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Rituxan maintenance therapy

TGP
TGP CSN Member Posts: 5
edited March 2014 in Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin) #1
I am wondering if anyone has experienced side effects from Rituxan causing skin rashes and itching. I have been on Rituxan maintenance therapy for approximately eleven years now and my onconogist has now held off on additional treatments. I am trying to identify what is causing my itching and skin rashes. Possibly it is some other prescription medication I am taking, or something else unknown to me at this time. I was diagnosed with NHL in 1997.
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Comments

  • dixiegirl
    dixiegirl CSN Member Posts: 1,043 Member
    #2
    Rashes
    I am on maintenance rituxan again and haven't had any problem with it. I cannot believe you have been on maintenance for so long. Wow....bet your insurance company hates you LOL.

    Hope they figure out what's going on with you though. I know how irritating itches and rashes can be. Ever since I've had cancer the bug bites are enough to drive a person insane. I can barely be outside these days. Really stinks because my gardens are a dried up mess at this point and I can't really get out to work in them. As late in the year as it is, I guess it's ok to let it die off for the season, but still would like to try to make it look decent. :(
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  • KC13167
    KC13167 CSN Member Posts: 215
    #3
    RASH
    I had a non-chemo related rash that I had suffered from for over 5 years. It wasn't consistent with the time of year or any of my known allergens. The process of discovering the cause was very challenging! I was unable to stop itching, especially when I went to bed, most nights, my nails and legs were covered in blood from my inability to stop scratching. My PCP completed a biopsy. The results indicated that I was taken some "health food" type supplement. But, I wasn't, my doc had requested that I stop using complementary medicine until we had this itching thing cleared and, and for a shocker...I was compliant. It turned out that the cause was simple. My Vit D levels are very low, I had been taking a store brand version of Woman's One A Day Multivitamin to help elevate them. A week after I stopped taking this MVI, my symptoms were gone and have not returned. It made a huge change in my quality of life! It was the only causal relationship that I was able to find. I hope this helps either directly or indirectly. Kellie
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  • KC13167
    KC13167 CSN Member Posts: 215
    #4
    RASH
    I had a non-chemo related rash that I had suffered from for over 5 years. It wasn't consistent with the time of year or any of my known allergens. The process of discovering the cause was very challenging! I was unable to stop itching, especially when I went to bed, most nights, my nails and legs were covered in blood from my inability to stop scratching. My PCP completed a biopsy. The results indicated that I was taken some "health food" type supplement. But, I wasn't, my doc had requested that I stop using complementary medicine until we had this itching thing cleared and, and for a shocker...I was compliant. It turned out that the cause was simple. My Vit D levels are very low, I had been taking a store brand version of Woman's One A Day Multivitamin to help elevate them. A week after I stopped taking this MVI, my symptoms were gone and have not returned. It made a huge change in my quality of life! It was the only causal relationship that I was able to find. I hope this helps either directly or indirectly. Kellie
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  • TGP
    TGP CSN Member Posts: 5
    #5
    KC13167 said:

    RASH
    I had a non-chemo related rash that I had suffered from for over 5 years. It wasn't consistent with the time of year or any of my known allergens. The process of discovering the cause was very challenging! I was unable to stop itching, especially when I went to bed, most nights, my nails and legs were covered in blood from my inability to stop scratching. My PCP completed a biopsy. The results indicated that I was taken some "health food" type supplement. But, I wasn't, my doc had requested that I stop using complementary medicine until we had this itching thing cleared and, and for a shocker...I was compliant. It turned out that the cause was simple. My Vit D levels are very low, I had been taking a store brand version of Woman's One A Day Multivitamin to help elevate them. A week after I stopped taking this MVI, my symptoms were gone and have not returned. It made a huge change in my quality of life! It was the only causal relationship that I was able to find. I hope this helps either directly or indirectly. Kellie

    Itching and rash
    Thanks so much for the reply. I really do appreciate it.
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  • TGP
    TGP CSN Member Posts: 5
    #6
    dixiegirl said:

    Rashes
    I am on maintenance rituxan again and haven't had any problem with it. I cannot believe you have been on maintenance for so long. Wow....bet your insurance company hates you LOL.

    Hope they figure out what's going on with you though. I know how irritating itches and rashes can be. Ever since I've had cancer the bug bites are enough to drive a person insane. I can barely be outside these days. Really stinks because my gardens are a dried up mess at this point and I can't really get out to work in them. As late in the year as it is, I guess it's ok to let it die off for the season, but still would like to try to make it look decent. :(

    Itching and rash.
    Thank you for the reply. I do appreciate it.
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  • JoanieP
    JoanieP CSN Member Posts: 573
    #7
    I can't believe you have
    I can't believe you have been on maintenance that long. My Dr. said two years for me. I don't itch but I had my fourth treatment 6 weeks ago and I wake up with a lot of joint pain. It goes away after a hot shower and returns after work when I get home.
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  • kelly02
    kelly02 CSN Member Posts: 8
    #8
    Rash
    I am currentley on Rituxan but not for maintenance and have a horriable rash. It covers my back, arms and the top half of my legs. Doctor is not sure what it is from. I go back this Thursday for treatment and I am going to have them do something. I will keep you updated.

    Kelly
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  • rclaxb
    rclaxb CSN Member Posts: 13
    #9
    kelly02 said:

    Rash
    I am currentley on Rituxan but not for maintenance and have a horriable rash. It covers my back, arms and the top half of my legs. Doctor is not sure what it is from. I go back this Thursday for treatment and I am going to have them do something. I will keep you updated.

    Kelly

    Rash
    I began maintenance Rituxan in May and 21 days later a small red rash appear on my calf and lasted about a week. My second treatment was in August and 21 days later the rash appeared in the same placed but bigger. No itching involved. My doctor is puzzled at this time.
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  • truckingalong
    truckingalong CSN Member Posts: 445 Member
    #10
    KC13167 said:

    RASH
    I had a non-chemo related rash that I had suffered from for over 5 years. It wasn't consistent with the time of year or any of my known allergens. The process of discovering the cause was very challenging! I was unable to stop itching, especially when I went to bed, most nights, my nails and legs were covered in blood from my inability to stop scratching. My PCP completed a biopsy. The results indicated that I was taken some "health food" type supplement. But, I wasn't, my doc had requested that I stop using complementary medicine until we had this itching thing cleared and, and for a shocker...I was compliant. It turned out that the cause was simple. My Vit D levels are very low, I had been taking a store brand version of Woman's One A Day Multivitamin to help elevate them. A week after I stopped taking this MVI, my symptoms were gone and have not returned. It made a huge change in my quality of life! It was the only causal relationship that I was able to find. I hope this helps either directly or indirectly. Kellie

    Vitamins seem to be the way to go for it
    Yes - like with Kellie, BEFORE I was diagnosed with HL last month, I had terrible rash - worse at nights. Dr gave me prescription of Vitamin D and B 12 shot plus multi-vitamins. My rash went away gradually. Thank god!! This was 8 months ago. Hope this helps.

    Liz
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