Anyone been on rituximab x

[Joe40]

[Hidden]

Hi Joe,

There are people on here taking it already and I am sure they will be happy to help.. go to tags find rituximab and all will be revealed, I cant help as im not taking it! In fact one of the people taking it is the nicest person you could ever hope to chat too! I wont embarass her further.. she hopefully will reply to you personally soon

Alison x

[Joe40 in reply to Hidden]

Many thanks will do x

[Hidden]

Hi, yes I'm on Rituximab, have been for about three and half years and due for my fourth cycle soon.

The treatment is given by infusion, dripped in over several hours, you then have another infusion two weeks later. Providing of course you have had no serious side effects.

Your first infusion will be monitored very carefully and gradually increased, hopefully the infusion will then be finished in about 5-6 hours. Everyone is different on this though.

I have done extremely well on this treatment, and I hope it continues.

Anything else you want to know, just ask.

mand xx

[Hidden]

Hi There

I have just taken my first treatment of rituximab and mand was a great support !!

I was really scared about it but also have had no problems. Hope all goes well for you if you decide to go ahead with it - remember that we are all individuals so even if you do hear bad reports it doesnt mean that you will apply to you will experience any side effects. I have def noticed an improvement in my joint pain !

fiona

[Judi]

Hi Joe,

I have just had my first course of rituximab (i.e. 2 infusions given 2 weeks apart) 2 weeks ago. Before receiving the infusion of rituximab I was given a separate infusion which contained a steroid and an anti-histamine plus 2 paracetamol. Then had to wait for 30 minutes before starting the rituximab. I was in the hospital for about 6 hours. My hospital has a separate infusion department (dont know if this applies to all hospitals) with other people having infusions of all types so there are other people to have a 'chin-wag' with. The hospital staff were really lovely. After the first infusion I was really tired but couldn't sleep and had a headache. Eventually got off to sleep and was fine the next morning. The headache didn't happen with the second infusion. I'm still waiting for an improvement in my RA symptoms but understand like other medication it can take up to 3 months to feel any benefit. I was concerned with the long list of possible side effects and initially couldn't make up my mind whether to have it or not - asked myself where would it leave me if I didn't have it ? If you decide to go ahead with it I hope all goes well for you.

Judi