
Precautions
In patients with complete or partial response, initiate rituximab maintenance 8 weeks following completion of rituximab in combination with chemotherapy. Administer rituximab as a single agent every 8 weeks for 12 doses.
When is rituximab maintenance indicated after the completion of chemotherapy?
Administer rituximab as a single agent every 8 weeks for 12 doses. -Non-progressing, low-grade, CD20-positive, B-cell NHL, after first-line CVP chemotherapy: Following completion of 6 to 8 cycles of CVP chemotherapy, administer 375 mg/m2 IV once weekly for 4 doses at 6-month intervals to a maximum of 16 doses.
How is rituximab administered in the treatment of NHL?
These uses are approved for the Rituxan and Truxima brands of rituximab. It is used with anthracycline combination chemotherapy in NHL that has not been treated. This use is approved for the Rituxan brand of rituximab. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
What are the uses of rituximab?
-Rituximab is given in combination with methotrexate. FIRST INFUSION: Initiate infusion at a rate of 50 mg/hr; in the absence of infusion toxicity, increase infusion rate by 50 mg/hr increments every 30 minutes, to a maximum of 400 mg/hr.
How do you administer rituximab and methotrexate?

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.
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.
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 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 does it feel like to be on Rituxan?
Severe Skin and Mouth Reactions: Tell your healthcare provider or get medical help right away if you get any of these symptoms at any time during your treatment with Rituxan: Painful sores or ulcers on your skin, lips, or in your mouth. Blisters.
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.
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 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 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 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.
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 to do if you have a serious side effect of Rituxan?
Serious side effects and their symptoms can include: Infusion reactions while or after receiving a dose of Rituxan.*.
How long did Rituxan last without cancer?
went 39.8 months without their cancer getting worse when they took Rituxan, fludarabine, and cyclophosphamide. went 31.5 months without their cancer getting worse when they took fludarabine and cyclophosphamide alone. Rituxan was also studied in people who had already tried other medications for their CLL.
What is the active ingredient in Rituxan?
Rituxan active ingredient and form. Rituxan contains the active ingredient rituximab and belongs to a group of medications called monoclonal antibodies. Rituxan comes as a liquid solution that’s available in two strengths: 100 milligrams (mg) per 10 milliliters (mL) of solution and 500 mg/50 mL.
How much Rituxan is in a ml?
Rituxan comes as a liquid solution that’s available in two strengths: 100 milligrams (mg) per 10 milliliters (mL) of solution and 500 mg/50 mL. The medication is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion. (An infusion is an injection into a vein that’s given over a period of time.)
Can you use Rituxan alone?
If you have this treatment and have a partial or complete response* to it, your doctor may have you then use Rituxan alone. Rituxan for NHL when used after CVP chemotherapy. For this use, the cancer must be low grade.
How long does it take for ACR50 to show improvement?
After 24 weeks, an ACR50 was reported in:
Is Rituxan Hycela a biosimilar?
Rituxan has two biosimilar versions: rituximab-pvvr (Ruxience) and rituximab-abbs ( Truxima ). Rituxan Hycela has no biosimilar versions. A biosimilar medication is a drug that’s similar to a brand-name biologic drug (the parent drug). Rituxan is a biologic medication, which is also called a biologic.
Who treats noninfectious cryoglobulinemia?
Moreover, treatment of noninfectious cryoglobulinemia is provided by both hematologists and rheumatologists, and treatment philosophies may differ between disciplines. When a treatment plan is being considered, there are several general principles to follow, as shown in Figure 4.
Can cryoprecipitation be induced by IgM?
Cryoprecipitation cannot be induced by the IgM or IgG components separately and requires specific antigen-avidity IgG molecules. 10 This underscores the unique properties of cryoglobulins and explains the high incidence of HCV as a cause.
