Rituxan (rituximab) is a prescription drug used to treat certain cancers, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and other conditions. Rituxan comes as an intravenous (IV) infusion.

Rituxan is used to treat:

To learn more about these conditions and how Rituxan is used to treat them, see the “Is Rituxan used for RA?” and “Is Rituxan used for other conditions?” sections.

Rituxan basics

Rituxan is a type of immunotherapy. It contains the active ingredient rituximab, which is a biologic medication. Biologics are made from parts of living organisms.

Rituxan is available in three biosimilar forms: rituximab-abbs (Truxima), rituximab-arrx (Riabni), and rituximab-pvvr (Ruxience). (Biosimilars are like generic drugs. But unlike generics, which are made for non-biologic drugs, biosimilars are made for biologic drugs.)

Rituxan comes as a solution that’s given by a healthcare professional as an intravenous (IV) infusion. (An IV infusion is an injection that’s given into your vein over a period of time.)

Read on to learn about Rituxan’s uses, side effects, and more.

Like most drugs, Rituxan may cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists describe some of the more common side effects that Rituxan may cause. These lists don’t include all possible side effects.

Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:

  • your age
  • other health conditions you have
  • other medications you may be taking

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Rituxan. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.

Mild side effects

Here’s a short list of some of the mild side effects that Rituxan can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Rituxan’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Rituxan that have been reported include:

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Rituxan can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Rituxan, call your doctor right away. However, if you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects of Rituxan that have been reported include:

For more information about some of these side effects, see the “Side effect focus” and “What should be considered before taking Rituxan?” sections.

Note: Allergic reaction wasn’t reported in studies of Rituxan, but it may still happen.

Side effect focus

Learn more about some of the side effects Rituxan may cause.

Diarrhea

You may have diarrhea after receiving Rituxan. This was a common side effect in studies of the drug.

Keep in mind that diarrhea can increase your risk for dehydration. With dehydration, your body loses large amounts of water and electrolytes.

What might help

Tell your doctor right away if you have diarrhea with Rituxan use.

Diarrhea from Rituxan is usually mild. But it may be a symptom of a rare, serious side effect, such as tumor lysis syndrome (TLS).

If your doctor determines that your diarrhea is mild or isn’t a symptom of a more serious side effect, they may suggest some ways to treat it.

The following list contains a few general recommendations your doctor may give for treating diarrhea.

  • Hydration: If you have diarrhea, be sure to stay hydrated by drinking water or sports drinks, such as Gatorade.
  • Diet choices: Certain foods can help relieve diarrhea. And, it’s best to eat bland foods that aren’t likely to upset your stomach. Examples of these foods include bananas, rice, apples, and toast. (This combination of foods is sometimes called the BRAT diet.)
  • Medications: You may find over-the-counter (OTC) drugs to be helpful for diarrhea. These drugs include loperamide (Imodium) and bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol). But before taking any drugs, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can make sure it’s safe for you to take these drugs while you’re using Rituxan.
Allergic reaction

Some people may have an allergic reaction to Rituxan. Although an allergic reaction wasn’t reported in studies of Rituxan, it can still happen.

Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:

  • skin rash
  • itchiness
  • flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet. They can also include swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, which can cause difficulty breathing.

Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Rituxan. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.

Find answers to some commonly asked questions about Rituxan.

Is Rituxan chemotherapy or immunotherapy?

Rituxan is not a chemotherapy drug. Instead, Rituxan is a type of immunotherapy drug.

Chemotherapy works by killing cells that rapidly multiply (quickly make more cells). Cancer cells generally multiply faster than the healthy cells. But, chemotherapy also affects healthy cells that rapidly multiply. This leads to many of chemotherapy’s side effects.

Immunotherapy drugs work with your immune system. Rituxan affects a certain protein on cells of your immune system. This is how the drug helps your immune system fight off cancer cells.

For certain conditions, Rituxan may be used together with chemotherapy.

If you have questions about whether chemotherapy is right for you, talk with your doctor.

Does Rituxan treat MS or lupus?

