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Rituximab Treatment Report

Category: Prescription Drugs

Most Popular Types: Rituxan, Mabthera

See patients taking Rituximab

Sort by: Helpfulness | Most Recent

13 patient evaluations for Rituximab

graclyn

Sex: F

Data Quality: 2 stars

MS: 11 yrs

Type: Relapsing-Remitting

Sensation: Moderate

Overall: Mild

Cognition: moderate

Vision: none

Speech: mild

Swallowing: none

Upper limb: mild

Walking: mild
by graclyn
See graclyn's full Rituximab history

**Purpose:** Other *(Started May 05, 2005)*
Date	Dosage	Perceived effectiveness	Side Effects	Adherence	Burden
Dec 31, 2008	1000 other Yearly	Slight	Mild	Always	Very

Side effects:: Low blood pressure

Date: Dec 31, 2008
Advice & Tips: In 2005 when I had this treatment it gave me moderate improvement but this time in 2008 I only had slight improvement and that only seemed to last for not quite a full year, unlike the other time which I had some benefit up to 3 years.
Cost: $200+ monthly

1 helpful mark

smbrunner

Sex: F

Data Quality: 1 star

NMO : 11 yrs

Type: Relapsing NMO

Left Eye : moderate

Right Eye : moderate

Sensation : moderate

Overall : mild

Swallowing : mild

Arms : mild

Legs : moderate

Bladder/Bowel : moderate

Spinal Cord : mild
by smbrunner
See smbrunner's full Rituximab history

**Purpose:** Neuromyelitis Optica *(Started May 22, 2008)*
Date	Dosage	Perceived effectiveness	Side Effects	Adherence	Burden
May 25, 2010	10000 mg Every 3 months	Major	Severe	Always	A little
Mar 07, 2010	10000 mg Every 3 months	Major	Moderate	Always	A little
Mar 05, 2010	1000 mg Every 3 months	?Can't tell	Moderate	Always	A little
Feb 28, 2010	1000 mg Every 3 months	Major	Severe	Always	A little

Side effects:: Allergic reaction

Date: May 25, 2010
Advice & Tips: Make sure you are not allergic to the medication. Thought it was just an chronic infusion rxn, when I consulted the allergist, he said I was very allergic to it. Hated to stop the medication as it was very helpful. If you are allergic to guninea pigs/ mice do not take it!
Cost: $200+ monthly

Date: Mar 05, 2010
Advice & Tips: Due to increased severity of pain from the Devic's uncontrolled with the max dose of 200mcg Fentanyl, it was decided that by neurology to do an early dose of Rituxan. In other words, instead of 3 months, we did the Rituxan in 2 months as in the past this has helped with the pain. The infusion was over 24 hours and I had severe issues with hypotension and ventricular arrythmias, needed increased fluid support and keeps the support meds scheduled at every 6 hours (increased the dosages of Benadryl and demerol, tylenol). Will see if the pain improves!
Cost: $100-199 monthly

Date: Feb 28, 2010
Advice & Tips: This is the only tx that seems to be best though for some reason my relapses try to recur with two months after the infusion. With the other chemo (MTX) I had too many life threatening infections so I had to stop, I will have to deal with the side effects for now. I do feel great for the first two months after the treatment. Usually the tx is done outpatient, but in my case I must stay inpt and the infusion is done between 12-18 hours due to side effects. Need hydration and cardiac monitoring before, during amd after to help deal/ monitor some of the adverse side effects. Myneurologist doesn't understand these increasing adverse reactions with each successive dose. Afraid to increase the frequency for this reason.
Cost: $100-199 monthly

1 helpful mark

Karina2805

Sex: F

Data Quality: 0 stars

MS: 27 yrs

Type: Relapsing-Remitting

Sensation: Moderate

Overall: Mild

Cognition: moderate

Vision: none

Speech: none

Swallowing: none

Upper limb: moderate

Walking: moderate
by Karina2805
See Karina2805's full Rituximab history

**Purpose:** MS (Multiple Sclerosis) *(Started Nov 12, 2009)*
Date	Dosage	Perceived effectiveness	Side Effects	Adherence	Burden
Mar 01, 2010	10 mg Weekly	?Can't tell	Moderate	Never	Somewhat
Dec 09, 2009	10 mg Weekly	?Can't tell	Moderate	Sometimes	A little

