Side effects-Rituxan?

24

Comments

  • lindaintn
    lindaintn Member Posts: 8
    rehab said:

    side effects?
    I am 30 yrs old is acase of Diffuse large B cell lymphoma stage one on R-CHOP treatment I receive it every 21 days..I have two treatment till now after first one I had no symptoms apart from simple headach and myalgia but after second treatment which was ten days ago I get severe bloating and severe back pain not respond to simple pain killer so I have to take tradmol to relief this pain .My doctor said It is not usual to have such severe pain with rituxan..I dont know if it is related or no..any idea plz?any one has such severe pain which is constant and continuous all days since I received the treatment
    and what about this sooo severe bloating..?
    I am happy to find this chat
    sorry for my inaccurate spilling Engliash language my third language

    pain with rituxan
    Hello. I am new here. i am currently in my 3rd round of rituxin. my aches and pains come and go. A few days i feel like i have the flu, then a few good days. i do that for a few months and as time goes on it gets less and less. Sorry to hear your having such trouble with it on top of everything else
  • Louise53
    Louise53 Member Posts: 5
    Evaline said:

    B Cell NHL
    It seems that everyone else has had Chop for NHL. I have only had the Rituxan, with steroid,
    and Tylenol. I had stage 3, one in my neck and one behind my stomach. After 4 treatments, the scan showed I was in remission. Will take my last 2 year maintenance treatment in June 2009. I didn't realize that Rituxan made joints hurt. I hurt in my knees. But it is better than knowing I have the Cancer. I also have arthritis in my hands, so I attriputed the pain in my knees to the arthritis. Has anyone else just had Rituxan for NHL or has everyone had Chop also? If so how long in remission? I sometimes tingle in my left had fingers. But, since I am doing my last treatment I guess I will have to go with it. Will have another scan in July -09.

    How long does remission usually last?

    Rituxan
    Evaline,
    I have NHL Stage IV and I am having my first round of treatment with Rituxan only. I too wondered why I was just getting the Rituxan and not the R-CVP or R-Chop. The oncologist said I didn't need anything stronger right now. Did you have your scan in July and are you in remission? Did you have a CT or PET scan?

    Louise53
  • Louise53
    Louise53 Member Posts: 5
    lindaintn said:

    pain with rituxan
    Hello. I am new here. i am currently in my 3rd round of rituxin. my aches and pains come and go. A few days i feel like i have the flu, then a few good days. i do that for a few months and as time goes on it gets less and less. Sorry to hear your having such trouble with it on top of everything else

    Rituxan
    Linda,
    Have you had any other treatment besides Rituxan? I had my 3rd treatment yesterday and today I am getting burning pains off and on in the abdominal area where my lymphoma was found. I wonder if it is the Rituxan working on the tumors.
    Louise
  • Evaline
    Evaline Member Posts: 9
    Louise53 said:

    Rituxan
    Evaline,
    I have NHL Stage IV and I am having my first round of treatment with Rituxan only. I too wondered why I was just getting the Rituxan and not the R-CVP or R-Chop. The oncologist said I didn't need anything stronger right now. Did you have your scan in July and are you in remission? Did you have a CT or PET scan?

    Louise53

    Rituxan Treatments
    Louise,

    As far as I can tell I am still in remission. I have my next PET scan Monday Aug. 10, 2009.
    Of course I am always a little nervy when it gets time for those scans. Please keep posted how you are doing.

    Evaline
  • lindaintn
    lindaintn Member Posts: 8
    Louise53 said:

    Rituxan
    Linda,
    Have you had any other treatment besides Rituxan? I had my 3rd treatment yesterday and today I am getting burning pains off and on in the abdominal area where my lymphoma was found. I wonder if it is the Rituxan working on the tumors.
    Louise

    rituxin
    Louise,
    i am having my 4th round this morning. Off for 6 months, then my last round in Feb. My doctor has ordered 2 years of rituxan. When first DX i had CHOP-R. 1 1/2 years remission. rituxan is my only treatment. How often do you get PET/CAT scans? Last treatment my doctor gave me a mild pain med. it helped a bunch. Mine only lasts for 2-3 days. I get in that pain "fog" and after 2-3 days it usually lifts
  • tjo66
    tjo66 Member Posts: 29
    Evaline said:

    B Cell NHL
    It seems that everyone else has had Chop for NHL. I have only had the Rituxan, with steroid,
    and Tylenol. I had stage 3, one in my neck and one behind my stomach. After 4 treatments, the scan showed I was in remission. Will take my last 2 year maintenance treatment in June 2009. I didn't realize that Rituxan made joints hurt. I hurt in my knees. But it is better than knowing I have the Cancer. I also have arthritis in my hands, so I attriputed the pain in my knees to the arthritis. Has anyone else just had Rituxan for NHL or has everyone had Chop also? If so how long in remission? I sometimes tingle in my left had fingers. But, since I am doing my last treatment I guess I will have to go with it. Will have another scan in July -09.

    How long does remission usually last?

    Rituxan only
    My dad is also receiving only Rituxan. He has had no side effects so far but has only had one treatment. The first treatment went exptremely well and is up for his second this thursday.
  • tjo66
    tjo66 Member Posts: 29
    Louise53 said:

    Rituxan
    Linda,
    Have you had any other treatment besides Rituxan? I had my 3rd treatment yesterday and today I am getting burning pains off and on in the abdominal area where my lymphoma was found. I wonder if it is the Rituxan working on the tumors.
    Louise

    Louise
    From the description on the papers the onco. gave my dad, burning sensation in cancer site may be due to the drug working on the cancer. If this is the case than the bright side of this is YOU KNOW IT"S WORKING! Take care, tjo
  • Val.CMZ
    Val.CMZ Member Posts: 5
    scrummy3 said:

    CHOP-R
    Hi,
    I was DX'd with diffuse large B-cell nHL, w/splenic involvement and T-cell rich in Aug 2004. Did 8 rounds of CHOP-R. Had strong reaction to Rituxan on first infusion - the "shake and bakes" - low fever, rigors, nausea, etc. Lasted under 5 minutes and was minoir compared to the B-cell symptoms I was having before the treatment. They backed off the infusion, treated the symptoms and finished the dosage. I felt so much better as my fevers disappeared overnight (Prednisone, no doubt) that I didn't think much of the reaction. Did not have any reaction in the remaining seven treatments. I had bone pain (minor) during teatment, but I attributed it to the Neulasta.
    After last infusion I was told I had a near complete response - the spleen and all nodes except the largest two had returned to normal size. Been doing well until last June when some nodes increased and showed hot on a PET. A biopsy at the time showed a normal reactive node, but 3-4 months later, nothing has changed so they are going in for another biopsy. Feeling great (no B-cell symptoms), so don't know where I am headed.
    Always wondered if I should have had more treatment but hearing some of your stories, perhaps I am lucky. Keep well.

    ---
    JB

    rituxan
    I just joined today after researching rituxan usage. I was diagnosed in 1997 with stage 4 NHL. Had CHOP therapy but only stayed in remission for 15 months. I also have RA and the drs. believe the starting of enbryl caused the relapse. I have been receiving rituxan maintenance since 2004 - 4 weekly treatments every 6 months. At my last treatment my dr. brought up going off the rituxan and after scans just watch and see what happens. I've only heard of treatment of 2 yrs. in any research I've done. But have always felt like I was doing something proactive and keeping it all under control. Now I'm a bit scared of stopping - like, why mess with what's working? Actually I have never any any symptoms at all from rituxan, not even the first treatment. So as far as worrying about more treatments, I wouldn't. I feel bad for those with the negative reactions, but my story is different. No problems at all. Only time I experienced the painful reactions I've been reading about was during iron transfusions. Had a terrible time with that.
  • Val.CMZ
    Val.CMZ Member Posts: 5
    SuzieQZ said:

    rituxin maintenance
    I have just passed 5 yrs remission Oct 22nd....I had CHOP and Rituxan, plus a stem cell transplant. It was at a well known Cancer Center.

