Rituxin Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rituxin is a prescription medication commonly prescribed for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. There have been some side effects associated with the use of Rituxin.

Identification

• Rituxin (rituximab) is combined with methotrexate is designed to slow the progression of rheumatoid arthritis. Doctors usually prescribe this for patient's that have moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis.

Benefits

• Rituxin works by targeting specific B-cells in the body, and working to reduce their count in the blood. Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition in which the immune system attacks the joints in the body. The B-cells play an important role in this attack. By reducing the amount of B-cells in the blood, it limits the immune systems attack on the joints.

Treatment

• Patients receive Rituxin by infusion, which is usually includes 2 infusions given 2 weeks apart from each other. Each infusion takes about 4 to 6 hours. The second infusion may take slightly less time than the first infusion.

Effects

• The most common side effects that are associated with the use of Rituxin are fever, chills, shaking, itching, headache, nausea, hives, sneezing, cough, and tightness of the throat. Other side effects may include upper respiratory infection, aching joints, decreased blood cell counts and lung problems.

Serious Side Effects

• There have been some serious side effects associated with the use of Rituxin. These may include a reactivation of Hepatitis B, heart problems, stomach problems and infections. In rare instances, the use of this medicine has been associated with PML (Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy) which is a life-threatening condition.