Infusion Therapy for Gout in Columbia, MD

One of the most prevalent forms of arthritis is gout. This painful condition causes sudden and severe attacks of pain, soreness, and swelling in the afflicted joints. While this condition cannot be cured, gout can be successfully managed through oral medication or other approaches.

For patients with chronic gout, infusion therapy is a treatment option for managing severe symptoms that oral medications haven’t successfully relieved. Your infusion journey begins with a consultation with a rheumatologist. The doctor will assess your current symptoms, review your medical history, and determine if infusion therapy is the right option for you. The consultation session is important for tailoring the treatment to your specific needs.

If it’s determined that infusion therapy is right for you, the provider will schedule you for an infusion session. When you arrive for your appointment, you will be taken to a comfortable room with reclining chairs and a calm atmosphere. Once you are situated, the healthcare professional will carefully insert an IV line into a vein in your forearm.

The IV line will be connected to an IV bag filled with the prescribed medication, such as pegloticase (Krystexxa). Throughout your infusion, the healthcare professional will monitor you to ensure the treatment is proceeding smoothly and to manage any potential side effects. We recommend bringing an activity to keep you occupied and help the time go by faster, whether it be a book, a podcast, or a game on your mobile device. After the infusion, you’ll be observed for some time to ensure there is no adverse reaction.

When you receive an infusion to control the symptoms of chronic gout, you can expect the process to last from half an hour to a few hours. The exact length of your infusion is influenced by the specific medication used, the dosage, and how well you respond to the treatment.

Different medications used in infusion therapy have varying administration times. For example, biological treatments like pegloticase (Krystexxa) often require longer infusion periods to ensure they are safely and effectively delivered into your system. The prescribed dosage can also affect the duration of the session. Higher doses might take longer to infuse, as the medication is delivered slowly to reduce the risk of side effects.

In addition, some patients require additional time for preparation or observation based on their medical history or current health status. If discomfort or side effects arise during the infusion, the healthcare team will slow the infusion rate and provide care to keep you comfortable, which will lengthen the session.

The number of infusion therapy sessions you’ll need to address your symptoms of gout can vary widely based on your specific circumstances. Typically, you’ll begin with more frequent sessions to get your symptoms under control. When medications like pegloticase (Krystexxa) are used, healthcare professionals recommend infusions every two weeks for six to twelve months.

Throughout your therapy, your doctor will maintain a careful check on how you’re responding to infusion therapy for gout. This involves regular blood tests to check uric acid levels and assessments of your symptoms. Depending on your progress, the frequency of your sessions may be adjusted. If your uric acid levels are stable and you’re feeling better, your doctor may space out the infusions.

Some people find they need ongoing infusions to keep their gout in check. In this case, your physician will develop a long-term plan for managing your condition that focuses on preventing gout flare-ups. The exact number and frequency of these sessions will depend on how well you’re managing the condition over time.

Every person’s journey with gout is different. Your general health, any underlying conditions you have, and how well you tolerate the medication will all play a role in determining how many infusion sessions you’ll need. To learn more about infusions for chronic gout, schedule a consultation session at Jean Walter Infusion in Columbia, Maryland. For more information, contact us or book an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 5500 Knoll North Dr, Suite 250A, Columbia, MD 21045. We serve patients from Columbia, MD, Ellicott City MD, Laurel MD, Clarksville MD, Fulton MD, and surrounding areas.