Side effects:: Respiratory infections

Date: Dec 09, 2009
Advice & Tips: Got too many respiratory infections after the first dose. Second dose, tomorrow after three weeks

1 helpful mark

katdex

Sex: F

Data Quality: 3 stars

NMO : 4 yrs

Type: Relapsing NMO

Left Eye : moderate

Right Eye : severe

Sensation : moderate

Overall : severe

Swallowing : moderate

Arms : moderate

Legs : severe

Bladder/Bowel : moderate

Spinal Cord : severe
by katdex
See katdex's full Rituximab history

**Purpose:** Neuromyelitis Optica *(Started Oct 15, 2009)*
Date	Dosage	Perceived effectiveness	Side Effects	Adherence	Burden
Nov 22, 2011	1000 mg Every 3 months	?Can't tell	Moderate	Always	A little
Jun 02, 2010	1000 mg Every 3 months	None	Severe	Always	Not at all

Date: Nov 22, 2011
Advice & Tips: I was diagnosed with NMO in October of 2009, and began chemotherapy using Rituximab almost immediately. The treatments were VERY hard on my body, and I almost invariably had alarming cardiac/respiratory crises with every session. As stated in my previous evaluation of this drug, it reached a point where the drug was so hard on me that my doctor (and my anesthetist parents) stopped treatment after my treatment in June of 2010. My husband and I moved from South Carolina to North Carolina in October of 2011, where I met with several new doctors in the Asheville area. My new hemotologist convinced me that he could administer my treatments without causing the issues I'd previously experienced. I conceded, and to my surprise, he lived up to his claim immensely. He infused the same drug in the same dosage, but with a totally different method. My side effects (both during treatment and after) were minimized greatly - I had NO cardiac/pulmonary crises, and my recuperation time was cut in half. My opinion on this treatment has improved by leaps and bounds. That being said, however, it is still a VERY powerful drug, and should be used with extreme caution - and only if you have exhausted the less dangerous treatments available.
Cost: < $25 monthly

Date: Jun 02, 2010
Advice & Tips: If you take Rituxan, be VERY aware of the strength of this drug, and of the possible side effects. Also consider that NMO in itself causes a great deal of fatigue and weakness, and that the Rituxan exacerbates these effects 100-fold. I deteriorated very quickly neurologically speaking, so much so that my parents (who are CRNAs) were truly afraid I would not survive the last treatment. Just be cautious, and be sure your body is physically strong enough to endure such risky treatment.

0 helpful marks

gordis56

Data Quality: 1 star
- Sex: Female
- Age: 56y
Condition: RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis) 11 additional condition(s)
Quality of Life:
- Social: Mild
- Mental: Moderate
- Physical: Moderate
I am: Bad
by gordis56
See gordis56's full Rituximab history

**Purpose:** RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis) *(Started Nov 01, 2011)*
Date	Dosage	Perceived effectiveness	Side Effects	Adherence	Burden
May 01, 2012		Slight	Mild	Always	A little
Jan 01, 2012		None	Severe	Always	Very
Dec 10, 2011	7 hr Monthly	None	Severe	Always	A little

Date: May 01, 2012
Advice & Tips: stop medication did not help with swelling or pain in joints added actemra 2012 may
Cost: $200+ monthly

Date: Jan 01, 2012
Advice & Tips: very expensive was disappointed it did not work
Cost: $200+ monthly

Date: Dec 10, 2011
Advice & Tips: i had to submitt 2 infusion with no success for me i had alot of inflamation and fatigue infusion 1 month apart 7 hours for each was hoping it would work for me
Cost: $200+ monthly

