Precautions
Serious Infections: Serious infections can happen during and after treatment with RITUXAN, and can lead to death. RITUXAN can increase your risk of getting infections and can lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections. Types of serious infections that can happen with RITUXAN include bacterial, fungal, and viral infections.
Does rituximab lower your immune system?
- Blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
- blisters on the trunk, scalp, or other areas
- burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, “pins and needles”, or tingling feeling
- decreased frequency and amount of urine
- diarrhea
- difficulty with moving
- discouragement
- feeling sad or empty
- irregular heartbeat
- irritability
What are the side effects of rituximab?
To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- liver disease or hepatitis (or if you are a carrier of hepatitis B);
- kidney disease;
- lung disease or a breathing disorder;
- a weak immune system (caused by disease or by using certain medicines);
- an infection, including herpes, shingles, cytomegalovirus, chickenpox, parvovirus, West Nile virus, or hepatitis B or C;
What do you need to know about rituximab?
Usually, you'll start treatment with two infusions of rituximab, given two weeks apart. The infusions are then repeated when the improvement is wearing off, or to prevent a flare-up of your arthritis. This can be anything from six months to a few years later.
How often do you take rituximab to treat rheumatoid arthritis?
What is a cycle of rituximab?
Background: There is increasing evidence that a single cycle of rituximab (375 mg per square meter [corrected] of body surface area once weekly for 4 weeks) is efficacious in patients with severe pemphigus. The approved protocol in rheumatoid arthritis is 1 g on days 1 and 15.
How long do you have to take rituximab?
Usually, you'll start treatment with two infusions of rituximab, given two weeks apart. Then your rituximab infusions will be repeated when it is starting to wear off or to prevent a flare-up of your arthritis. This can be anything from six months to a few years later.
How many Rituxan treatments can a person have?
Administer RITUXAN as a single-agent every 8 weeks for 12 doses. Following completion of 6-8 cycles of CVP chemotherapy, administer once weekly for 4 doses at 6-month intervals to a maximum of 16 doses. Administer on Day 1 of each cycle of chemotherapy for up to 8 infusions.
Is rituximab chemotherapy or immunotherapy?
Rituxan (rituximab) is a monoclonal antibody medication that treats different types of blood cancer. Rituxan is also an immunotherapy medication, meaning it helps make the immune system better at fighting cancer.
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.
How long are you immunocompromised after rituximab?
While plasma cells and existing antibody levels are not affected, depletion of B cells following rituximab decreases humoral immune responses to primary antigens; in addition, as a result of prolonged decrease in MBCs, antibody production to recall antigens is decreased even 6-10 months after treatment (6).
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%.
Is Rituxan considered 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.
How do you feel after rituximab 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.
What's the difference between Rituxan and rituximab?
Rituxan is a form of rituximab that's given as an intravenous (IV) infusion. (An IV infusion is an injection into your vein over a period of time.) Keep in mind that rituximab is one of the active drugs in Rituxan Hycela.
What is the difference between Rituxan and rituximab?
Rituxan is the trade name for rituximab. In some cases, health care professionals may use the trade name rituxan when referring to the generic drug name rituximab. Drug type: Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody. (For more detail, see "How this drug works" section below).
What steroid is given with rituximab?
PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying the side effects and how well giving rituximab together with prednisone works as first-line therapy in treating patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura.
What is the success rate of Rituxan (rituximab) in patients with blood cancers?
In patients with hematological or blood cancers, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), Rituxan’s success i...
What causes infusion reactions to rituximab?
Rituximab infusion reactions are caused primarily by cytokine release in the body. Cytokines are immune system proteins in the body that help to fi...
What is the success rate of Rituxan (rituximab) in rheumatoid arthritis?
Treatment with Rituxan (rituximab) successfully improves patient outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis including reducing symptoms, reduci...
Use in Cancer
Rituximab is approved to be used in alone or with other drugs to treat adults with:
More About Rituximab
Definition from the NCI Drug Dictionary - Detailed scientific definition and other names for this drug.
Clinical Trials Accepting Patients
Find Clinical Trials for Rituximab - Check for trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials now accepting patients.
What is the best medication for rituximab?
Supportive medications. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) 25 to 50 mg IV 20 to 30 minutes prior to the start of rituximab. Famotidine (Pepcid) 40 mg PO or 20 mg IV 20 to 30 minutes prior to the start of rituximab. Lorazepam (Ativan) 0.5 to 1 mg PO prn anxiety 20 to 30 minutes prior to the start of rituximab.
How long do you have to be in the patient room for a blood pressure cuff?
A qualified physician or nurse must be in the patient room for the first 15 minutes after the first dose during the protocol and for 5 minutes after each subsequent dose. A physician must be available by page during the protocol.
What to tell your healthcare provider before taking Rituximab?
Before receiving Rituxan, tell your healthcare provider if you: have had a severe reaction to Rituxan or a rituximab product. have a history of heart problems, irregular heartbeat, or chest pain. have lung or kidney problems. have had an infection, currently have an infection, or have a weakened immune system.
