Does anyone have experience with Rituxan or Remicade for RA?

Rituximab is also prescribed for blood cancers. It is a 4 hrs infusion. Remicade is every 8 weeks infusion. Both are administered at the infusion centers. Please, share your experience - responses and side effects.

Here is a link to Rituximab side effects:
https://www.bing.com/search
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.

I have been taking Remicade infusions for 12 years for Crohn’s disease, with no side effects whatsoever. It’s been a miracle drug for me. I have now been diagnosed with RA and told Remicade at a higher dose might be helpful if the oral meds I am taking stop working. Most drugs carry long lists of possible side effects which are often rare. For me, the decision depends on how miserable I am and what are the available alternatives.

I was on Remicade for IBD for about 5 years with no side effects. Don't remember the dosage, but it was once a month. An expensive drug. Only administrated IV as an outpatient. The cost 12 years ago was $17,000.00 per visit. Remicade was $15,000.00 of that cost.

I didn't do much for the IBD because of the late stage when I was on it, but it did clear up my psoriasis, and it eliminated all of the pain I had from RA. I went off Remicade when I had colorectal surgery to have the colon removed and an internal J-pouch created.

With all of the new drugs on the market I have contemplated going back on some autoimmune system drug for the RA. Right now, just getting some injections in knee and shoulder.

Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences. Looks like Remicade works well.

Anyone on Rituximab with good response to RA and skin involvement like eczema or psoriasis?

Remicade is one of the few drugs where your doctor has the flexibility to increase the dose and to shorten the schedule from 8 to 6 to 4 weeks so you can significantly increase the suppression with Remicade. Not recommended for anyone with any underlying/possible demyelinating diseases. I did two loading doses and developed ataxia so I had to stop. 1’m at 3 weeks on the Rituxan and can now move my left arm. Hoping I can soon recertify to drive at this rate!!

@pm56

Thank you for sharing. Your experience is consistent with what other patients with neuropathies have posted in various discussions - Rituximab is helpful with treating autonomic neuropathy in addition to RA and systemic sclerosis.

I was on Remicade infusions and methotrexate injections for about 2 years for RA and DM. It worked pretty well. I never had side effects from Remicade, maybe a little tired after infusion.

With Remicade, make sure you go to a reputable infusion center with great nurses. The nurse who did my infusion did not watch it careful and I ended up with damaged tissue that will never recover in my arm.

The Remicade worked for me but I have switched over to low dose naltrexone which relieves the pain just as well...with no infusion.

I have been on Remicade since Humira and then Enbrel quit working around 2019. I am on 8mg/kg every 6 wks. It is awesome and my results are good. I just pray my body doesn't decide it is tired of it.