General Information on Rituxan
Rituxan is used in combination with other cancer medications to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia or non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. It is also used in combination with other drugs such as methotrexate to adult rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and along with steroid medicines to treat few rare disorders that lead to blood vessel inflammation. The generic name of this drug is Rituximab.
Rituxan is a cancer medication. It works by interfering with the growth of cancerous cells and slow their growth and spread in the patient’s body.
You can only buy Rituxan if you have a doctor’s prescription for the drug.
Side effects of Rituxan
You should not buy Rituxan if you have:
- A severe allergic reaction to it
- An allergy to mouse protein
Before you buy Rituxan, inform your doctor if you have any of the following:
- Liver disease or hepatitis B
- History of heart disease, angina, or heart rhythm disorder
- A weak immune system
- Lung disease or breathing disorder
- Kidney disease
- A recent active infection like herpes, shingles, chickenpox, Hepatitis C, etc.
Some of the common and mild side effects of this drug are:
- Pain where the IV needle is inserted
- Nausea, diarrhea and mild stomach pain
- Swelling in the hands or feet
- Joint or muscle pain
- Night sweats
You should consult your doctor immediately if your experience any of the following side effects:
- Uneven heartbeat or trouble breathing
- Easy bleeding or bruising
- Muscle contraction, tightness or weakness
A patient should consult the doctor if serious side effects surface several months after receiving a Rituxan shot.
Pregnant women should always consult their doctor before using Rituxan. However, if you become pregnant while taking this drug, do not stop taking it without seeking the advice of your doctor.
Breastfeeding mothers should avoid Rituxan.
Dosage of Rituxan
Rituxan is injected into a vein via an IV. A patient should receive this shot either in a hospital or clinic.
Before being administered with Rituxan, the patient may be given other medications to avoid certain side effects of this drug.
Rituxan is usually give once a week for 1 to 2 months. For the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, a patient is given two shots of Rituxan at an interval of 15 days.
.
A patient has to check whether Rituxan is causing any harmful effects by going for regular blood tests and checking liver or kidney function.
If a patient misses an appointment for his or her Rituxan injection, he or she has to consult a doctor.
An overdose of Rituxan requires immediate medical intervention. A patient must not receive a live vaccine for measles, mumps, rubella, rotavirus, smallpox, typhoid, or yellow fever while on this medication.
Interactions
Rituxan has been reported to have interactions with a total of 106 drugs. Among these 26 are major, 66 are moderate, and 14 are minor drug interactions. Some drugs that react adversely with Rituxan are:
- Cisplatin
- Adalimumab
- Auranofin
- Azathioprine
- Cyclosporine
- Etanercept
- Infliximab
- Leflunomide
- Minocycline
- Sulfasalazine
- Blood pressure drugs
- Drugs to treat malaria like chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine
Inform your doctor if you take over-the-counter, prescription, or vitamin and herbal products since they may adversely react with Rituxan.
