Rituxan® (Rituximab)
Full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNINGS and Medication Guide
Rituxan® (Rituximab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory, low-grade or follicular, CD20-positive, B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) as a single agent; for previously untreated diffuse large B-cell, CD20-positive, NHL in combination with CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone) or other anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens; for previously untreated follicular, CD20-positive, B-cell NHL in combination with CVP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisolone) chemotherapy; and for the treatment of non-progressing (including stable disease), low-grade, CD20-positive, B-cell NHL as a single agent, after first-line CVP chemotherapy. Rituxan is also approved in combination with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide (FC) for people with previously untreated and previously treated CD20-positive chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
People with serious infections should not receive Rituxan.
Important Safety Information, including Boxed WARNINGS Rituxan can cause serious side effects that can lead to death, including: infusion reactions, tumor lysis syndrome (TLS; kidney failure due to fast breakdown of cancer cells), severe skin and mouth reactions, and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML; a rare, serious brain infection).
Infusion Reactions: Serious infusion reactions can happen during the infusion or within 24 hours of receiving Rituxan. The doctor should give the patient medicines before the infusion of Rituxan to decrease the patients' chance of having a severe infusion reaction. If a serious reaction occurs, the infusion may be stopped and the patient should receive medical care. Patients must tell their doctor or get medical help right away if they get any of these symptoms: hives or rash, itching, swelling of the lips, tongue, throat, or face, sudden cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing or wheezing, weakness, dizziness or feeling faint, palpitations, or chest pain.
Tumor Lysis Sydrome (TLS): TLS is caused by the fast breakdown of cancer cells and can occur after treatment with Rituxan. TLS can cause a person to have kidney failure and the need for dialysis treatment. TLS may also cause abnormal heart rhythm. The doctor may give the patient medicines to prevent TLS and do blood tests to check the patient for TLS.
Severe Skin and Mouth Reactions: Severe skin and mouth reactions can occur in patients who receive Rituxan.
Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML): PML is a rare, serious brain infection caused by a virus. People with a weakened immune system can get PML. Patients must tell their doctor right away if they have any of the following symptoms: confusion or problems thinking, loss of balance, change in the way they walk or talk, decreased strength or weakness on one side of their body, blurred vision or loss of vision.
People with serious infections should not receive Rituxan.
Rituxan has also been associated with serious and sometimes fatal side effects, including: the return of active hepatitis B virus infection with sudden and serious liver problems, other serious infections, heart problems, kidney problems, and serious stomach and bowel problems.
The most common side effects of Rituxan in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) include: infusion reactions, fever, chills, low white blood cells, infections, body aches, and tiredness. The most common serious side effect in NHL patients was low white blood cells.
The most common side effects of Rituxan in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) were infusion reactions and low white blood cells.
Most CLL patients treated with Rituxan plus FC chemotherapy had at least one serious side effect. In clinical trials, CLL patients 70 years or older who received Rituxan with FC chemotherapy were more likely to experience severe side effects compared with younger patients who received the same treatment.
Infusion-related side effects during or within 24 hours of the start of a Rituxan infusion included nausea, fever, chills, low blood pressure, vomiting, and shortness of breath.
Patients should tell their doctor about any side effect that bothers them or that do not go away. These are not all of the possible side effects with Rituxan.
Patients should read the Rituxan Full Prescribing Information including Boxed WARNINGS, and the Medication Guide at www.rituxan.com.