    My daughter does cancer research and at the time of my treatments she was working for the Co that developed Rituxan.

    I am continuing maintenance treatments and will for the rest of my life. No side effects since my first 2 treatment. My side effects were as a result of my extremely high white count.

    I am grateful to have the option of maintenance....I think that's what keeps me sane.

    Good Luck in whatever you decide.

    rituxan
    I have been trying to research length of time Rituxan can be used, and have only read up to 2 yrs. I have been on it since 2004, 4 weekly treatments every six months. I have never had a problem with it - no side effects at all. Last week my dr. talked of stopping treatments and just doing scans to see how I do. We'll talk about it next month. I'm really apprehensive about it. Now I feel like I'm doing something proactive and stopping scares me. You said you would be on maintenance for the rest of your life. What has your dr. said about it? I'd like some information before I go back to him. Thanks.

    Val
  • aoganes
    aoganes Member Posts: 1
    Louise53 said:

    Rituxan
    Linda,
    Have you had any other treatment besides Rituxan? I had my 3rd treatment yesterday and today I am getting burning pains off and on in the abdominal area where my lymphoma was found. I wonder if it is the Rituxan working on the tumors.
    Louise

    burning sensation after Rituxan, please help
    Hi,

    I had 6RCHOP ending january 2009 for DLBCL and follicular and 2 rounds of Rituximab every 3 months, Next round of Rituxan is in a week.

    After second round of Rituximab I started to feel burning sensation in my neck where the biggest tumor was. No nodes. Just really anoying sensation of tingling on and off.

    It is very stressful and really feels like cancer is fighting Rituxan in my neck

    IS it an early indicator of relapse? Anybody had that experience.

    I also had unexplained high LDH with no nodes found on CT scan.
  • surfsup
    surfsup Member Posts: 1 Member
    dixie1 said:

    Side effects from Rituxin
    I received Rituxin in 2000 when it had only been in use for about 2 years. I had a severe reaction to this drug (fast drop in blood pressure, almost passed out, severe aching pain all over body, fever, it was horrible). Since then that particular doctor has had it happened to a few of his other patients, and has since then come up with some kind of cocktail to give his patients before giving the Rituxin. (Dr. Ping Chue in Houston, Texas) I now go to MD Anderson in Houston and still have severe reactions to Rituxin even with the pre- administrative drugs. What they have to do for me now is lower the input of the drug into my body, as slow as they can get it in. It takes to days to get the Rituxin in my and I have to be hospitalized. If I haven't had the Rituxin in a long period, I get the bad side effects again no matter how slow they give it to me. So they stop the input of the Rituxin and give me an injection of Dialudid (pain killer), then they restart me and everything goes great after that. Some doctors want to give you just Tylenol; it does'nt work for the kind of pain I will experience. I now have my oncologist make sure that the Dilaudid is available before they start the Rituxin. It's a great drug, but the side effects can be hell. Ask your doctor about this information. Good luck to you Kristine and bless you.

    chronic pain after rituxin
    My husband also received rituxin only for low grade NHL stage 4. He had a severe painful reaction with first dose that the Dr had never seen. Had to treat with Demerol. They were stumped. Several years have passed and he still has that severe unrelenting pain only resonsive to narcotics. Says it feels like severe bone pain. Again, the Dr has never seen this. They don't know how to treat this non-malignant long term pain. This is at Mayo clinic Jacksonville. Starting to feel we are all alone here. Has anyone else experienced this? How and where was your pain managed? Would like to talk, see or be referred to someone that has experience with this.
  • JoanieP
    JoanieP Member Posts: 573

    pain after rutuxin also
    I was diagnosed w/ folicular lymphoma last March and had three months of chemo (CHOPS) and was put on the rutuxin as well. I had the rutuxin in March and recently I have been having a lot of the symptoms you mentionjed. Joint pain and fatigue are the biggest problem for me and eye twitching, tingles in my fingers as well as swollen fingers are some other milder but def. noticable symptoms as well. I have an appointment w/ my oncologist this month so I will def ask about this becuase I have to have the rutuxin every 6 months for 2 years. Maybe there are some meds he can prescribe, even though ZI hate taking them. Let me know how ytou feel.

