The time spent on the machine may be one to three hours. This depends upon the patient s weight, height and the amount of plasma to be exchanged. Many patients feel fine after the procedure. Others may feel tired. Plasmapheresis works quickly to increase strength.
Most patients begin to improve within the first few days of the treatment.
A typical patient who has received three to five exchanges over a week or two would commonly remain stronger for one to two months. After a month or two, the acetylcholine receptor antibodies usually return to pre-treatment levels in the bloodstream. Common adverse effects may include a drop in blood pressure, feelings of faintness, dizziness, blurred vision, coldness, sweating or abdominal cramps. Rare adverse effects may include bleeding as a result of medications used to keep the blood from clotting, tingling associated with the mouth, eyes, fingers or toes and a possible allergic reaction to the solutions, which may result in itching, wheezing or rash. Often anxiety about plasmapheresis, especially during the first few treatments, can produce some unusual sensations that will go away once the patient becomes more comfortable with the procedure.