Generic name: rituximab [ ri-TUX-i-mab ]
Drug classes: Antirheumatics, CD20 monoclonal antibodies

Medically reviewed by Melisa Puckey, BPharm. Last updated on Mar 1, 2024.

What is Rituxan?

Rituxan is a cancer medicine that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body. It is also used to treat other non-cancer conditions.

Rituxan is an intravenous (IV) infusion given by a healthcare professional. It is a prescription medicine used alone or in combination with other medicines to treat the following conditions:

• non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or chronic lymphocytic leukemia in adults;

• rheumatoid arthritis in adults;

• granulomatosis with polyangiitis and microscopic polyangiitis (rare disorders that cause inflammation of blood vessels and other tissues in the body) in adults and children 2 years of age and older; or

• pemphigus vulgaris (a severe autoimmune reaction that causes blisters and breakdown of the skin and mucous membranes) in adults.

Warnings

Rituxan may cause a serious brain infection that can lead to disability or death. Call your doctor right away if you have problems with speech, thought, vision, or muscle movement. These symptoms may start gradually and get worse quickly.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had hepatitis B. Rituxan can cause this condition to come back or get worse.

Severe skin problems can also occur during treatment with Rituxan. Call your doctor if you have painful skin or mouth sores, or a severe skin rash with blistering, peeling, or pus.

Some side effects may occur during the infusion or within 24 hours afterward. Tell your caregiver right away if you feel itchy, dizzy, weak, light-headed, short of breath, or if you have chest pain, wheezing, sudden cough, or pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest.

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using Rituxan, and avoid coming into contact with anyone who has recently received a live vaccine. There is a chance that the virus could be passed on to you. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), rotavirus, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), zoster (shingles), and nasal flu (influenza) vaccine.

Before taking this medicine

Rituxan may cause a serious brain infection that can lead to disability or death. This infection may be more likely if have used an immunosuppressant drug in the past, or if you have received Rituxan with a stem cell transplant.

To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• liver disease or hepatitis (or if you are a carrier of hepatitis B);

• kidney disease;

• lung disease or a breathing disorder;

• a weak immune system (caused by disease or by using certain medicines);

• an infection, including herpes, shingles, cytomegalovirus, chickenpox, parvovirus, West Nile virus, or hepatitis B or C;

• heart disease, angina (chest pain), or heart rhythm disorder; or

• if you have used rituximab in the past, or you have had a severe allergic reaction to rituximab.

You should be up-to-date on any needed immunizations before starting treatment with Rituxan. Tell your doctor if you (or a child receiving Rituxan) have received any vaccines within the past 4 weeks.

Do not use Rituxan if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are using this medicine and for at least 12 months after your last dose.

It is not safe to breast-feed a baby while you are using this medicine. Also do not breast-feed for at least 6 months after your last dose.

If you are a woman of childbearing age, you should use birth control while taking Rituxan and for at least 12 months after your last dose.

How is Rituxan given?

Rituxan is given as an infusion into a vein. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.

Your doctor will perform blood tests to make sure you do not have conditions that would prevent you from safely using Rituxan.

Rituxan is not given daily. Your schedule will depend on the condition being treated. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully.

Before each injection, you may be given other medications to prevent certain side effects of rituximab.

You will need frequent medical tests.

If you've ever had hepatitis B, using Rituxan can cause this virus to become active or get worse. You may need frequent liver function tests while using this medicine and for several months after you stop.

If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using this medicine.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Call your doctor if you miss an appointment for your Rituxan injection.

What happens if I overdose?

Since this medication is given by a healthcare professional in a medical setting, an overdose is unlikely to occur.

What should I avoid while receiving Rituxan?

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using rituximab, or you could develop a serious infection. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), rotavirus, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), zoster (shingles), and nasal flu (influenza) vaccine.

Rituxan side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Rituxan: (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).

Some side effects may occur during the injection (or within 24 hours afterward). Tell your caregiver right away if you feel itchy, dizzy, weak, light-headed, short of breath, or if you have a rash or hives, chest pain, wheezing, sudden cough, or pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest.

Rituximab may cause a serious brain infection that can lead to disability or death. Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms (which may start gradually and get worse quickly):

• confusion, memory problems, or other changes in your mental state;

• weakness on one side of your body;

• vision changes; or

• problems with speech or walking.

Rituxan can lead to other serious side effects including infections, heart attacks or other heart problems, kidney failure, and intestinal blockage and/or damage. Talk to your doctor about your risk.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these other side effects, even if they occur several months after you receive Rituxan, or after your treatment ends.

• painful skin or mouth sores, or a severe skin rash with blistering, peeling, or pus;

• redness, warmth, or swelling of the skin;

• severe stomach pain, vomiting, constipation, bloody or tarry stools;

• irregular heartbeats, chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder;

• tiredness or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

• signs of infection - fever, chills, cold or flu symptoms, cough, sore throat, mouth sores, headache, earache, pain or burning when you urinate; or

• signs of tumor cell breakdown - confusion, weakness, muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting, fast or slow heart rate, decreased urination, tingling in your hands and feet or around your mouth.

Common Rituxan side effects may include:

• low white and red blood cells (fever, chills, body aches, pale skin, unusual tiredness, infections);

• nausea, diarrhea;

• swelling in your hands or feet;

• headache, weakness;

• painful urination;

• muscle spasms;

• depressed mood; or

• cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect Rituxan?

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

• medicines to treat conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or psoriasis - adalimumab, certolizumab, etanercept, golimumab, infliximab, leflunomide, methotrexate, sulfasalazine, tocilizumab, tofacitinib, and others; or

• chemotherapy drugs, especially cisplatin

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with rituximab, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

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Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Rituxan only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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