Precautions
What are the long term side effects of RITUXAN?
Does Rituxan cause any long-term side effects?heart problems, such as heart attack or ventricular fibrillation (a type of abnormal heart rhythm)blockage or tearing of your intestines.kidney failure or other serious kidney problems.serious infections, such as shingles.reactivation of the hepatitis B virus*
What does RITUXAN do to immune system?
It helps the immune system destroy cancer cells. Rituximab injection is a monoclonal antibody. Rituximab injection is used together with other medicines (eg, fludarabine cyclophosphamide) to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
How long can you be on RITUXAN?
Rituxan can provide up to 6 months of symptom improvement from 1 course of treatment (2 infusions given 2 weeks apart). Be sure to talk with your doctor to find out if starting and continuing treatment with Rituxan is right for you.
What are the benefits of RITUXAN?
Rituximab is used to treat certain types of cancer (such as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia). It works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells. Some brands of rituximab are also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and can decrease joint pain and swelling.
How do you know if Rituxan is working?
Rituximab works by lowering the number of these B-cells, to reduce inflammation, pain, swelling and joint damage. If rituximab works for you, you'll probably notice an improvement in your symptoms 8-16 weeks after you start treatment.
What is the success rate of rituximab?
Rituximab with bendamustine (Treanda, Cephalon) was studied in a phase 2 trial in patients with relapsed disease. This combination was found to be very effective, with an ORR of 92%.
What are serious risks of RITUXAN?
Rituxan can increase your risk of getting infections and can lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections. People with serious infections should not receive Rituxan. Heart Problems: Rituxan may cause chest pain, irregular heartbeats, and heart attack.
How do you feel after RITUXAN?
After a Rituxan (rituximab) infusion you may experience certain side effects or adverse reactions that make you feel unwell. Rituxan affects different people in different ways, but the more common side effects include: Fever (high temperature), muscle aches, headaches and chills, which are signs of infection.
Will I lose my hair with rituximab?
You could lose all your hair. This includes your eyelashes, eyebrows, underarm, leg and sometimes pubic hair. Your hair will usually grow back once treatment has finished but it is likely to be softer. It may grow back a different colour or be curlier than before.
How many times can rituximab be given?
4 INFUSIONS A YEAR A "course" is two 1-gram IV infusions separated by 2 weeks. Rituxan is typically given every 6 months, or based on your doctor's evaluation of your symptoms.
Is Rituxan a chemotherapy?
RITUXAN is not chemotherapy. RITUXAN is a type of antibody therapy that can be used alone or with chemotherapy. They work in different ways to find and attack the cells where cancer starts. RITUXAN targets and attaches to the CD20 protein found on the surface of blood cells with cancer and some healthy blood cells.
Who should not take Rituxan?
After receiving RITUXAN, some people have developed low levels of certain antibodies in their blood for a long period of time (longer than 11 months). Some of these patients with low antibody levels developed infections. People with serious infections should not receive RITUXAN.
How long does rituximab suppress the immune system?
The effects of rituximab usually last for between six and nine months. Rituximab suppresses the immune system. Therefore, serious fungal, bacterial and new or reactivated viral infections (for example, hepatitis B or C, shingles) can occur during or after treatment.
How do you feel after Rituxan infusion?
After a Rituxan (rituximab) infusion you may experience certain side effects or adverse reactions that make you feel unwell. Rituxan affects different people in different ways, but the more common side effects include: Fever (high temperature), muscle aches, headaches and chills, which are signs of infection.
Does rituximab cause immunosuppression?
Rituximab may in addition cause immunosuppression through several other mechanisms such as delayed-onset cytopenia, particularly neutropenia and hypogammaglobulinemia. Clinical trials have shown conflicting results regarding the association of rituximab with infections.
How long does it take for rituximab infusion to work?
How long does rituximab take to work? Rituximab takes about 4-6 weeks to work and depending on your renal disease, your other immunosuppressant drugs need to be continued for 4-8 weeks, or stopped on the first dose. The effect of rituximab usually lasts for between six and nine months.