Question 1

after 3rd round rituxan (rituximab) for ra my prob is now freq infections. how to prevend? would a mask on busrides help?

Accepted Answer

Frequent infection: Sure. Wear mask on bus rides, be careful with being around sick people or in the crowd. But also, importantly, discuss with your doctor the option of using intravenous gammaglobulin ( ivig) to decrease frequency of infection- especially if you keep getting upper resp infection every 3 months ( 4x/year ) or more- consider ivig . And to check your immunoglobulin level as Rituxan (rituximab) can supress level.

Question 2

is rituxan (rituximab) considered a chemotherapy drug?

Accepted Answer

Yes: It is use to treat several different types of lymphomas and leukemias.

Question 3

what effects can rituxan (rituximab) have if a women is pregnant ?

Accepted Answer

Unknown: Rituxan (rituximab) has been assigned to pregnancy category c by the fda. Animal studies have not been conducted. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. There are no data on whether Rituxan (rituximab) can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. . Postmarketing data indicate that b-cell lymphocytopenia generally lasting less than six months can occur in infants exposed to Rituxan (rituximab) in utero.

Question 4

while i'm on rituximab, is it dangerous for us (my wife and i) to try to have a baby? or we should wait for me to finish the treatment first?

Accepted Answer

Wait: I would urge that you wait about 3 months after your final infusion before trying to conceive.

Question 5

hi i'm curious to know if rituxan (rituximab) is a weight gainer?

Accepted Answer

Rituxan (rituximab): possible as  they may be using a steroid to decrease risk of infusion reaction

Question 6

why im losing my hair it is not the rituximab?

Accepted Answer

Not usual: Rituximab is not usually associated with hair loss (alopecia).  Chemotherapy (used with rituximab) for treating cancer is associated with alopecia.  As are other underlying medical problems.

Question 7

any side effects from rituxan (rituximab) therapy?

Accepted Answer

Mostly infusion rxns: Rituxan is given intravenously slowly at first to look for common immediate reactions like chills, fever, shakes, itching, hives, headache all of which could be prevented or lessened by giving premedications like Benadryl (diphenhydramine) and steroids. Reactivation of hepatitis b, lowering resistance to infections, rapid destruction of tumor cells causing i'll effects to organs (tumor lysis) can also occur.

Question 8

why do i get the shakes during rituximab infusion?

Accepted Answer

.: It's likely a reaction to the Rituximab infusion like an allergic reaction.  This could possibly be prevented next time if they infuse the Rituximab slower.

Question 9

can rituxan (rituximab) treat my hairy cell leukemia?

Accepted Answer

Generally, yes: Rituxan (rituximab) is an antibody that binds the surface of B lymphocytes, which includes hairy cell leukemia. By itself it can induce remissions, but it is more effective when given in combination with other agents.  Here is a link to a recent paper: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25195120

Question 10

has anyone ever been treated with rituxan (rituximab) for sle lupus?

Accepted Answer

Yes: There are a number of trials using Rituximab (rituxan) for the treatment of lupus (sle).  It's effectiveness is unclear as 2 large randomized trials (explorer and lunar) did not find a benefit for rituximab.

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Doctor answers about:

Rituxan allergy signs

A member asked:

After 3rd round rituxan (rituximab) for ra my prob is now freq infections. how to prevend? would a mask on busrides help?

A member asked:

Is rituxan (rituximab) considered a chemotherapy drug?

A member asked:

What effects can rituxan (rituximab) have if a women is pregnant ?

A member asked:

While i'm on rituximab, is it dangerous for us (my wife and i) to try to have a baby? or we should wait for me to finish the treatment first?

A member asked:

Hi i'm curious to know if rituxan (rituximab) is a weight gainer?

A member asked:

Why im losing my hair it is not the rituximab?

A member asked:

Any side effects from rituxan (rituximab) therapy?

A member asked:

Why do i get the shakes during rituximab infusion?

A member asked:

Can rituxan (rituximab) treat my hairy cell leukemia?

A member asked:

Has anyone ever been treated with rituxan (rituximab) for sle lupus?

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