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Rituxan is the first and only FDA-approved medicine for adults with Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA) (formerly known as Wegener's Granulomatosis) and Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA).
WHAT IS RITUXAN?
Rituxan is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with:
Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA) (Wegener’s Granulomatosis) and Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA): with glucocorticoids.
It is not known if Rituxan is safe and effective in children.
Important Side Effect Information
What is the most important information I should know about Rituxan?
Rituxan can cause serious side effects that can lead to death, including:
Infusion Reactions: Infusion reactions are very common side effects of Rituxan treatment. Serious infusion reactions can happen during your infusion or within 24 hours after your infusion of Rituxan. Your healthcare provider should give you medicines before your infusion of Rituxan to decrease your chance of having a severe infusion reaction
Severe Skin and Mouth Reactions: Tell your healthcare provider or get medical help right away if you get any of these symptoms at any time during your treatment with Rituxan: painful sores or ulcers on your skin, lips, or in your mouth; blisters; peeling skin; rash; or pustules
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Reactivation: If you have had hepatitis B or are a carrier of hepatitis B virus, receiving Rituxan could cause the virus to become an active infection again. Hepatitis B reactivation may cause serious liver problems, including liver failure and death. You should not receive Rituxan if you have active hepatitis B liver disease. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for hepatitis B infection during and for several months after you stop receiving Rituxan
Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML): PML is a rare, serious brain infection caused by a virus that can happen in people who receive Rituxan. People with weakened immune systems can get PML. PML can result in death or severe disability. There is no known treatment, prevention, or cure for PML
What should I tell my healthcare provider before receiving Rituxan?
Before receiving Rituxan, tell your healthcare provider if you:
- Have had a severe infusion reaction to Rituxan in the past
- Have a history of other medical conditions including:
- Heart problems
- Irregular heartbeat
- Chest pain
- Lung or kidney problems
- Have had a severe infection, currently have an infection, or have a weakened immune system
- Have had a recent vaccination or are scheduled to receive vaccinations. You should not get certain vaccines before or during treatment with Rituxan
- Have any other medical conditions
- Are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Talk to your healthcare provider about the risks to your unborn baby if you receive Rituxan during pregnancy. Females who are able to become pregnant should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with Rituxan and for 12 months after the last dose of Rituxan. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think that you are pregnant during treatment with Rituxan
- Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Rituxan passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for at least 6 months after your last dose of Rituxan
- Are taking any medications, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take or have taken:
- A tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor medicine
- A disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD)
What are the possible side effects of Rituxan?
Rituxan can cause serious side effects, including:
- Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS): TLS is caused by the fast breakdown of cancer cells. TLS can cause you to have kidney failure and the need for dialysis treatment or an abnormal heart rhythm. TLS can happen within 12-24 hours after an infusion of Rituxan. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms of TLS: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or lack of energy
- Serious Infections: Serious infections can happen during and after treatment with Rituxan and can lead to death. Rituxan can increase your risk of getting infections and can lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections. People with serious infections should not receive Rituxan
- Heart Problems: Rituxan may cause chest pain, irregular heartbeats, and heart attack. Your healthcare provider may monitor your heart during and after treatment with Rituxan if you have symptoms of heart problems or have a history of heart problems. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have chest pain or irregular heartbeats during treatment with Rituxan
- Kidney Problems: especially if you are receiving Rituxan for non–Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). Rituxan can cause severe kidney problems that lead to death. Your healthcare provider should do blood tests to check how well your kidneys are working
- Stomach and Serious Bowel Problems That Can Sometimes Lead to Death: Bowel problems, including blockage or tears in the bowel, can happen if you receive Rituxan with chemotherapy medicines. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any stomach-area pain during treatment with Rituxan
Your healthcare provider will stop treatment with Rituxan if you have severe, serious, or life-threatening side effects.
What are the most common side effects during treatment with Rituxan?
- Infusion reactions
- Infections (may include fever, chills)
- Body aches
- Tiredness
- Nausea
In patients with GPA or MPA, the most common side effects of Rituxan also include:
- Low white and red blood cells
- Swelling
- Diarrhea
- Muscle spasms
Other side effects include:
- Aching joints during or within hours of receiving an infusion
- More frequent upper respiratory tract infections
These are not all of the possible side effects with Rituxan.
Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA‐1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. You may also report side effects to Genentech at (888) 835‐2555.
Please see the Rituxan Prescribing Information and Medication Guide including Most Serious Side Effects for additional Important Side Effect Information.