Frequently asked questions about Cingal®

Cingal® is a mixture of hyaluronan combined with a steroid. Hyaluronan is a natural chemical found in high amounts in your joint tissues and in the fluid that fills your joints. When you have knee OA, there may not be enough hyaluronan in your knee joint and the quality may be lower than normal. Cingal® adds hyaluronan to your knee joint, acting as a lubricant and shock absorber in the joint. Cingal® also contains a steroid, which reduces inflammation and combined with the hyaluronan provides both short-term and long-lasting pain relief.

Your healthcare professional will inject a single 4 mL dose of Cingal® into your knee joint.

Pain relief with Cingal® generally occurs within 24 hours of administration and can last up to 26 weeks.

Cingal® is generally well tolerated. However, possible complications may arise when Cingal® is injected into the knee joint. Pain, swelling, heat, rash, itching, bruising and/or redness, and achiness could occur. The skin at the injection site may become thinner or change colour. You may experience facial flushing. These reactions are normally mild and last for a very short period of time. Should any of these symptoms appear following your Cingal® injection or if you have any problems not included here, speak to your healthcare professional.

In addition to Cingal®, there are other options available for OA knee pain treatment, including the viscosupplements Monovisc® and Orthovisc®. Visit kneepainrelief.ca for additional ways to relieve knee pain caused by OA.

A prescription by a qualified healthcare professional or licensed practitioner is necessary to obtain Cingal®. Orthopedists, sports medicine specialists, and rheumatologists are also able to administer Cingal®.