Hi First time to be on this board. My Rheumatologist highly suggested today that I try Rituxan infusion in addition to Methotrexate for my Rheumatoid Arthritis. Has anyone taken it for RA on the board or knows of someone that has. He said the side effects wouldn't be a severe as for Lymphoma. My main question is Might I lose my hair? All the info I've found says yes for Lymphoma but doesn't mention for RA. Any advice/opinions would be appreciated.
Thanks
Welcome to the board!!!
I just wanted to welcome you here. I don't have any experience with Rituxin. I am sorry. I can tell you that I am on methotrexate and that is also a chemo drug that we don't get as much of as chemo patients do, but I do have hair loss from it. It's not like I am going bald but it is annoying to find my hair everywhere.
Hi Beth, and welcome to the boards. I haven't been on Rituxan, but my rheumy suggested it recently and I was a bit concerned that he didn't have me try some of the more well-used biologic medicines first (I was already on Enbrel, but he was skipping over Humira, Remicade, etc). He ended up putting me on Imuran, so I'm going to see how that goes.
Anyway, since taking folic acid seems to help with hair loss from methotrexate, maybe it would help with the Rituxan as well?
I have been on Rituxan for 9 months and have had absolutely no hair loss from it. I did have a little hair loss from MTX, but not a lot.
Hope this helps.
Crispy-
Has is seemed to help you? I've had hair loss from Mtx too so I was hoping to not add any additional to it. I'd deal though, if it helps. Thanks everyone for the warm welcome and the info.
You know, It helped the first go round, but the second series of infusions (after 6 months) have not really helped at all. I am seriously considering not doing it again when its time.
But, I have a friend who has had wonderful results. She is just about ready to go in for her 3rd series of infusions and has not really had any side effects. She does not take MTX either. She takes no secondary DMARD.
So it might be great for you, I suppose you won't know until you try. I am still having a lot of pain and inflammation so I am not sure what to do next time.
Good luck to you. If you decide to go ahead I sure hope it does the trick.
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