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Rituxan RA Patient Profile

Angelica
Angelica

Interview Transcript

Angelica Video
Angelica:
"I first started with my symptoms when I was 17. I would have pain in like one elbow and then it would go away, pain in my thumb and it would go away, pain in my knee and it would go away, until one day all of a sudden I was having pain in all my joints and it wouldn't go away anymore.

It got to the point where I wasn't able to do anything for myself anymore. I couldn't put on my socks; I couldn't do my hair. I started missing a lot of school, and my mom's, like, you're going to the doctor.

I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 1994 at the age of 17.

I started Rituxan in 2004. I was in the clinical study."

Jorge (Angelica's Boyfriend):
"Before Rituxan I think it was just an ongoing battle with her RA.

The medications that she was on before, she would take injections several times a week. And with Rituxan, it's just an infusion once or twice a year."

Angelica:
"Now I see myself as a regular person, being able to move around on my own, handling all my own things, being able to brush my hair."

Jorge (Angelica's Boyfriend):
"Before Rituxan, I think her everyday life was a struggle. Now on Rituxan, she can do a lot of stuff, and we can do a lot of stuff together that we couldn't do before."

Product Indication Rituxan® (rituximab) is indicated for use in combination with methotrexate for the treatment of adult patients with moderately- to severely-active rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response to one or more TNF antagonist therapies.

Important Safety Information, including Boxed WARNINGS Rituxan can cause serious side effects including:

  • Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML)
    • PML is a rare brain infection.
    • PML usually causes death or severe disability.
    • Patients should call their doctor right away if they notice any new or worsening medical problems, such as a new or sudden change in thinking, walking, strength, vision, or other problems that have lasted over several days.
    • PML usually happens in patients with weakened immune systems.
    • PML can occur during treatment with Rituxan or after treatment has finished. There is no known treatment, prevention, or cure for PML.
  • Infusion reactions. Patients should tell their doctor or get medical treatment right away if they get hives, swelling, dizziness, blurred vision, drowsiness, headache, cough, wheezing, or have trouble breathing while receiving or after receiving Rituxan.
  • Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS). TLS is caused by the fast breakdown of certain types of cancer cells. Patients receiving Rituxan for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) may get TLS.
  • Severe skin reactions. Patients should tell their doctor or get medical treatment right away if they get any of these symptoms: painful sores on the skin or in the mouth, ulcers, blisters, or peeling skin while receiving or after receiving Rituxan.

Rituxan can cause other serious and life-threatening side effects, including:

  • Hepatitis B virus reactivation. Patients should tell their doctor if they had hepatitis B virus or are a carrier of hepatitis B virus. Receiving Rituxan could cause the hepatitis B virus to become an active infection again. This may cause serious liver problems and death. People with active liver disease due to hepatitis B should stop receiving Rituxan.
  • Heart problems. Patients should tell their doctor about any heart problems they have including chest pain (angina) and irregular heart beats. Rituxan can cause chest pain and irregular heart beats which may require treatment.
  • Infections. Rituxan can increase the chances for getting infections. Patients should call their doctor right away if they have a cough that will not go away, fever, chills, congestion, or any flu-like symptoms while receiving Rituxan. These symptoms may be signs of a serious infection.

Common side effects during Rituxan infusions include fever, headache, chills and shakes, nausea, itching, hives, cough, sneezing, throat irritation or tightness.

Other side effects with Rituxan include aching joints, upper respiratory tract infection, decreased blood cell counts, and lung problems.

These are not all of the possible side effects with Rituxan. Patients should tell their doctor about any side effect that bother them or that do not go away.

Please see the full Product Information, including Boxed WARNINGS and Medication Guide, for additional safety information.

Individual results may vary.