Rituxin for RN...help!

[kemper1974]

Hi...I am starting Rituxin for my rheumatoid arthritis this week.....I am also on Enbrel and Methotrexate. My hair thinned a little when I started the MTX, but the folic acid I take seems to have helped.

I work in nursery, so chemo is way out of my league. I am scared to death.

I just really wanted to know what kind of side effects I can really expect. I go for my pre-rituxin workup this week. Do I need to get a script for nausea meds? Will I be really tired afterwards? Will my hair fall out? Any tips for me? I will get one dose on day 1 and another on day 14, then another in 6 months. I know the RA dose is less.....but as you can tell I am really nervous:confused:

My mom had ovarian cancer and passed away after her first dose ofcisplatinin. I have had several sessions with the EA counselor to help me get over the fear of chemo, so I have been feeling better about this. I guess I just need some reassurance. Thanks!

[schlemj]

Good news, from my experience as a med onc nurse, I transitioned to outpatient hem/onc in 1999 and that's when I learned about rituxan. It is NOT chemotherapy, you will not see the same side effects as chemo. Rituxan is a monoclonal antibody and when we give it as a single agent we don't even give an antiemetic. From my experience it is an easier drug to give than traditonal chemo. Even elderly or more compromised patients tolerate it easier than traditonal chemo. It is targeted therapy only goes after certain cells with certain receptoers were chemo is not as spcific, think of it more like a guided missel-very specific. No hair loss, doessn't effect blood counts like chemo, low emetogenic. If you have any side effects it's usually in the clinic and is during infusion. More common ones may be hives, or fever. I really have more allergic ractions with some of our chemo drugs tha rituxan. The majority of the patients that have a sensitivity rxn is on the first inffusionand we stop it, when the rxn resolves we re start the infusion at half the rate and patients usually do fine and tolerate the rest of their treatments. Overall it is an easier drug to give. You will be given tylenol and benadryl as premeds, some docs give decadron too but it is not mandatory. The first rituxan is given slower than the ones following. I think you will feel better after your treatment. My opinion, much much better tolerated that cisplatin!!!!!!!!!!!!