Rituxan | Arthritis Information

For anyone that may be taking Rituxan. Are you getting good results with your treatment?

And anyone who may be running out of options. (like myself)

Would you let the possibility of some of the rare infections, PML, stop you from considering taking it as a treatment?

It seems like every new generation of biologics gets a little more potent and has waaayyy more scary side effects that are possible. I can live with the increased chance of infection but some of this other stuff is, for lack of a better description, damn scary.

Bob H.

Bob, it is scary, but it is also scary to me to keep living with the symptoms I have. I felt the rare risk was worth it, and I tried it last year. I only received the initial 2 infusions, but since I saw no benefit from it whatsoever, I moved on to Orencia (which seems to be giving me such a slight benefit that I'm probably going to stop it and try a different treatment). I did have a 3.5 month sinus infection after my Rituxan doses, but that can happen with any of the biologics as you know.

I know there are a few people on here who have had success with Rituxan and could tell you more. Even though it didn't work for me, I am glad I took the chance.

Bob,

I'm one of those who has had great success with Rituxan. I've had RA for 9 years and during most of that time , my RA was not well controlled. I had my first set of infusions in June of 2007. It took me a 6 months before I had any kind of response to Rituxan. I continue to improve and just started on my second set of infusions.

I was able to go 16 months in betwen infusions. I was also able to stop using both MTX and Prednisone. For me the benefits have definatley outweighed any risks.

I have to say after looking at the info concerning the patient who died from PML while using Rituxan for RA, that I wasn't all that concerned. That patient had other issues going on that may have contributed to the PML........

http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/09/fda-reports-deadly-brain-infection-with-rituxan/

Lynn492008-10-29 05:41:05I too am very scared of starting this drug for the same reasons. I do not tolerate MTX very well but would rather put that dose up and have more side effects than try this new one. Any thoughts? Janie. Oops, forgot to mention that on my last set of x-rays, I had no new erosions

Bob H