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Rituximab or Remicade for Rheumatoid Arthritis RA
I have tried Methotrexate, Actemra and Humira. Out of these three medications, Humira worked the best, and it was well tolerated. Methotrexate did not do much for my condition. Actemra worked, but with GI side effects.
My Rheumatology is considering Rituximab or Remicade. Please, share your experience with side effects and how much these drugs helped.
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The Market name for Rituximab is Rituxan. It is also prescribed for blood cancers, and may not be the front line for RA. However, Remicade, is one of the few medications that allows infusion every 8 weeks, which may be a convenient schedule.
Rituximab can cause a range of side effects, from mild infusion reactions to serious infections and rare brain complications, requiring careful monitoring.
Common Side Effects
During or shortly after infusion, patients may experience fever, chills, shaking, fatigue, headache, cough, nausea, muscle or joint pain, flushing, fast heartbeat, shortness of breath, or tongue swelling. These reactions are often managed by premedication with corticosteroids, antihistamines, and paracetamol and by adjusting the infusion rate. Some patients may also develop stomach or bowel discomfort, diarrhea, or mild skin rashes.
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