Rituxan isn’t currently approved to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) or lupus. But, the drug may be prescribed off-label for these purposes. (Off-label means using a drug for conditions other than those it’s approved to treat.)

MS and lupus are autoimmune diseases. These conditions cause your immune system to attack your own body.

With MS, your immune system breaks down the protective layer around your spinal cord and brain. This can lead to fatigue (lack of energy) and difficulty walking, concentrating, or thinking.

Lupus can cause problems with almost every organ and tissue in your body, including your:

  • brain
  • heart
  • kidneys
  • lungs
  • joints
  • skin

Studies have shown Rituxan is an effective treatment for MS and lupus.

If you’d like to learn more about using Rituxan for MS or lupus, talk with your doctor.

What should I expect on the day after a Rituxan infusion?

Rituxan is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion (an injection into your vein that’s given over a period of time). After you receive a Rituxan infusion, your doctor will have you watch for certain side effects.

Side effects to watch for include:

  • Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS): TLS occurs when cancer cells break down in your body and release their contents into your blood. This can cause symptoms, such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps, and joint pain. If untreated, TLS can lead to more serious conditions, including seizures and abnormal heart rhythm.
  • Infusion reactions:* It’s possible to have an infusion reaction after receiving a dose of Rituxan. Symptoms of infusion reaction can include low blood pressure, swelling of your lips and face, and difficulty breathing. Rarely, infusion reactions from Rituxan may lead to death. Before each Rituxan infusion, your doctor may give you medications to help lessen your risk for an infusion reaction.

In studies, TLS and infusion reactions happened up to 24 hours after a Rituxan dose was given.

Tell your doctor right away if you have any of the symptoms listed above after you’ve received a Rituxan infusion. But if your symptoms feel life threatening, call 911 or your local emergency number.

* Rituxan has a boxed warning about infusion reactions. A boxed warning is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about drug effects that may be dangerous.

How long does Rituxan stay in your body?

Rituxan may stay in your body for several months after your last dose of the drug. But, the length of time that Rituxan stays in the body will be different for each person.

If you have questions about how long Rituxan might stay in your body, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Is Rituxan used for ITP or myasthenia gravis?

Rituxan isn’t currently approved to treat immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) or myasthenia gravis. But Rituxan may be prescribed off-label to treat these conditions. (Off-label means using a drug for conditions other than those it’s approved to treat.)

With ITP, your immune system attacks your platelets. (Platelets are a type of red blood cells that help your blood to clot.) And this leads to a low level of platelets in your blood. Having a low platelet level can cause you to bruise or bleed more easily than usual.

Myasthenia gravis is a condition that prevents your nerve cells from clearly communicating with your muscles. This leads to muscle weakness and problems with activities such as talking, swallowing, chewing, and walking.

Studies have shown that Rituxan is an effective treatment for ITP and myasthenia gravis.

To learn more about using Rituxan for these conditions, talk with your doctor.

How does Rituxan work? Does it suppress your immune system?

Rituxan is a form of immunotherapy. It works by attaching to proteins on immune cells and cancer cells. The exact way Rituxan works depends on the condition you’re using the drug to treat.

For instance:

  • for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other conditions that affect your immune system, the drug works by attaching to a certain protein on overactive immune cells
  • for cancers, the drug works by attaching to a certain protein on cancer cells

Rituxan can suppress (lessen the activity of) your immune system. And this can increase your risk for infections. Serious infections are a possible side effect of Rituxan. For more information about this, see the “What are Rituxan’s side effects?” section.

Rituxan is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as well as other conditions. To learn about how it’s used for RA, read on. And to learn about the other conditions it’s used for, see the “Is Rituxan used for other conditions?” section.

RA is an autoimmune disease. With this condition, your immune system attacks your own body. Symptoms of RA can include joint swelling, stiffness, and pain.

Rituxan is used in adults with RA that’s moderate to severe and is currently causing symptoms (also called active RA). It’s given for RA that’s been treated in the past with a drug called a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor. And for RA, Rituxan is used together with methotrexate (Trexall).