    Elizabeth

    Thanks Elizabeth
    I have had Chop, in remissionsince Sept(I hope) and have had two Rituxin treatments. My right eye twitches every month or so for a day. I didn't know it was a side effect:) I also had foliicular lymphoma B cell 3A. Good luck Elizabeth on this journey. With so many people with this evil lymohoma, a cure has to be around the corner.
  • TurnerIII
    TurnerIII Member Posts: 4
    aoganes said:

    burning sensation after Rituxan, please help
    Hi,

    I had 6RCHOP ending january 2009 for DLBCL and follicular and 2 rounds of Rituximab every 3 months, Next round of Rituxan is in a week.

    After second round of Rituximab I started to feel burning sensation in my neck where the biggest tumor was. No nodes. Just really anoying sensation of tingling on and off.

    It is very stressful and really feels like cancer is fighting Rituxan in my neck

    IS it an early indicator of relapse? Anybody had that experience.

    I also had unexplained high LDH with no nodes found on CT scan.

    Rituxan
    "World Without Cancer" written by G. Edward Griffin

    http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/archivos_pdf/world_withoutcancer.pdf

    Please read this book... God Bless and Good Luck!
  • TurnerIII
    TurnerIII Member Posts: 4
    rehab said:

    side effects?
    I am 30 yrs old is acase of Diffuse large B cell lymphoma stage one on R-CHOP treatment I receive it every 21 days..I have two treatment till now after first one I had no symptoms apart from simple headach and myalgia but after second treatment which was ten days ago I get severe bloating and severe back pain not respond to simple pain killer so I have to take tradmol to relief this pain .My doctor said It is not usual to have such severe pain with rituxan..I dont know if it is related or no..any idea plz?any one has such severe pain which is constant and continuous all days since I received the treatment
    and what about this sooo severe bloating..?
    I am happy to find this chat
    sorry for my inaccurate spilling Engliash language my third language

    Rituxan
    "World Without Cancer" written by G. Edward Griffin

    http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/archivos_pdf/world_withoutcancer.pdf

    Please read this book... God Bless and Good Luck!
  • jerry1342
    jerry1342 Member Posts: 1
    My experience w/Rituxan
    I was diagnosed in Sept 2009 with grade 1, stage 3 (neck and abdomen). After a 3 month wait and see, it was suggested that I start treatment. Choices were more wait and see, Rituxan or CHOP. I chose Rituxan with Chop in reserve as plan B. 8 weeks of Rituxan, tynenol, benydrol and a steroid and a month wait, my tumors had shrunk more than 50%. I am now in a 4 week aditional treatment with the above. I have experienced no real side effects from the chemicals that I know of. I do know that I am tired alot and have sleep problems a couple of days after, but that may be just emotional effects. My Dr. is talking a mainyenance program of a Rituxan infusion every 2 or 3 months.
  • BAREFOOTEAGLE
    BAREFOOTEAGLE Member Posts: 3
    RITUXAN SIDE EFFECTS ANY ANSWERS?
    I was diagnosed with StaGe IV NHL, follicular B, in Jan 2005. My first treatment with chop and Rituxan I had an antiflactic reaction and stopped breathing. My treatment continued in the hospital then in the clinic. I received Rituxan and chop for 1-1/2 years then Rituxan as a prophylaxis for another two years. I have been cancer free for 2 years. The drugs have diminished my quality of life to the point that I am very depressed and cannot find answers to my symptoms/effects of the drugs. I have been taking supplements and vitamins, changed my ph from acidic to alkaline and read everything I can about these drugs. I ache all-over especially in my lower back and hips (where I previously had bursitis). I have extreme exhaustion all the time, even though I have no trouble sleeping and get 8-9 hours sleep nightly. I used to get along on six hours and was a type "A" with energy to spare. I also gained 50 pounds from the steroids and am too tired to do exercises although I am active in cleaning and maintaining our home and pets. If anyone knows what to do about the exhaustion or what causes it I would sure appreciate knowing about it. I am grateful to be alive but would like to lead an active, productive energetic life again...
  • vinny59
    vinny59 Member Posts: 1,036 Member

