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 with rituximab.
Rituximab is one such drug that works by blocking the activity of immune cells. This then reduces the high level of inflammation seen in the joints of RA patients. Longer courses of treatment are needed for rituximab to be completely effective.
Some people took Rituxan afterward and some people didn't take any medication. Of the people who took Rituxan after chemotherapy, 11% gained weight. In comparison, 4% of people who didn't take medication after chemotherapy gained weight.
may cause memory problems, confusion, sight loss and difficulty walking. It can be fatal. It has occurred in roughly 1 in 30,000 people exposed to rituximab. Those who have had chemotherapy or other immunosuppressive treatments seem to be most at risk.
Although several cases of side effects with rituximab have been reported, to our knowledge, there are no reports of ocular and orbital exacerbation eventually leading to blindness after rituximab use.
Rituxan can cause severe kidney problems that lead to death. Your healthcare provider should do blood tests to check how well your kidneys are working.
Other side effects commonly seen with Rituximab include skin rash and itching, flushing, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and headache; cold like symptoms; sensation of tongue or throat swelling; and difficulty breathing, including shortness of breath.
Rituximab may present with a severe serum sickness like reaction masquerading as septic shock when used to treat hematologic malignancies.
GI Obstruction or Tear: This medication can cause a bowel obstruction (blockage) or a tear in the intestinal wall, also called a gastrointestinal perforation. Signs of this can include: severe constipation, new or worsening pain in the abdomen, new abdominal swelling, chills, fever, constipation, nausea or vomiting.
Several case studies have reported liver failure/toxicity secondary to reactivation of hepatitis B or CMV following treatment with rituximab. However, there have been few reports of acute liver failure caused directly by the drug itself.
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.
Conclusion: Although rare, acute worsening of the neuropathy can occur after Rituximab. The deterioration is however reversible within some weeks to several months.
Infusions With Rituxan
Rituxan is typically given every 6 months, or based on your doctor's evaluation of your symptoms. If your symptoms return before it's time for your next course, you and your healthcare provider may decide to treat earlier (but no sooner than 4 months).Rituximab works in many types of lymphoma, either alone or combined with chemotherapy. It is most often given together with chemotherapy as a chemo-immunotherapy regimen (combination of drugs). If you have a B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, CLL or NLPHL, you are likely to have chemo-immunotherapy as your first treatment.
Get medical help right away if you have any very serious side effects, including: chest pain. Within days to weeks after doxorubicin treatment, a serious skin reaction that looks likes a severe sunburn (radiation recall) may develop on any area of skin that has been previously treated with radiation.
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%.
This medicine may cause serious stomach and bowel problems, especially when used with other cancer medicines. Check with your doctor right away if you start having stomach pain while being treated with this medicine.
Rituximab is being used more widely for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, in many cases as an off-label drug. It works by transiently depleting B cells from the circulation.
