Dear Sarah,

IvIg is an acronym for "intravenous immunoglobulin type G," which is G tpe antibodies that protect us from viruses and bacteria. The G type antibodies are obtained from the blood plasma of 1,000 donors. It is a substance of which healthy bodies make plenty. You can have a blood test to determine your own levels of Ig (immunoglobulin-G), as well as the other sub-classes of immunoglobulins. My levels of most immunoglobulins were awfully low. My daughter, who has MS, had similar low levels.


The intravenous part, means that the Ig is infused into a vein. My doctor is an infectious disease specialist and runs his own private clinic. He prepares all substances for infusion under a sterile hood. And, he uses a small butterfly needle inserted into veins in the back of the hand or inside arm just above the wrist. This good doctor insists upon performing intravenous infusions in the farthest extremity. If you start inside the elbow, where phlebotomists usually draw blood, then there are not many alternate routes left. For those requiring regular infusions for a long time or even for a lifetime, it is important to conserve veins!

Ig is not a drug. It works better than all the drugs and surgeries and TENS units put together.

Ig must be infused at least every 21 days. It takes 2 to 2 and 1/2 hours. Working with my doctor, we discovered that 20grams every 21 days is what both my daughter and I need to stay well and reduce or eliminate pain.

IvIg begins to wear off after 2 weeks. Going longer than 3 weeks between infusions is not advisable for the immunocompromised.

As for low immunity, I wonder if everyone with an autoimmune disease has low immunity and could benefit enormously from receiving IvIg. I do know about studies done quite a long time ago, as well as more recently, showing the efficacy of IvIg for many autoimmune disorders. You can search PubMed, or simply google IvIg for CRPS or IvIg for autoimmune disorders.

I suppose there are other doctors that will do it. It can be done by a home nursing service too, although I have too much experience receiving intravenous treatment and seeing other people receive it as well, to recommend this route. It is best to always have a doctor as close as the next room. I would venture a guess that any place that gives chemotherapy via Iv could also put Ig into a vein.

My doctor uses Privogen. It is a superior Ig product. If research various brands of Ig, you will find that some are made with glucose. These types cause trouble. Privogen is made with saline and is the safest Ig product my doctor knows. He has been infusing Privogen brand Ig without any problems for a very long time. I recommend googling Privogen and reading more about it.

Eight months ago I was taking the following drugs: Neurontin 3600mg daily (generic name: Gabapentin - I can't take it due to the gluten added into the generic form); Cymbalta 120mg daily; Methadone 10 mg daily; Klonopin 2mg at bedtime. I used a lot of Lidocaine patches too.

I'm 57. CRPS began at age 23 and spread throughout my body. After about 8 months on 20grams of IvIg every 21 days, I am well on the way to being drug free. I no longer take Methadone or Cymbalta. Neurontin is reduced to 300mg am and noon and 400mg at bedtime. Klonopin is at .5mg at bedtime. I'm aiming for another week or two to wean off of the last drug doses. I have much less pain and way more energy. I'm walking quite a lot. I used to use a scooter and don't even use a cane now.

I wish you good healing. ambika