How long does it take for a low antibody level to show up after a 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 after Rituxan infusion can you have a reaction?
Serious infusion-related reactions can happen during your infusion or within 24 hours after your infusion of Rituxan. Your healthcare provider should give you medicines before your infusion of Rituxan to decrease your chance of having a severe infusion-related reaction.
How long does it take for Rituxan to cause TLS?
TLS can happen within 12 to 24 hours after an infusion of Rituxan. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests to check you for TLS. Your healthcare provider may give you medicine to help prevent TLS. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms of TLS: nausea.
How long after Rituxan can you give birth?
Females who are able to become pregnant should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with Rituxan and for 12 months after the last dose of Rituxan.
How long after Rituxan can you breastfeed?
Do not breastfeed during treatment and for at least 6 months after your last dose of Rituxan. are taking any medications, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take or have taken: a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor medicine.
What are the symptoms of Rituxan?
Tell your healthcare provider or get medical help right away if you get any of these symptoms during or after an infusion of Rituxan: Hives (red itchy welts) or rash. Itching. Swelling of your lips, tongue, throat, or face. Sudden cough. Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or wheezing. Weakness.
How long does Rituximab take to infuse?
Rituximab: -Administer as two 1000 mg IV infusions separated by 2 weeks. -Glucocorticoids administered as methylprednisolone 100 mg IV or its equivalent 30 minutes prior to each infusion are recommended to reduce the incidence and severity of infusion reactions.
Can you give 90 minute infusions in cycle 2?
If the 90-minute infusion is tolerated in Cycle 2, the same rate can be used for subsequent cycles. -Patients who have clinically significant cardiovascular disease or who have a circulating lymphocyte count greater than or equal to 5000/mm3 before Cycle 2 should not be given the 90-minute infusion.
How long does it take for a low antibody level to show up after a 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.
What are the symptoms of Rituxan?
Tell your healthcare provider or get medical help right away if you get any of these symptoms during or after an infusion of Rituxan: Hives (red itchy welts) or rash. Itching. Swelling of your lips, tongue, throat, or face. Sudden cough. Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or wheezing. Weakness.
How long after Rituxan infusion do you have a reaction?
Serious infusion-related reactions can happen during your infusion or within 24 hours after your infusion of Rituxan. Your healthcare provider should give you medicines before your infusion of Rituxan to decrease your chance ...
How long does it take for Rituxan to cause TLS?
TLS can happen within 12 to 24 hours after an infusion of Rituxan. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests to check you for TLS. Your healthcare provider may give you medicine to help prevent TLS. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms of TLS: nausea.
How long after Rituxan can you give birth?
Females who are able to become pregnant should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with Rituxan and for 12 months after the last dose of Rituxan.
How long after Rituxan can you breastfeed?
Do not breastfeed during treatment and for at least 6 months after your last dose of Rituxan. are taking any medications, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take or have taken: a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor medicine.
What are the side effects of Rituxan?
Other side effects include: aching joints during or within hours of receiving an infusion. more frequent upper respiratory tract infections. These are not all of the possible side effects with Rituxan. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects.
What is Rituxan used for?
RITUXAN, in combination with glucocorticoids, is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients 2 years of age and older with Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA) (Wegener’s Granulomatosis) and Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA).
How long does it take for Rituxan to cause a reaction?
Rituxan can cause severe, including fatal, infusion-related reactions. Severe reactions typically occurred during the first infusion with time to onset of 30-120 min. Depending on the severity of the infusion-related reaction and the required interventions, temporarily or permanently discontinue Rituxan. Institute medical management (eg,
When to get CBC for RA?
In patients with RA, GPA, or MPA, obtain CBC with differential and platelet counts at 2- to 4-month
Is Rituxan a TNF antagonist?
RITUXAN, in combination with metho trexate , is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with moderately- to severely-active rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response to one or more TNF antagonist therapies.
Preparation & Setting
Rituximab is used to treat certain types of cancer (such as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia).
May Treat: Granulomatosis with polyangiitis · Pemphigus vulgaris · Burkitt's lymphoma · CD20 positive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma · Chronic lymphocytic leukemia and more
Brand Names: Rituxan · Ruxience · Truxima
Drug Class: Antineoplastic - CD20 Specific Recombinant Monoclonal Antibody Agents · DMARD - B Cell Targeted Agents
Availability: Prescription Required
Pregnancy: Consult your doctor. This medication may be harmful to an unborn child.
Lactation: This drug should not be given to breastfeeding mothers
- Before use, important to read the Medication Guide
- Report hives, itching, or problems breathing to Dr
- Report change in thinking /vision/balance/speech
- Before use, important to read the Medication Guide
- Report hives, itching, or problems breathing to Dr
- Report change in thinking /vision/balance/speech
- Do not take while breast feeding or when pregnant
- Tell your doctor if you have/had liver problems
- Call MD now for changes in the amount of urine.
- Call Dr. if easy bruising or bleeding occur
- Call MD if fatigue/sore throat/infection occurs.
Concentrations of Rituximab (Rituxan) & Administration Parameters
Supportive Medications
References