is influenced by several different factors. Typically speaking, it’s a highly effective treatment for treating antibody deficiencies and other health concerns.

The success rate is reportedly around or above 70% in different clinical studies. Patients visiting the Jean Walter Infusion Center have access to a wide range of cutting-edge medical services administered by specialists who ensure treatment is customized to each individual’s unique circumstances.

Providers aim to improve overall health, reduce symptoms, and ensure protection from infections. However, even when IVIG therapy is successful, patients must keep in mind that not all infections are preventable.

They can still contract infections, but their frequency and severity should significantly decrease, and the risks of severe adverse health outcomes are diminished.

The effects of IVIG therapy occur on different timelines, and how quickly a reduction in inflammation occurs is influenced by its cause, the administered treatment, individual health factors, and more.

Whether the condition causing the inflammation is acute or a chronic inflammatory condition can impact how quickly IVIG therapy reduces inflammation. It could take several weeks to months for patients to observe significant effects.

The frequency and duration of IVIG therapy can also influence the outcome and how quickly individuals find relief from inflammation. Individuals can collaborate with their healthcare providers at the Jean Walter Infusion Center in the customization of treatment to their specific needs.

It can also be beneficial for patients to keep track of how they feel in the immediate aftermath of an infusion therapy session and in between sessions to dictate the treatment’s next steps.

You can get an immunoglobulin therapy treatment option from Jean Walter Infusion Centre that fits your demands. For more information, contact us or request an appointment online. We have convenient locations to serve you in Maryland. We serve patients from Catonsville MD, Rosedale MD, Baltimore MD, Columbia MD, Glen Burnie MD, Edgewater MD, North Baltimore MD, Parkville MD, Middle River MD, Dundalk MD, Halethrope MD, Ellicott City MD, Laurel MD, Hebbville MD, Woodlawn MD, and the surrounding areas.