When you hear IVIG, intravenous immunoglobulin, a purified antibody treatment made from donated human plasma. Also known as intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, it's used to boost immunity in people with weakened immune systems or autoimmune disorders. It’s not a one-size-fits-all treatment. IVIG dosing changes depending on why you’re getting it—whether it’s for an infection, a neurological condition, or an autoimmune flare-up.
Doctors base the starting dose on your weight, usually between 200 to 400 milligrams per kilogram. For chronic conditions like CIDP or Kawasaki disease, that dose might be repeated every 3 to 4 weeks. But for acute infections or immune deficiencies, you might get a single high dose or a short course over a few days. The IVIG therapy, a treatment that provides ready-made antibodies to help the body fight disease isn’t just about the number—it’s about timing, speed of infusion, and how your body reacts. Some people get headaches or fever after the first dose, others feel fine. That’s why many clinics start slow and adjust based on tolerance.
What you’re treating makes a big difference. If you have primary immunodeficiency, you might need regular IVIG for life. If you’re treating Guillain-Barré syndrome, it’s often a 5-day course. The intravenous immunoglobulin dosage, the specific amount of antibody solution given per kilogram of body weight isn’t just a number on a chart—it’s tied to your immune response, lab results, and how you feel day to day. And while side effects like nausea or fatigue are common, serious reactions like kidney issues or blood clots are rare but tracked closely.
You’ll find posts here that break down how IVIG compares to other treatments, what real patients experience during infusions, and how dosing changes for kids versus adults. Some articles look at cost and access, others at how long it takes to see results. There’s no magic formula, but there are clear patterns—what works for one person might need tweaking for another. The goal isn’t just to give you the right amount of antibodies—it’s to give you the right treatment at the right time, with the least risk and the most benefit.
IVIG therapy uses pooled antibodies from healthy donors to calm overactive immune systems in autoimmune disorders. It works fast, is safer than many drugs, and helps patients with conditions like CIDP, ITP, and Kawasaki disease regain function and quality of life.
