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View Full Version : RituxanŽ (rituximab) - for Adult RA


naturelover
12-05-2009, 11:39 AM
Rituxan is used for treatment of RA in elderly person. My fellow RA's can use this for benefit.

RituxanŽ (rituximab) in combination with methotrexate is indicated to reduce signs and symptoms and to slow the progression of structural damage in adult patients with moderately-to severely- active rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response to one or more TNF antagonist therapies.

BOXED WARNINGS and Additional Important Safety Information

The most important serious adverse reactions of Rituxan are fatal infusion reactions, tumor lysis syndrome (TLS), severe mucocutaneous reactions, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), hepatitis B reactivation with fulminant hepatitis, other viral infections, cardiovascular events, renal toxicity, and bowel obstruction and perforation. The most common adverse reactions of Rituxan (incidence ≥25%) observed in patients with NHL are infusion reactions, fever, chills, infection, asthenia, and lymphopenia. The most common adverse reactions of Rituxan observed in patients with RA are hypertension, nausea, upper respiratory tract infection, arthralgia, pruritus, and pyrexia.

Attention healthcare provider: Provide Medication Guide to patient prior to Rituxan infusion.

For additional safety information, please see the full prescribing information, including BOXED WARNINGS and Medication Guide.

kageyd
12-06-2009, 05:54 PM
An incidence of greater than 25 percent for side effects is a pretty big number; I would think this would have to be a very effective medication in order for people to take a 1 in 4 risk of those side effects.

naturelover
12-06-2009, 07:13 PM
I would like to get comments from my senior members on this treatment, so that other membersare able to understand and follow it for themselves, if it is prescribed.