Rituxan and hydroxychloroquine

[Shresworld]

Does anyone take rituxan and hydroxychloroquine? I can't find any information on it. Its seams it would help for viruses just wondering if it would be a good combo.

[Lolabridge]

Do ask you Rheumy please as that’s a medical question none of us should attempt to answer.

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Lolabridge]

Agree. Each combination is decided by the rheumy and for a very good reason. x

[Shresworld in reply to Neonkittie17]

I'm sorry i disagree with that I don't always listen to what my doctors think i should take research from reviews are a much better way.

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Shresworld]

I actually disagree as not everyone is going to be a great researcher and will find it hard to understand the more scholarly articles if they started to look through those. I don’t mean you here, but not everyone is switched on re research and knowledge on RA and the meds. I am always one to be proactive and advocate that to anyone to be involved and learn. You can indeed ask if something would suit you as you’ve read about it.

I’ve been offered a choice on more than one occasion and to go and read up and decide, so I’ve never been pushed into anything. My rheumy is always one to listen to her patients. Sometimes there isn’t always that wider choice of if a med will suit you more due to a specific one being more relevant to your health. I would always want to be proactive and be involved in decision making re the meds. Discussions are vital with your team. No, sorry I’m not on that combo of meds so can’t comment. I am still on Rtx or it is still in my system for some months, but I am not taking it with Hydroxy. Good luck.

[Shresworld in reply to Neonkittie17]

Thank you for that definitely people should be more proactive in their health care. I don't base my decision on how a certain medication is going to react on me but I definitely am a lot more interested in actually reviews from the ones taking it and not solely on the website from the medication or what doctors prescribe.

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Shresworld]

I do understand you want actual experiences but they could be people who are exaggerating and put something that scares you that is very unlikely to happen to you. Not everyone has a “filter” as such and won’t be too bothered if they scare someone. There are decent, genuine people of course but you’ll also see scaremongering. You could get someone who hasn’t a clue about their meds and misinterprets their reactions on them. I’d not ask advice on RA meds to my general practitioner(s). This is no disrespect to them. They have often admitted it is not their forte and they don’t like to advise. I have a senior rheumy who specialises in RA biologics and a dedicated senior nursing sister who specialises in biologics too.

[Shresworld in reply to Lolabridge]

Not asking for medical advice or i wouldn't ask here in this forum. Just wanting reviews from anybody that takes this combination to see how it does for them.

[nomoreheels]

Sorry, not sure what you're asking. Do you mean to take as a precaution against Covid (or other viruses) or as treatment for your RD with the bonus of it helping ease or protect against viruses? As LB & NK have said it is really a question for your Rheumy. He will know if they would help for viruses… or, potentially more appropriately, possibly your RD.

Are you just allowed to pick & choose which meds you prefer, or am I totally misunderstanding?

[Shresworld]

No but really yes I'm the advocate of my own health. I also do a lot of research and let me tell you hydroxychloroquine git me through the virus when i got it and really the best research are reviews from patients who take any medication.

[bpeal1 in reply to Shresworld]

Unfortunately because everyone is different and react very differently to medications it’s hard to review medications. It’s not like reviewing a product or a book. As an example I’ve been taking sulphasalazine for 14 years with no issues at all, my friend who also has RA tried it and ended up in hospital. On the other hand she takes methotrexate without issue and I can’t tolerate that.

I totally agree that people should be proactive in their healthcare but asking people to review medication is not particularly helpful. Maybe asking people about their experiences with medication might be of interest but probably not the most important thing to base your decision on.

[Shresworld in reply to bpeal1]

That isn't what a review is their experiences. And i definitely wouldn't nor should anyone else base a review on there decision to take a medication. But isn't this what this forum is based on?

[Shresworld in reply to Shresworld]

I meant to say isn't that what a review is an experience. Sorry i have a bad pain in my side not sure what to do I need to go to the emergency but I have my dog my baby I should say. I might have to call my ex!!

[helixhelix in reply to Shresworld]

Patients are not the best research. As an example, and old fashioned tale about wrapping cabbage leaves on warts to cure them. Just because someone reported that their wart was cured by wrapping cabbage leaves on it doesn’t mean it’s true or that there is a causal link. It could just have been a coincidence…

Which is why we need double blind research studies to be sure of our facts.

And all have these have shown that Hydroxychloroquine is ineffective for covid.

People’s experiences add colour to the facts, and can build confidence. But can’t provide an authoritative review.

[Shresworld in reply to helixhelix]

Well that is what they want you to think or maybe true for some but first off i wasn't asking if anyone is talking this for covid and does it work. I personally took hydroxychloroquine when I had covid a couple of months ago and helped me I was asking if anyone taking both rituxan and hydroxychloroquine together and what was there results the covid virus would just be a bonus to taking both and yes there are people that do take but thank you for your reply 😊

[Lolabridge]

Rituxan (Rituximab) is so strongly immune suppressing that I would not take any other RA drug without my doctor first approving it. If that combination worked for you that’s great. I’m not aware of anyone else on here that takes both.

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Lolabridge]

I’ve not ever heard of anyone on here taking that combo either. Maybe they do so in other countries.

[Shresworld]

I haven't either when I took hydroxychloroquine it was a few months ago when I had covid and haven't taken both because I just had my fist infusion of rituxan a week ago. I do have an appointment with my rummy on the 13th and see what she thinks so I was just seeing if anyone takes that combo.

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Shresworld]

I hope you have a really good discussion coming up soon with your rheumy. 🙏🏻

[Shresworld in reply to Neonkittie17]

Thank you 😊

[Fra22-57]

I actually started the infusions.Had my second course then started with with tripping up ,then right leg giving way and awful involuntary movements.It was immediately stopped and not offered anything else for few years .I was perfectly ok apart from fibromyalgia and RA before that but rheumatologist did say my body had had a bad reaction to it.I do take hydroxychlorinquine too. If offered again I would say a firm NO but I have heard that people have got on ok with it

[Shresworld in reply to Fra22-57]

Interesting I'm so sorry this happened to you but i have a really bad side ache and I'm probably going to the emergency room today it might be my kidneys! Thank you so much for your reply 😊