How does this medicine work?
Rituximab (ri-tuks-i-mab) is a medicine used to treat certain types of cancer especially lymphoma. It uses the body’s immune system to destroy cancer cells. It can also be used to treat idiopathic thombocytopenia (ITP) by destroying certain cells that cause the body to break down platelets.
How is it given?
Rituximab is given into the vein (IV) by slow infusion. The medicine must be given over several hours to prevent and monitor any allergic reaction.
What are the side effects?
Common
- “flu-like” symptoms:
- fever
- chills
- nausea
Occasional
- headache
- low blood pressure
- itching
- low blood counts
- abdominal (belly) pain
- swelling of hands and feet
- muscle pain
- night sweats
- rash
- dizziness
- trouble breathing
Rare
- kidney damage
- severe infusion reactions
- severe rash
Rituximab can also cause an allergic reaction. Signs of this are:
- redness in face
- rash or hives
- fever or chills
- shortness of breath
- trouble breathing