Hyqvia: Strength, administration, and dose per body weight
After a gradual adjustment period, the Hyqvia dose is 300-600 mg/kg, every 3 to 4 weeks. The dose is adjusted individually based on body weight, medical history, symptom severity, and treatment response.
Hyqvia is given as a subcutaneous infusion, usually in the abdomen or thigh. It is usually administered by a healthcare professional, and can be self-administered or given by a caregiver after supervised training.
Hyqvia has a boxed warning about the risk of blood clots. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. This article summarizes key information and does not include all details in the full prescribing information.
Hyqvia comes in a “dual vial unit” package, which makes it easier to customize doses.
Hyaluronidase is administered first because it helps the body absorb the antibody medication.
Both adults and children ages 2 years and older can use Hyqvia for PI. The recommended dosage is the same for both.
Because Hyqvia involves injecting a large amount of fluid under the skin, patients can’t just start with the full monthly dose right away for safety reasons. A healthcare professional may prefer to start out with a small dose for one week, then slowly ramp up over a few weeks to a maintenance dose for 3 or 4 weeks.
Always follow the doctor’s recommendations and instructions for how often you take Hyqvia.
Hyqvia treatment for CIDP can only start if the person is already receiving IV immune globulin treatment. If so, they can switch to Hyqvia.
A doctor will match the starting Hyqvia dose to the dose the person was already getting with the previous drug. Typical monthly doses range from 0.4 to 2.4 g per 1 kg of body weight.
Hyqvia infusions are given every 2 to 4 weeks, often mirroring the previous IV schedule. But if the prior infusions were spaced beyond 4 weeks, the doctor will adjust to every 3 to 4 weeks with Hyqvia, while keeping the dose itself the same.
If needed, the dose will be gradually increased over 9 weeks until the target maintenance dose is reached.
The medication always comes with a small vial of the hyaluronidase enzyme.
The ratio of liquid volume between the two vials is always the same: you need 0.5 mL of the enzyme for every 10 mL of the IgG medication (or 80 units of the enzyme for every 1 g of the IgG medication). This ratio corresponds to the dose (amount/strength) of the active ingredients. This applies to PI and CIDP treatments.
The volume (mL) changes depending on how many grams of the medication your body needs. The strength (10%) does not change; only the total amount of medication in the vial changes.
Body weight directly affects how doctors calculate the correct Hyqvia dose and make necessary adjustments to ensure the treatment works well and is safe.
For initial doses, doctors will give a baseline dose and then follow up with blood tests to measure the medications levels. This is referred to as the trough level. If the blood tests don’t match the target levels, the doctor will adjust the dose accordingly to give you more or less of the medication.
Where it goes: Depending on the dose, Hyqvia can be injected into one, two, or three spots on your belly or thighs. If multiple sites are used, the enzyme and medication solutions need to be split evenly between them.
How long the infusion last: Infusion time is based on body weight and how the body responds. A doctor will want to start slow, and if the person tolerates treatment, they will gradually increase the rate at which the medication is infused into the bloodstream.
If you miss a week of treatment or skip a dose, it’s important to speak with the doctor right away. They will likely schedule a visit as soon as possible to provide the missed dose. After that, you will continue to follow the established schedule.
Always follow the doctor’s recommendations. Taking more Hyqvia than prescribed or taking it more frequently may lead to serious adverse effects.
If you develop severe symptoms after a Hyqvia infusion, including shortness of breath, palpitations, or chest pain, call 911 or your local emergency number at once. If not possible, go to the nearest emergency room right away.
Call 911 or local emergency numbers, or go to the nearest emergency room, if you experience any of the mentioned symptoms.
Hyqvia is an immune globulin. Its dosage depends on body weight and whether the person has received prior immunoglobulin therapy. Hyqvia is typically administered by infusion every 3 to 4 weeks.