    RITUXAN SIDE EFFECTS ANY ANSWERS?
    I was diagnosed with StaGe IV NHL, follicular B, in Jan 2005. My first treatment with chop and Rituxan I had an antiflactic reaction and stopped breathing. My treatment continued in the hospital then in the clinic. I received Rituxan and chop for 1-1/2 years then Rituxan as a prophylaxis for another two years. I have been cancer free for 2 years. The drugs have diminished my quality of life to the point that I am very depressed and cannot find answers to my symptoms/effects of the drugs. I have been taking supplements and vitamins, changed my ph from acidic to alkaline and read everything I can about these drugs. I ache all-over especially in my lower back and hips (where I previously had bursitis). I have extreme exhaustion all the time, even though I have no trouble sleeping and get 8-9 hours sleep nightly. I used to get along on six hours and was a type "A" with energy to spare. I also gained 50 pounds from the steroids and am too tired to do exercises although I am active in cleaning and maintaining our home and pets. If anyone knows what to do about the exhaustion or what causes it I would sure appreciate knowing about it. I am grateful to be alive but would like to lead an active, productive energetic life again...

    side effects
    Hi, I'm half way thru this treatment, although this is my second go around with cancer, I have a question, are your blood counts normal, esp. your red counts? I know it took almost a year and a half the first time around for my counts to get back in the "normal range". Hopefully your still getting blood drawn at your Onc. office. For me it was every three months. Vinny
  • BAREFOOTEAGLE
    BAREFOOTEAGLE Member Posts: 3
    vinny59 said:

    side effects
    Hi, I'm half way thru this treatment, although this is my second go around with cancer, I have a question, are your blood counts normal, esp. your red counts? I know it took almost a year and a half the first time around for my counts to get back in the "normal range". Hopefully your still getting blood drawn at your Onc. office. For me it was every three months. Vinny

    RITUXAN SIDE EFFECTS
    MY RED COUNT IS NOW NORMAL, ALTHO WHEN I WAS GETTING THE CHEMO IT WAS VERY LOW AND I GOT THE SHOTS TO RESTORE THE RED CELLS. MY WHITE CELLS ARE ALMOST DESTROYED FROM THE CHEMICALS...BAREFOOTEAGLE
  • BAREFOOTEAGLE
    BAREFOOTEAGLE Member Posts: 3

    RITUXAN SIDE EFFECTS
    MY RED COUNT IS NOW NORMAL, ALTHO WHEN I WAS GETTING THE CHEMO IT WAS VERY LOW AND I GOT THE SHOTS TO RESTORE THE RED CELLS. MY WHITE CELLS ARE ALMOST DESTROYED FROM THE CHEMICALS...BAREFOOTEAGLE

    P.S. I GET BLOODWORK DONE
    P.S. I GET BLOODWORK DONE EVERY SIX MONTHS NOW...
  • Johnvn
    Johnvn Member Posts: 4
    pain due to rituxan
    Paulenarae, you indicated that you experienced pain in your joints etc. after having been treated with this medication. First of all, not everybody will respond in the same way to medication, but your complaint is familiar. My partner was diagnosed with NHL low grade, stage 4. Second treatment was CHOP+R, result was pain in a joint were she had encountered a trauma many years ago. Later on also pain in het ankle. The physicians didn't link one and another.
    A number of side effects mentioned are mentioned in the information brochure. Just to mention some:
    - pain in joints,
    - impairment of sight as the central nerve system is damaged,
    - fatigue and sleeping problems

    So all I can say is ask your doctor for the extensive information brochure as provided by the producer or the FDA.

    Please note that some side effects are not the result of rituxan, but of the other elements of CHOP. Chop can change one personality as the prednisone is a medication which can trigger psychosis as indicated in the British Medical Journal of 1987.