saw my rheumy today and he wants to start me on Rituxan. I looked up side effects, because that's what we do and they are the scariest yet. Anyone taking these treatments?
Hi Rain. What meds have you already tried? From what I know, Rituxan is not used right off the bat. Usually they will suggest it when the other biologics have failed to help you.
It was suggested a while back that I should start Rituxan. My hemotologist was all for it. But my rheumatologist is a bit more cautious. I can't take the usual biologcs because of the risk of lymphoma. I have a blood disorder that already increases my chances of getting it. I also had many tests and a biopsy of a lymph node near my adrenal gland, to rule out lymphoma. So I am trying Plaquenil for now. She said we would save the Rituxan for when it's absolutely necessary. I agree with her completely. I'm a bit uneasy about Rituxan. However, if all else fails, I may have no choice. And I will probably be glad it is available.
I wish I had some information for you. I would also be interested in hearing from someone who is on it or has been. Your are right, the side effects are definitely scary. My rheumy also said there have been a couple more deaths from it. But I guess, with as many people that are on it, the percentage is very small. That is not much comfort though.
Good Luck, and try not to worry. Please let me know if you start on the Rituxan. I will be thinking of you.
Hugs,
Nini
I have been on enbrel and arava for a year, Pred for 15 months. It seems like not too many people on the boards know about Rituxan. I had heard that if you go on Rituxan and it does not work; you can't go back to other biologics. My rheumy said that is 100% not true. I will be starting Humera next week to see if that works. I see Rituxan as a last resort but my Rheumy is not seeing it that way, so what do you do? It's all a mystery. That's for your reply, RainMy doctor has recommended it also. I was on Humira for two years and started having numbness in my feet, legs, arms and hands so he pulled me off of it. He agreed to wait it out and see what MTX alone did for me and for months it's held things off (After an increase) but that's slowly but surely wearing thin. I'll have to start something else next month; but I too am wearly of Rituxan.
He gave me information on Orencia and Rituxan and asked me to consider one or the other. Orencia is taken like every 4 weeks and to me that's too often. I live 45 minutes away from my doctors office where I'd have to go to get the infusion. I had been considering Rituxan because it's only given several times a year but after hearing so much fear of this med I'm not so sure.
I have spoken to one friend I know from here (She doesn't visit too often anymore) that is on rituxan. She's done really well on it. So I don't know.
It is a hard choice to make isn't it?
h20, I'm in the same boat. I'm on Enbrel and it's done nothing for me, and my doc wants to go to Rituxan next. He said if the Enbrel didn't work for me, then Humira and the rest probably wouldn't either. I'm not so sure about that, but I understand where he's coming from. I see my doc next week and he's ready for me to do the Rituxan, but I just don't know.
I know of a lot of people that have switched biologics because one wasn't working and then another one did work well. I have to disagree with your Dr.s opinion due to what I've heard on these message boards from patients.I am on Rituxan. It is working for me at present. It takes about 3 months to kick in for me, but I know of others that it helps after about 2 weeks.
I have been on the biologics and I became allergic to them. So far no problems w/Rituxan. I am on my 2nd round. There are two approx. 7 hrs infusions spaced 2 weeks apart and you take them every 6 months.
The side effects are scary, but I have not had any and neither has my friend. I have called the Rituxan hotline and asked questions if I thought something was going awry and they were very nice and followed up on everything.
So while it isn't the "send me into remission" I had hoped for. I am doing much better.
Good luck.
crispy, what kind of allergic reaction did you develop to the biologics?
I have noticed in the last couple of weeks that my Enbrel is burning a lot more, and my temperature goes up after I take it. It's getting to be so painful that I almost want to do the Rituxan to reduce the number of times I deal with it...
The reactions I had were throat closing, wheezing and rashes on every part of my body. At one point on Humira I was hospitalized w/anafalaxis.
But I have always had allergies. They have gotten much worse since RA. I have read that since allergies are an autoimmune response, most people that have allergies will have them worse with RA.
I have had to quit plaquinel, MTX, Enbrel, Humira, Remicade, cyclosporine (by mouth, I still use Restasis drops)..........uhh, I think that is all. I was on Remicade for a year before I became allergic and I believe it did the best for me. It took 3 years before I became allergic to MTX.
So now I take sulfasalazine along w/Rituxan. Seems like more people are allergic to sulfa drugs than anything else, but I have no problems with it, go figure, except that over the last two weeks my all hair except my head has fallen out, so if I start losing the hair on my head, I don't know what I will do. It's always something.
Yes I did have pred IV and Benedryl. But I tend to have more reactions than most.
The reason I am on Rituxan is because I was allergic to all the others after a bit.
So hope it works well for you.
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