Rituximab

amandapayne
amandapayne Member Posts: 4
edited 3. Jun 2009, 18:24 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi
Haven't posted on here for ages but I was looking for a little advice. I live in Spain where I have received excellent medical care...really can't fault it...and my rheumy is drop-dead gorgeous too! :D I have had RA for 15 odd years now and in recent times it has just been getting worse and worse. I was on Remicade for a while which worked well, then stopped, so we tried Enbrel and now Arava. However, my rheumy wants me to start Rituximab. I have been having all kinds of problems with my blood pressure and heart (tachycardia), which appear to be Arthur related.
Having looked up Rituximab on the net (what did we do before google???) I really don't like the look of it. My rheumy says that Rituximab is pretty much all thats left now....until they come up with something new.
So, any Rituximab users out there who can tell me how they got on with it??

Comments

  • jackie1955
    jackie1955 Member Posts: 632
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Amanda,

    I'm not on meds yet, but am interested in what is available!

    I read a magazine article only the other day written by a lady who had gone onto this drug, I think when it was still really on trial..... she said it had transformed her life :)

    Jackie x
  • bern2212
    bern2212 Member Posts: 1
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi,

    I've had Rituximab treatment for three years now. The first time I got it was amazing, I done things I hadnt in years, eg.able to dress myself, stop taking painkiller, walked up hills, but you still have to be carefull not to do to much. One of the best things was the tiredness disappeared almost overnight. I was really worried about getting it but the nurses were fantastic and talked me through the different drugs that are administered, It lasted me about six months and then started wearing off and I had to wait about six months for the next dose and the same again, but I think its going to get better now more nurses are trained. The second and third time it didnt work as good but it takes the edge off and I now have to take steroids and sometimes painkillers, I kept a diary when I got this if you would like a copy please let me know and I will email you it.
  • manikyam
    manikyam Member Posts: 8
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Everyone,

    Have gone through different posts in the forum and have seen delighted people with many of their queries resolved. Hoping the same with me.

    My mom (46years) is suffereing from RA (with RF negative) from past 2 years and she is on Prednisolone (2mg per day now) and hydroxychloroquine(DMARD). She is feeling better now with more good days than bad days. Our Rheumy yesterday referred to Rituximab and he want to start with it. I was surfing abt Rituximab and got to know that it should be used only if any of anti-TNF drugs like enbre etc fails to work. But my mom never have been on this drugs.
    My questions here are:
    Is it ok to jump to Rituximab without using TNF inhibitors (enbrel). Are there any one who are put in to rituximab without prior use of anti-TNF’s

    Thanks for your patience and time.
    Hoping for the best.

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