Rituximab

kzurawel84
kzurawel84 Member Posts: 4
edited 19. Nov 2013, 13:50 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi,

Is anyone currently taking Rituximab as an Anti - TNF treatment?

I am due to start treatment shortly and am interested in how people have found the drug - side effects, pro's, cons etc .....

I have already failed Enbrel so am slightly dubious.

Kelly :)

Comments

  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hello, it's nice to meet you, I wish I could help but that med is one I have not tried. If you put its name into the search function on this board the various threads about will pop up. I know there are a couple of people on here who are on it but they don't post too often - hopefully beause it's working for them. I wish you well and good luck with the rituximab. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • As5567
    As5567 Member Posts: 665
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi there,

    I'm not on this medication anymore and it wasn't working for me, hopefully you will be one of the lucky ones!

    This was my personal experience

    Side effects :
    1) Headache during and after infusion for 1-2 days
    2) Feeling very tired during and after infusion for about a week

    Pro's
    1) Time between infusions can be a long time
    2) If the drug works it generally works really good

    Cons
    1) IV needles can be painful
    2) The infusion takes around 6-8 hours
  • kathbee
    kathbee Member Posts: 934
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    I had two lots of Rituximab, a year apart, but it didnt do anything towards improvement and I had one or two of the side effects. But a friend who has had it for a few years now is doing very well on it.
    I have been put on Tocilizumab and had one infusion so far, but too many side effects, think its just me as I was the same with Humira as well.

    So fingers crossed for you, we are all so different.

    Kath
  • wilv
    wilv Member Posts: 6
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    hi
    I had my first rit infusion last week and due next one next wed.Staff were great and I was really apprehensive.I had a slight reaction about half an hour in but the nurse just stopped drip,turned on saline for about 30 mins and then started again with no probs.Took about 5hrs - sounds daunting but was really ok.Afterwards i felt like i had been steamrollered, took a few days off work and still feel tired (nothing new there!) and a bit sick.Time will tell. I do feel lucky that i can try these drugs (meth,sulph,enbrel etc) and not have to fund them personally as that would be a non-starter!!
    Like everyone i just want to find something that works and gives me some normality!
    all the best - whatever your decision
    xx
  • evelf47
    evelf47 Member Posts: 6
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    I have had 5 rituximab infusions over the last 3 years. They have been fantastic for me and I have not had any side effects from them. My hospital is really good and I get very good attention . Basically you just have a cannula put in and you just laze around for 5 or 6 hours there's no pain or discomfort and I even get lunch !!!
  • Colin1
    Colin1 Member Posts: 1,769
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Like you I failed all the anti tnf and the Enbrel made me ill. I started rituximab nearly three years ago I was so scared because of the failures I had. Rituximab was the best thing that happened to me. it neve made me pain free but it made 50% pain free and able to walk again. as people say there are side effects with everything. I am very ill with other problems but without the other problems taking rituximab has probably given me the best three years for a long time. I was so ill and in so much pain I could not go back.
    Good luck
    Colin
    WHEN GOD GIVES YOU LEMONS MAKE LEMONADE

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