User Reviews for Rituxan intravenous

I'm back w/ a follow up post after 1st posting here on 3/20/11. It's been 5 weeks since my last post (a little over 7 weeks since my 1st infusion; over 5 weeks since my 2nd infusion). I thought the Rituxan was working but I feel back at square one (when I first got diagnosed & had the most painful flare ups) in the last 3 weeks. My doc keeps saying to give it 3 months, but I don't know how long I can last. I'm back on pred 20 mg/daily, then she wants me to again taper down to 7.5. Just want my old life back! A.M.s are the worst, so hard to get out of bed, and the last few days, I have really had no relief throughout the day. Yesterday, my ankles and knees hurt so bad, I could hardly walk. My rotator cuffs have been killing me & it's all I can do to get some sleep. Pain everywhere. I'll be a sport & give it 3 months; however, I'm already thinking of changing MD's (my current one just took over my former MD's practice; I'd been w/ my former doc 8 yrs & loved him to death. This new one graduated from med school in 2005. Only difference is, she also has RA.) I am praying, praying, praying all the time for some relief. I'll write back in a few weeks. Wish me luck!Read More Read Less

Each treatment (4) took 24 hours to administer. Two months after the last treatment I am still having sores breaking out on my face and my fingers, hands and other joints are hurting

After 7 great years on Enbrel, I had a very painful flare in my hands. A brief trial of Humira provided no relief. My pain and disability were only relieved by steroids. Soon after my first infusion of Rituxan, I was able to begin to taper the steroid dose (it has taken many months to wean completely off). I have always been very active. I am an endurance cyclist and run agility with my dog. Rituxan has enabled me to basically function, as if I was disease free. Six months after my first round, I was given a second series of two infusions, although I was RA symptom free. Very few side effects...basically a couple of sleepless nights after the medrol dose given with the Rituxan. My labs are normal except for a slightly lowered WBC (3.9). I feel well and am now steroid free. Read More Read Less

Diagnosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma in 1988. Except for a couple months break I've been on chemo ever since. When tumors break out I go on full treatment with several drugs. In between I'm on "maintenance" of only Rituxan and Benedryl. I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for this drug. I am so grateful!

I've had 2 treatments for my 1st month & plans are to not have another for 6 mo. Very encouraged with progress - no flare-ups as before requiring injections & trips to the ER for morphine, toradol, prednizone & IV fluids (all intraveinously). Feel terrible for a couple of days with severe fatigue, nausea since 1st infusion (lost 10 lbs in 2 wks)and headaches. I've tried EVERY drug for RA but have always gotten infections and had to stop them. Hopefully, I can stay on Rituxin and it will work. I've had RA for over 30 yrs; I am now 57. I also have osteoarthritis, bursitis, tennis elbow and many other medical conditions. I am also bipolar & have suffered from severe depression, including a suicide attempt. I rarely have depression now, partly due to feeling better; however, my mania has increased.Read More Read Less

I have been running a fever for a month. My energy is completely gone. It has been close to a month and I feel awful.

June, 2009 Dx with Perpheral Neuropathy. Led to Dx of WM same month. Started 860mg Rituxan every 3 months, along with decatron steroids and alkeran chemo. Steroids once per week, 12 pills per dose. Chemo 5 pills per day for 5 days, then nothing for rest of month. Originally IgM was at 7,900. After one year, Igm was down to 2,500. Discontinue steroids and chemo. Retain tri-monthly Rituxan. Now, 18 months later, Igm at 2,000. Have had only one side effect with Rituxan, and that was severe flushing of the skin into a deep red. Stopped treatment for 10 minutes, then resume slowly. That was two months ago. Once, early in the treatment, awoke in early morning freezing, with severe shakes. Took three blankets, and an hour to calm down. That, and the incidence of flushing during treatment have been the only side effects in 18 months of treatment. Oncologist trying for as low IgM as possible, but further treatment dependent on Neuropathy condition, which has not receded completely. Still have no feeling on bottom of feet, and serious pain if I walk too much. Also, as reported earlier by someone, tips of fingers have almost no feeling. Tend to drop things a lot. Dr says that nerve regeneration in hands and feet may well take another 2 years. As far as using the drug, I will have to continue a 3 month infusion for no telling how long, as the Waldenstroms is not curable, only treatable. As the French say, "C'est la vie" (that's life)Read More Read Less