0 helpful marks

Dave-nmo

Sex: M

Data Quality: 0 stars

NMO : 8 yrs

Left Eye : none

Right Eye : none

Sensation : moderate

Overall : moderate

Swallowing : none

Arms : moderate

Legs : severe

Bladder/Bowel : severe

Spinal Cord : moderate
by Dave-nmo
See Dave-nmo's full Rituximab history

**Purpose:** Neuromyelitis Optica *(Started Mar 01, 2009)*
Date	Dosage	Perceived effectiveness	Side Effects	Adherence	Burden
Aug 30, 2011	1000 mg Yearly	Moderate	None	Always	Somewhat
Jun 22, 2010	1000 mg Yearly	Major	None	Always	Not at all

Date: Aug 30, 2011
Advice & Tips: worked for 2 years, then stopped working

Date: Jun 22, 2010
Advice & Tips: Had 1000 mg infusion 4x at weekly intervals @ 10 months, had 1000 mg infusion 2x at 2-week interval

0 helpful marks

superstar

Sex: F

Data Quality: 0 stars

NMO : 5 yrs

Left Eye : mild

Right Eye : mild

Sensation : moderate

Overall : mild

Swallowing : none

Arms : mild

Legs : mild

Bladder/Bowel : moderate

Spinal Cord : mild
by superstar
See superstar's full Rituximab history

**Purpose:** Neuromyelitis Optica *(Started Feb 01, 2009)*
Date	Dosage	Perceived effectiveness	Side Effects	Adherence	Burden
Oct 30, 2009	10 mg Every Other Week	Major	Mild	Never	Not at all

Side effects:: Insomnia

Date: Oct 30, 2009
Advice & Tips: Has made me feel alot better; however, I still have symptoms from permanet scare tissue damage. However; after my last two treatments: 1) Feb 2) Oct...both MRI's following each treatment showed significant improvement and no activity and no inflamation. I was and am happy with the results. However, if you are thinking about starting this treatment, it is very important to monitor your B cells through monthly Blood Tests to make sure the medication is doing its job and working.

0 helpful marks

uschiw

Sex: F

Data Quality: 3 stars

MS: 8 yrs

Type: Secondary Progressive

Sensation: Moderate

Overall: Mild

Cognition: none

Vision: moderate

Speech: none

Swallowing: none

Upper limb: none

Walking: moderate
by uschiw
See uschiw's full Rituximab history

**Purpose:** MS (Multiple Sclerosis) *(Started Jan 27, 2010)*
Date	Dosage	Perceived effectiveness	Side Effects	Adherence	Burden
Oct 22, 2010	As needed	Slight	Mild	Always	Not at all

Date: Oct 22, 2010
Advice & Tips: i had the rituximab treatment 01.27.10 and 2 weeks later 02.10.2010 the next treatment was given 10.22.2010 and 2 weeks later 11.05.2010 my insurance did not cover at atll nor the infusion time! unfortunately i am still declining…, no relapses… but = this treatment did not work for me
Cost: $200+ monthly

0 helpful marks

MariaE

Sex: F

Data Quality: 1 star

NMO : 6 yrs

Type: Relapsing NMO

Left Eye : mild

Right Eye : mild

Sensation : moderate

Overall : mild

Swallowing : none

Arms : mild

Legs : moderate

Bladder/Bowel : moderate

Spinal Cord : mild
by MariaE
See MariaE's full Rituximab history

**Purpose:** Neuromyelitis Optica *(Started Dec 10, 2007)*
Date	Dosage	Perceived effectiveness	Side Effects	Adherence	Burden
Jan 21, 2009	As needed	Major	Mild	Always	A little

Side effects:: Muscle pain, Tiredness, Tiredness

0 helpful marks

LSK

Sex: F

Data Quality: 3 stars

MS: 20 yrs

Type: Secondary Progressive

Sensation: Moderate

Overall: Moderate

Cognition: severe

Vision: none

Speech: moderate

Swallowing: moderate

Upper limb: moderate

Walking: moderate
by LSK
See LSK's full Rituximab history

**Purpose:** MS (Multiple Sclerosis) *(Started May 01, 2008)*
Date	Dosage	Perceived effectiveness	Side Effects	Adherence	Burden
Nov 01, 2009	500 mg Every 3 months	Major	Mild	Always	Somewhat
Jun 18, 2009		Major	None	Always	Somewhat

0 helpful marks

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