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Can anyone help. I have been on every drug that you could take for my RA with failure. So now they want me to take RITUXAN. It is a IV thing I think thats what he said I have to see a cancer doctor for it. I am scared to death the side affects can cause death after 24 hours if you have a bad reaction to it. Has anyone done RITUXAN and how did it help or affect you. I don't want to be sicker than I already am. Also the cost is very high I don't know if my insurance would even pay on it. It something thats has to be ruled out first. If any of you taken it could you post something how you did on it. Joan

Hi and welcome to the forum. First off, tell us exactly what drugs you've been on. Have you tried Remicade infusions, Enbrel, Humira, Orencia and the multitude of DMARDS? Also, there's the multitude of drug combinations that you can use. I've not taken Rituxan but I do know it's the last drug in the medication ladder and is reserved until you've truly used all of the others and the combinations. If your insurance has paid for all of the other drugs then I don't see why it wouldn't pay for Rituxan but then there's always the chance that it won't pay. I'm keeping Rituxan in my pocket and only bring it out as the final resort. I went from Enbrel to Humira to Remicade and then BACK to Humria with an increase in my DMARD and an additional one added and did great for almost two years. You can go back to some of the meds, tweak the others and do well. Take care and keep us updated. Lindy

I've been on Rituxan for over a year. It really isn't that bad. I am not sure why your dr. said that you need to see an oncologist for it. When given for RA, it is not the same dosage as for cancer. Most of the complications from the med are in cancer patients. My rhuemy has said many times that he wishes there were two sets of warnings that he could provide patients-those with RA and those with cancer. I have not had any reactions or side effects. It can be expensive, but Rituxan has a copay program. Usually I don't qualify for copay assistance since I have full health insurance covereage, but I did for Rituxan. It actually ended up being cheaper than Orencia for me.

Good luck...It is always scary to change meds, but sometimes necessary. With each med you will hear sucess stories and unsucessful stories. They affect us all differently.

Angel,
I started Rituxin last Thursday. I will have my second infusion this coming Thursday. I have taken Enbrel and Humria but neither worked for me. So far nothing has worked for me but I refuse to give up. I look at the pain I am in right now and I will do anything to make it go away. RA is so different for everyone and progresses at a different rate for each individual. I am on prednsone(high dose) to get my inflamation down so that maybe my pain medicine will work better. So far so good as far as my first infusion and looking forward to my second. I would be more scared of RA than of the meds.
"I would be more scared of RA than of the meds."

Boy, is THAT the truth!!! Well said.

I'm thinking it's possible the doctor wants to send you to an oncologist is possibly not to see the oncologist, but to use the infusion lab the onocologist might have on his/her premises. Just a guess.

Another poster said that there should be two sets of warnings on drugs - one for cancer, another for arthritis. Another truth. For example, those of us who take MTX take it in doses FAR LOWER than a cancer patient would.

Sam12342009-11-27 12:44:12I take Orencia which is an IV drug and the infusion center is in the oncology department. The infusion is really not a big deal and I always leave feeling fortunate that I'm not one of the ones at the infusion center with cancer!

Alan

I know what you mean my daughter is 36 and is going thru a lot with breast cancer. It's been pure heck for her and so sad becuase she is so young and has a 4 year old son. It's been this whole year of chemo and radition and now into breast surgery, she was in stage 3 already. But thanks to all for all the infromation. JoanI've been on rituxan for over 2 years now it has stabalized my RA...I've had no side effects from the med. The protocal is such to prevent any allergic reactions. You receive antihistamines as well as IV solumedrol prior to the infusion. The infusion is done very slowly so any potential problems are caught quickly. It would be unusual to send you to an oncology clinic for the infusion if your rheumatologist does infusion but it is possible that his infusion staff is not trained on rituxan.

I echo Lindy's question..can you please let us know what you have done before and why you quit those meds so we have a little backgroundsolumedrol is what they give me thru a IV for 5 days when I have a MS flair...yuk...it is some powerful stuff

it is interesting that methotrexate is also used as a treatment for MS and RA...and apparently so is Solumedrol.

I know nothing about Rituxan. I hope you get the help you need. take care

#1inflamedOnline2009-11-29 13:29:38I welcome the solumedrol. It is given right beforehand to minimize any reaction. It is a quick push through the IV. By the time I am due the Rituxan, I am feeling pretty bad. The solumedrol gives me a little boost. I am sure in a large dose, it can have some pretty nasty side effects-like any steroid. For the Rituxan, its a small amount.

Hi, Angel! What medications have you tried? I'm in the same boat as you, having tried numerous medications with intolerable side effects.

Call your insurance company and ask what type of coverage they provide for infusion therapy. Most of the time the service itself is covered at 100%, but the drug coverage (80/20, 70/30, etc) is what gets ya. The cost of the IV drugs for RA are ridiculous! Also, check the rituxan website to see if they provide copay assistance. I can't provide any insight regarding reactions or side effects to the med as I haven't taken it myself. Looks like the folks who are on it are doing well. Maybe this drug will be the magic bullet for you.
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