Brief Answer:
Good drug

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Thanks for the query

Rituximab is a wonderful drug and it has been used for various diseases with very good results.

However in order to help you better I need to know more in detail about your condition

1. What is the strength of Rituximab being used on you? and for how many weeks?
2. If you do not know your dosage, please let me know your height and weight?
3. How long have you had Rheumatoid arthritis? and what other medications are you currently on?
4. Do you have any changes of bones of the hand and feet?

Please get back to me, I am awaiting your reply

Regards

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Brief Answer:
Side effects of Rituximab

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Thanks for getting back

You will be receiving this drug at the dose of 500mg every week for the next 4 weeks.

Most patients do very well with this drug with very little side effects however some of the side effects we usually see are

1. Prurutis, nausea, vomiting, giddiness and headache

2. The most dreaded complications are immediate reaction to rituximab called as anaphylactic reaction leading to chills and rigor and even heart attack, to prevent this we give pre medications in the form of steroids

3. The long term side effects are usually infections. Rituximab acts against the B cells, these B cells are the cells which give us immunity against common infections. It takes 9 months for B cells to come back to normal levels in our body after Rituximab therapy. Infection like acute gastro enteritis, re activation of Hepatitis, re activation of chicken pox, meningitis, rtc could occur

I would like to point out that most of my patients have gone well and have not succumbed to any infection. Re activation of Herpes Zoster is the most common infection seen with my patients. None of them have had an anaphylactic shock leading to death

I hope I as of help, if you have any further queries please get back to me

I wish you good health and a speedy recovery

Regards

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Brief Answer:
Hello

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for getting back

Rituximab is a relatively new drug so nobody really knows the absolute long term effects of it. By going by the literature you should be free of all effects of Rituximab by 8 months and there should not be any long term side effects of it.

I tried looking through the literature of Rituximab, contacted the pahrmaceutical company if they are doing any research on long term effects of Rituximab, I also spoke to some of my XXXXXXX sub specialists at my hospital, all give the same answer. It is a risk you will have to take for the benefits.

I hope I was of help

Regards

Regards

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