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What to Expect From Your XIAFLEX® Treatment

What to Expect

XIAFLEX®—an FDA-approved nonsurgical treatment for adults with Dupuytren’s contracture when a “cord” can be felt.

XIAFLEX® is given in a doctor’s office by a hand specialist trained to use XIAFLEX®.

Use our locator tool to find one near you.

Find a hand specialist in your area

What is the procedure like?

The doctor will:

  • Inject XIAFLEX® directly into the cord that is causing your finger(s) to bend
    • If you have up to 2 contractures in the same hand, the doctor may give you 2 injections during 1 visit
  • Wrap your treated hand with bandages
  • Advise you to limit the movement of your treated finger(s)
  • Instruct you to keep your hand elevated until bedtime

Do not bend or straighten the finger(s) yourself.

Your first follow-up visit with the doctor will be about 1 to 3 days after the injection. If you still have the cord, the doctor may try to extend the treated finger(s) to “break” the cord(s). This is to help straighten your finger(s). The doctor may use a local anesthetic during this procedure.

After the extension procedure, the doctor will:

  • Ask you to do simple finger exercises daily
  • Instruct you to wear a splint at bedtime
  • Advise you on how long to wait before resuming normal activities with the treated hand

About 30 days after the injection, you should return to the doctor to have your finger(s) examined.

If the cord(s) is still present, you may need additional injections and finger extension procedures (up to 3 times per cord) approximately 4 weeks apart.

Call the doctor right away if you have:

  • Signs of infection after your injection, such as fever, chills, increased redness, or swelling
  • Numbness or tingling in the treated finger(s)
  • Trouble bending the injected finger(s) after the swelling goes down or you have problems using your treated hand
  • Tears in the skin of your treated finger(s)
  • Symptoms of allergic reaction including: hives, chest pain, swollen face, low blood pressure, breathing trouble, or dizziness or fainting

If you have dizziness or feel faint after receiving XIAFLEX, lie down until the symptoms go away.

Find a hand specialist in your area

It is estimated that more than 190,000 adult patients with Dupuytren’s contracture have been prescribed XIAFLEX.*

*From February 2010 through May 2022.

How Will I Pay for Treatment With XIAFLEX®?

*Based on analysis of claims filed September 2011 through March 2018.

In situations in which you need to pay for XIAFLEX®, how much you pay will depend on your health benefits or insurance coverage.

For more information about saving on XIAFLEX®, visit XIAFLEX.com.

Restrictions apply. See full terms and conditions at XIAFLEX.com.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR XIAFLEX® (collagenase clostridium histolyticum)

WHAT IS XIAFLEX®?

XIAFLEX is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with Dupuytren’s contracture when a “cord” can be felt. It is not known if XIAFLEX is safe and effective in children under the age of 18.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR XIAFLEX

Do not receive XIAFLEX if you have had an allergic reaction to collagenase clostridium histolyticum or any of the ingredients in XIAFLEX, or to any other collagenase product. See the end of the Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in XIAFLEX.

XIAFLEX can cause serious side effects, including:

  • Tendon rupture or ligament damage. Receiving an injection of XIAFLEX may cause damage to a tendon or ligament in your hand and cause it to break or weaken. This could require surgery to fix the damaged tendon or ligament. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have trouble bending your injected finger (towards the wrist) after the swelling goes down or you have problems using your treated hand after your follow-up visit
  • Nerve injury or other serious injury of the hand. After finger procedures, some people developed tears in the skin (lacerations), and local skin and soft-tissue necrosis (death of skin cells). Some lacerations and necrosis required skin grafting, or other surgery including amputation. Call your healthcare provider right away if you get numbness, tingling, increased pain, or tears in the skin (laceration) in your treated finger or hand after your injection or after your follow-up visit
  • Hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis. Severe allergic reactions can happen in people who receive XIAFLEX because it contains foreign proteins. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms of an allergic reaction after an injection of XIAFLEX:
  • hives
  • swollen face
  • breathing trouble
  • chest pain
  • low blood pressure
  • dizziness or fainting
  • Fainting. Fainting (passing out) or near fainting can happen in people who receive XIAFLEX, especially following finger procedures
    If you have dizziness or feel faint after receiving XIAFLEX, lie down until the symptoms go away.
  • Increased chance of bleeding. Bleeding or bruising at the injection site can happen in people who receive XIAFLEX. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have a problem with your blood clotting. XIAFLEX may not be right for you.

Before receiving XIAFLEX, tell your healthcare provider if you have had an allergic reaction to a previous XIAFLEX injection, or have a bleeding problem or any other medical conditions. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Using XIAFLEX with certain other medicines can cause serious side effects. Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take medicines to thin your blood (anticoagulants). If you are told to stop taking a blood thinner before your XIAFLEX injection, your healthcare provider should tell you when to restart the blood thinner. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of these medicines if you are unsure.

The most common side effects with XIAFLEX for the treatment of Dupuytren’s contracture include:

  • swelling of the injection site or the hand
  • bruising or bleeding at the injection site
  • pain or tenderness of the injection site or the hand
  • swelling of the lymph nodes (glands) in the elbow or armpit
  • itching
  • breaks in the skin
  • redness or warmth of the skin
  • pain in the armpit

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away. These are not all of the possible side effects with XIAFLEX. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Click for full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide.

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