Reaction from Rituximab

Hi @myla031, welcome to Connect. I'd like to invite @bordercolliecra @mepowers @scsimpson and @njnana into this discussion as they have also had rituximab treatment. I'm not sure if they had similar reactions however. Hives, rash and fever are relatively common side effects of rituximab. How long does it take for the side effects to subside?

Rituximab never gave me side effects. I do remember when they first gave it to me, it was administered quite slowly. By the eighth treatment and likely before that, it was administered as quickly as allowable. This was the one treatment that besides feeling a little groggy, I left with feeling okay.

I also had no side effects to Rituximab, so I can't be of any help. Hope things get better for you. Stay strong we are all in this together.

Hi Colleen, thanks for your response.The side effects lasted for about 15 to 30 minutes after they stop the infusion and after they give me additional benadryl, tylenol and prednisone. I know the hives and fever are common side effects but what scares me are the chest and back discomfort. That's why I dread to go for my treatment but I have no choice. I want to get well.

Thanks mepowers for taking time to respond to my concern about the Rituximab. All my treatments has to be infuse for 4 hours. My body cannot tolerate when they run the Rituximab faster than 150cc/hour. Even though they infuse it slowly I still have the reaction. Do you know the dosage of Rituximab you're getting or was getting ?

myla, sorry I couldn’t find my records. It’s been about two years now. I want to say that at first it took four hours, but ramped down to 90 minutes. Stay the course; it’s worth the fight. Sending you good juju.

myla, I did find my dosage. It was 500 mg. I got dizzy on my first outing, and they stopped it and gave me a a bolus. Once my BP came back, they delivered it at 200ml/hr. Your post got me looking through my old records. They were so comprehensive at Mayo. I had to return to my home state and receive treatment there with the Mayo protocol. Records no where as detailed.

Thank you so much, now I'm a little bit relieved. I only weigh 97 lbs and I thought I was getting too much Rituximab. I only have 3 more maintenance dose left and I pray to God I'll be ok. Thanks again.

I have not taken retuximab. I do have Castleman's Disease which use to be treated with retuximab until Siltuximab was created. It is for Castleman's but has also been used for lymphomas. I have had no side effects except for a small rash with minimal itching. It lasts for less than a week and doesn't happen all the time.
It is a monoclonal antibody with less side effects. I had infusions every three weeks between Jan and Nov. I have improved so much that the doctor discontinued it at least for 6 months when I will have more lab work.
Good luck to you!

Will start rituximab next fri the 9th. Ichave smzl with leukemia. My first treatment will be 8 hours. Pray all goes well.