RA and Rituxan

what kind of side effects have you experienced with Rituxan???

Hi Otis,

I have not experienced any side effects at all.  I am now starting to feel pretty great not perfect but definately 95% better.so you know as well as i do that is goooood enough.. At first I was pretty scared to take it because I had researched it and found out about all of the possible side effects but thank god i had a great nurse that knew exactly how to administer the drug and from there all I had to do is wait.  It was worth it in my case.  Good luck.

how long did it take you before you started feeling better? Janet

I started to feel better about 4 weeks after and then it just got better and better. 

So interested.  Can you tell me when dx and what treatment you followed prior to Rituxan and how long you have been on it for??   How long before you noticed improvement???

  I was diagnosed 17 years ago.  I have tried Remicade (which  I had a severe reaction to so sadly had to stop) Sadly because I felt GREAT on that medicine.  I think now they also administer it with high doses of Steroid to minimize reactions.  I also tried Enbral but stopped working after a while. Then the last med i tried before Rituxan was Orencia.  It worked ok but when I had to stop for a while and then got back on it did not work as well.  Along with all of these I have been on Methotrexate injection Different doses.  I have been on rituxan for 3 months and it took about that long to really notice a major improvement.   A pain level from 10 Since Oct 2007 to a 1 through 3 depending if I overdo anything) I have had a total shoulder replacement 3 years ago and my hands, fingers etc are very swollen and achy but that is what we are working on getting in control which i can live with since it is not my whole body like in Oct.  My doctor might have me take a second dose of Rituxan in Sept 08 to help me  a bit more with my hands and ankle.  

I admire your positive attitude and my heart goes out to all of you with such a devastating diagnosis at such a young age.   I feel blessed I have been able to live 58 years RA free - so feel I can't complain hearing what you have all suffered.   I hope

with the new drugs available your futures will be brighter.   I am newly diagnosed and as all of us, have no idea what the future will bring.  Just will do my best to maintain as much function as possible for as long as I can and enjoy the better days.

God bless !!!!!

pat

I admire your positive attitude and my heart goes out to all of you with such a devastating diagnosis at such a young age.   I feel blessed I have been able to live 58 years RA free - so feel I can't complain hearing what you have all suffered.   I hope

with the new drugs available your futures will be brighter.   I am newly diagnosed and as all of us, have no idea what the future will bring.  Just will do my best to maintain as much function as possible for as long as I can and enjoy the better days.

God bless !!!!!

pat