• Some patients experience severe reactions during the infusion. Serious kidney and skin problems have been reported.
• Serious infections have occurred in patients who take these types of medicines. Talk with healthcare provider.
• This medicine does not mix well with many medicines. Serious reactions may occur. Check all medicines with healthcare provider.
• Please read the medication guide.
• If you have an allergy to rituximab or any other part of this medicine.
• If you are allergic to mouse proteins, talk with healthcare provider.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.
• If you are pregnant or may be pregnant.
• If you are breast-feeding.
• Rituximab injures cancer cells causing their death.
• It is an arthritis-changing medicine. It reduces inflammation and helps reduce symptoms and protect joints from further harm.
• This medicine is given as a shot into a vein over a period of time.
• Acetaminophen and diphenhydramine may be given before this medicine to decrease fever and chills.
• Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?
• Check blood work regularly. Talk with healthcare provider.
• Follow up with healthcare provider.
• This medicine will be given to you in a healthcare setting. You will not store it at home.
Created: 2006-10-13 15:34:27.0
Modified: 2010-04-07 10:46:06.0
Lexi-PALS TM © (1977)-(2007) Lexi-Comp, Inc. All rights reserved.
• This medicine is used to treat blood disorders.
• This medicine is used to treat leukemia.
• This medicine is used to treat lymphoma.
• This medicine is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
• If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.
• Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
• Most medicines can be thrown away in household trash after mixing with coffee grounds or kitty litter and sealing in a plastic bag.
• Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).
• Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or in Canada to Health Canada's Canada Vigilance Program at 1-866-234-2345.
• Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.
• Hepatitis B testing may be suggested. Unrecognized hepatitis B infection may worsen during treatment.
• If you are 65 or older, use this medicine with caution. You could have more side effects.
• If you are taking medicine for high blood pressure, talk with healthcare provider. Healthcare provider may ask you to skip that medicine on the morning of treatment.
• If you have heart disease, talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have lung disease, talk with healthcare provider.
• Tell dentists, surgeons, and other healthcare providers that you use this medicine.
• Talk with healthcare provider before receiving any vaccinations. Use with this medicine may either increase the risk of serious infection or make the vaccination less effective.
• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.
• Talk with healthcare provider before using other: aspirin, aspirin-containing products, blood thinners, garlic, ginseng, ginkgo, ibuprofen or like products, pain medicines, or vitamin E.
• Use birth control that you can trust to prevent pregnancy while taking this medicine and for up to 12 months following this medication.
• If taking this medicine for rheumatoid arthritis, make sure you are current with all your vaccinations.
• Flu-like symptoms. These include headache, weakness, fever, shakes, aches, pains, and sweating. Mild pain medicine may help.
• Low blood pressure.
• Feeling tired or weak.
• Risk of infection. Avoid people with infections, colds, or flu.
• Feeling dizzy. Rise slowly over several minutes from sitting or lying position. Be careful climbing.
• Headache.
• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.
• Belly pain.
• Cough.
• Runny nose.
• Low white blood cell count or low platelet count.
• Brain infection may rarely occur.
• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.
• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Signs or symptoms of infection. These include a fever of 100.5 degrees or higher, chills, severe sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, increased sputum or change in color, painful urination, mouth sores, wound that will not heal, or anal itching or pain.
• Chest pain or pressure or fast heartbeat.
• Sudden change or loss of vision.
• Significant change in thinking clearly and logically.
• Severe dizziness or passing out.
• Significant change in balance.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Difficulty speaking.
• Feeling extremely tired or weak.
• Severe headache.
• Severe nausea or vomiting.
• Severe belly pain.
• Yellow skin or eyes.
• Severe diarrhea.
• Unusual bruising or bleeding.
• Any rash.
• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.