Almost killed me, but maybe saved my life too. My BP dropped and I had stroke-like symptoms for days after treatment. I was supposed to get 4 treatments but they stopped after one due to the neurological side effects. I still have numbness and tingling on my left side. However, my ITP has stabilized with platelets over 300k. I would be very cautious and only do this with docs with lots of experience.

I have relapsing remitting MS. I've tried several other drugs in the 4.5 years I've had MS. This is second best after Tysabri. It's great not to have to think about taking medicine but once a year. I have no symptoms, except I'm more fatigued with this medicine than Tysabri. I've also had a few bladder infections in the last 6 months that caused extreme fatigue. I never have bladder infections, so I don't know if the drug has had an impact on that or not.

Just started after a severe bout with inflammation of every joint, I am for now pain free.

I have been on this medication for about 2yrs. It has been the only medication that has releived my pain. Before the medication I couldn't hardly move my arms,hands or fingers.

At first i had the iching and they slowed down the IV and that seemed to work. Other wise it works.

Use Rituxan for secondary progressive MS. My neuro said that people in wheelchairs would start walking after the first two infusion. However, I felt I needed a wheelchair after my second infusion. Although I was able to take the medication easily with little to no side effects, I felt my legs getting weaker instead of stronger. Will be discontinuing - definitely not worth the risks for me!

It had been 7 years since my last treatment course for Small Lymphomcytic Lymphoma (same as CLL). But in late 2009 I became very anemic so this time (feb 2010) we did Rituxan with Treanda. First treatment left me EXTREMELY anemic and had to get a blood transfusion. Felt soooo much better after that. I was pretty fatigued for about 2 weeks following each treatment (had 4 each 4 wks apart.) I also broke out in a bad all over rash - bumpy red, small blisters and itchy!! High does Prednisone was the only thing that helped. The Doc thinks it was the Treanda I was reacting to, but Rituxan can also cause rashes - so who knows? It's now been 3 months since my last treatment and all my lumps are gone, and I'm almost back to full strength - though still tired a lot. See the doc in a couple more weeks for a follow up and blood work - we'll see...Read More Read Less

.with my first treatment my throat started itching and swelling.The nurse gave me benedryl and slowed the drip.Second infusion 2 weeks later went ok.About 5 days later I started feeling weak all over nausa terrible headaches ever day.My legs got so weak I felt like I would fall if I didn,t sit.Night sweats ,my joint pain got worse.My heartbeat was up.My doctor said I have serum sickness which is uncommon.I looked it up on line there isn,t much about it.My doctor put me on predsione,it is slowly getting better.I was hopping the rituxan would work i,ve tried orencia,humeria,plaquinel.My hair fell out for several months,I have Laten TB and have to take meds for 4 months now because my immune system is weak.I will be happy to just feel the way I did before the first treatment.Read More Read Less

At this point I have had 44 treatments of rituxan over the past ten years so far it has not cured my Illiness but it helps keep in in check. I feel tired for a week after the treatment then I start feeling better.

I have no energy. Very Depressed, Vision problems and I feel sick all the time.

With the first infusion, I saw results of less pain and stiffness within two weeks. I have gotten the second infusion and I feel better than I have in five years!! I have less pain and more mobility. The inflamation is almost gone. Unsure as to how long this improvement will last, but it is great so far!! Taking the Rituxan IV has been the best decision for me!!

I've had RA since I was 18 have tried all there is to try, but with rituxan I feel so much better. I'm just starting my 2nd infusion but can feel the difference, hope evrything works out and that this is "IT".