Rituxan Interactions

Unknown
Unknown
edited December 2016 in Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin) #1

Since several of us are receiving Rituxan therapy, I would like to encourage everyone taking Rituxan to carefully read the drug interactions list. Other than the well known live virus vaccines you will find that several common herbs and food supplements are listed. This list includes echinacea, vitamin E, zinc and several other common ingedients found in vitamin supplements and herbal teas. Most of these are minor interactions however I can say for myself - I don't want to reduce the efficacy of Rituxan even a little bit. When I started my therapy 2.5 years ago, I asked about interactions with herbs as I had taken various supplements and used herbal teas a lot - I like them. My doc only said that echinacea should not be used. Please, look over the list and remember that most of these compounds have never been tested.

Comments

  • Rocquie
    Rocquie Member Posts: 869 Member
    #2
    Grapefruit

    Good reminder, GKH. About a year ago, while I was still receiving R-CHOP, which includes Rituxan, of course, I asked my Oncologist if I could eat grapefruit. We hear so many warnings about drug interactions with it. He said he would find out.

    Next thing I know, I'm in the infusion room, receiving my chemo when the pharmacist came in to talk to me. She wanted to clarify what I meant about grapefruit. I told her I wanted to eat some grapefruits, that they were in season, they looked so good, and they were on sale. She said that would be fine, she just wanted to make sure I wasn't going on some kind of grapefruit diet or drinking great quantities of grapefruit juice. 

    I'm going to refresh myself on the drug interaction list regarding Rituxan, as I am on it too.

    Thanks again,

    Rocquie

     

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,819 Member
    #3
    Rocquie said:

    Grapefruit

    Good reminder, GKH. About a year ago, while I was still receiving R-CHOP, which includes Rituxan, of course, I asked my Oncologist if I could eat grapefruit. We hear so many warnings about drug interactions with it. He said he would find out.

    Next thing I know, I'm in the infusion room, receiving my chemo when the pharmacist came in to talk to me. She wanted to clarify what I meant about grapefruit. I told her I wanted to eat some grapefruits, that they were in season, they looked so good, and they were on sale. She said that would be fine, she just wanted to make sure I wasn't going on some kind of grapefruit diet or drinking great quantities of grapefruit juice. 

    I'm going to refresh myself on the drug interaction list regarding Rituxan, as I am on it too.

    Thanks again,

    Rocquie

     

    Grapefruit

    Oddly enough, grapfruit cannot be eaten at all when on Lipitor, or any other of the statin drugs.

    .

  • COBRA666
    COBRA666 Member Posts: 2,401 Member
    #4
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 said:

    Grapefruit

    Oddly enough, grapfruit cannot be eaten at all when on Lipitor, or any other of the statin drugs.

    .

    Dang!!!

    Damn, now that's something I did not know about grapefruit. I am not a big grapefruit eater, but I am on lipitor. Anything else on that list? John

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,819 Member
    #5
    COBRA666 said:

    Dang!!!

    Damn, now that's something I did not know about grapefruit. I am not a big grapefruit eater, but I am on lipitor. Anything else on that list? John

    Grapefruit

    John,

    Do not drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit on Lipitor.  Supposidely a very bad mix. I believe this is true of all of the statin cholesterol medications.

    The official Lipitor website :

    http://www.lipitor.com/index.aspx?source=google&HBX_PK=s_lipitor&o=23127370|166376222|0&skwid=43700001792939685

    Open the "Perscribing Indications" sublink after you open the link above, and Item 7.2 has the warning about grapefruit.

    max

    .

  • COBRA666
    COBRA666 Member Posts: 2,401 Member
    #6
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 said:

    Grapefruit

    John,

    Do not drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit on Lipitor.  Supposidely a very bad mix. I believe this is true of all of the statin cholesterol medications.

    The official Lipitor website :

    http://www.lipitor.com/index.aspx?source=google&HBX_PK=s_lipitor&o=23127370|166376222|0&skwid=43700001792939685

    Open the "Perscribing Indications" sublink after you open the link above, and Item 7.2 has the warning about grapefruit.

    max

    .

    Great Info

    Max,

     It would have nice if the Dr. or Pharmacist would have mentioned it. Thanks, John

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,819 Member
    #7
    COBRA666 said:

    Great Info

    Max,

     It would have nice if the Dr. or Pharmacist would have mentioned it. Thanks, John

    Niacin

    It also lists niacin, and someother commonplace nutrients !

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