Info for Clients Receiving IVIG

What is IVIG?

IVIG is commonly given for two classes of disorders.  In clients with an immunodeficiency disorder, IVIG supplies antibodies that the body can’t make on its own.  Without antibodies, the body is left defenseless against threats like bacteria and viruses.  Sometimes a client doesn’t make only one class of antibodies, sometimes it doesn’t make any at all.  By providing IVIG we are effectively providing a major component of the immune system, which reduces infections.

For people with autoimmune disorders, where the body’s immune system attacks its own cells and tissues, IVIG provides a rest for the body’s immune system.  There are many theories about why IVIG helps with autoimmune disorders, but a prevalent one is that by providing antibodies (IG), the body’s own immune system does not have to produce them.  Since the immune system is prone to over-react, by keeping it from having to produce antibodies on its own, we reduce the work of the immune system, reducing the risk of the immune system over-reacting, thereby helping to prevent cell and tissue damage.

What is a specialty pharmacy, and what do they do for me?

Unlike most medications that you can fill at a local pharmacy, IVIG is a specialized therapy that will be filled by a specialty pharmacy.  Very expensive medications or therapeutics that require monitoring are filled through specialty pharmacies.  Specialty pharmacies have highly experienced pharmacists and nurses on staff to promote your safety. 

The pharmacist may monitor lab values, coordinate with your physician, give recommendations on dosing, frequency, and brand, and provide drug counseling to the client.  The role of the registered nurse within the specialty pharmacy may vary, but they often help get the client set up with an infusion company, provide client information, provide education to infusion companies, help coordinate the care of the client, and serve as an advocate. The specialty pharmacy will set the client up with a fully vetted infusion nurse. 

Home infusion nurses with USA Infusions have strong backgrounds in ER, ICU, and home health.  This ensures that the nurse can operate independently and can correctly manage any complications (which are rare but need to be managed appropriately).

Specialty pharmacies will ship this medication to the client in time for the home infusion.  IVIG must be kept between 47 and 77 degrees.  Therefore, if you receive your package and your IVIG is warm to the touch, immediately call the specialty pharmacy to let them know.  These shipments are insured, so don’t ever feel like you need to accept a shipment that arrived at the wrong temperature.  Freezing IVIG will destroy the antibodies.  Temperatures above 77 degrees can also destroy the antibodies and can lead to adverse reactions and infections if infused after becoming too warm. We recommend keeping the IVIG refrigerated until about an hour before the infusion.  The location where the infusion will occur should stay between 47 and 77 degrees – if you cannot keep your home at this temperature range then we recommend you speak with your specialty pharmacy about arranging your infusion at an infusion center.

The Cost of IVIG

IVIG is a very expensive therapy.  The exact dollar amount for your dose depends on the brand of IVIG, the dose and frequency, any assistance programs you may qualify for, and your insurance coverage.  Because of its cost, certain precautions are taken to avoid wasting it. 

When your nurse arrives for your infusion, they will make sure that certain safety considerations are in place.  First, they will verify that you have an in-date allergic reaction kit in case of an allergic reaction.  These are medications that can manage the initial phases of an allergic reaction, and sometimes completely reverse the symptoms of the reaction.  The nurse will also take vital signs (blood pressure, temperature, pulse) before opening the IVIG.   Another important step the nurse takes is establishing venous access, whether inserting a peripheral IV, accessing a port, or verifying the patency of a PICC. 

Only after all of these steps take place will the IVIG be opened.  This helps prevent wasting the product, which is not only expensive but is a biological product derived from human plasma.  It is responsible for us to prevent the waste of this important medication.

IVIG is expensive because it takes thousands, and sometimes tens of thousands of donors to make one lot of the medication.  This may sound scary, but this donor pool actually makes the product much safer than if it came from a handful of donors.  The large donor pool leads to a good variety of antibodies being represented in the IVIG products.  The large donor pool also helps decrease the frequency of adverse reactions. 

Once donated, the human plasma is put through many cleaning, filtering, and sterilization processes.  The last episode of a viral illness transmitted with an IVIG product was in the mid-1990s, which led to a change in the manufacturing process for all IVIG products.

Is Home Infusion Safe?

Home infusion is safe, comfortable, and cost-efficient.  Clients enjoy having a 1:1 relationship with the infusion nurse, who will remain with the client throughout the infusion.  The ability to rest, relax, and nap in your home environment is greatly appreciated.  Through the use of experienced nurses who are experts in IVIG the safety profile rivals that of any infusion center.  In addition, a number of studies have shown that the frequency of infection related to infusion therapy is less in the home infusion environment than in other environments.  This can be attributed to the one-to-one ratio of client to nurse, the high level of expertise of home infusion nurses, the lack of time pressure on the nurse, and the reduction of being exposed to other people in an infusion center or hospital.

Why USA Infusions Should Be Your Choice

Happy nurses make happy clients.  We at USA Infusions know that recruiting and retaining highly experienced nurses will result in a great infusion experience for our clients.  Our registered nurses come to us with a wealth of experience and are screened for the right attitude.  What attitude is that?  Our nurses are grateful to be able to provide safe and effective therapies to improve the lives and lifestyles of our clients.  Our affiliated nurses are empowered to be true client advocates.  Our company realizes that advocating for the nurses keeps them in an environment where they can always do the right thing.  The result is a nurse that works for and with the client to achieve positive outcomes.