Rituxan is a form of immunotherapy. It works by attaching to a protein on certain immune cells that are overactive in people with RA.

You can refer to this Rituxan for RA article to learn more.

In addition to treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Rituxan is also used for other conditions. Specifically, Rituxan is also used to treat:

  • Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL): For this use, Rituxan can be prescribed for adults. CLL is a cancer that affects a type of white blood cell called lymphocytes. CLL starts in your bone marrow and then moves into your blood. (Bone marrow is the area in your bones where blood cells are made.) Rituxan can be used for CLL that’s CD20-positive (has a protein called CD20 on its cells). And the CLL can either have been treated in the past or not have been previously treated. For this purpose, Rituxan is used together with the cancer drugs fludarabine and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan).
  • Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA): For this use, Rituxan can be prescribed for adults and children ages 2 years and older. GPA is a type of ANCA-vasculitis. (ANCA is a protein in the blood that attacks the body’s white blood cells. And vasculitis refers to damaged and swollen blood vessels.) For this purpose, Rituxan is used together with corticosteroids, such as prednisone (Rayos).
  • Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA): For this use, Rituxan can be prescribed for adults and children ages 2 years and older. MPA is also a type of ANCA-vasculitis. (See the section on GPA for details.) For this purpose, Rituxan is used together with corticosteroids, such as prednisone (Rayos).
  • Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL): For this use, Rituxan can be prescribed for adults (and see below for information about Rituxan for NHL in children). NHL is a cancer that affects white blood cells. Rituxan is used for CD20-positive B-cell NHL that’s relapsed (come back after being treated) or refractory (hasn’t improved with other treatments). Or, the drug can be used for NHL that’s low grade (slow to spread) or hasn’t worsened after other treatments. In some cases, Rituxan may also be used in NHL that hasn’t been treated before. Rituxan may also be used for a type of NHL called follicular lymphoma. For these purposes, Rituxan may be used by itself or in combination with prednisone (Rayos) and the following cancer drugs:
    • cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan)
    • vincristine (Marqibo)
    • doxorubicin (Doxil)
    • other drugs called anthracycline drugs
  • Pemphigus vulgaris: For this use, Rituxan can be prescribed for adults. Pemphigus vulgaris is a condition that causes pain blisters on your skin or in your mouth. Rituxan is used when this condition is moderate to severe.

In children ages 6 months and older, Rituxan is also used to treat:

For the above uses in children, Rituxan is given along with chemotherapy and is used for advanced-stage, CD20-positive cancer that hasn’t been previously treated.

Rituxan is a form of immunotherapy. When it’s used to treat:

  • cancer, it attaches to certain proteins on cancer cells. Then, your immune system can fight off the cancer cells.
  • other conditions that affect your immune system, it works by attaching to a protein on certain overactive immune cells.

Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Rituxan that’s right for you. This section describes commonly used dosages. But your doctor will prescribe the Rituxan dosage that’s best for treating your condition.

Form and strength

Rituxan comes as a solution that’s given as an intravenous (IV) infusion. For an IV infusion, a healthcare professional will inject Rituxan into your vein over a period of time.

Rituxan comes in a strength of 100 milligrams per 10 milliliters (10 mg/mL).

Recommended dosages

Your prescribed dosage of Rituxan depends on:

  • the condition you’re using the drug to treat
  • your height and weight
  • any other medications you’re currently taking or have tried in the past

The usual Rituxan dosages in adults are as follows:

  • For rheumatoid arthritis (RA), you’ll receive an infusion once every 2 weeks for the first two doses. After that, you’ll get one infusion every 24 weeks. If you’re still having RA symptoms, your doctor may lessen the amount of time between your infusions.
  • For chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), you’ll receive an infusion the day before you start your first cycle of chemotherapy. (See the “Receiving Rituxan with other drugs” section for more information.) Your next Rituxan infusion will be given on the first day of your second cycle of chemotherapy. You’ll keep receiving Rituxan infusions on the first day of chemotherapy cycles 3 through 6.
  • For granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), you’ll receive four starter doses of Rituxan, with one infusion given weekly for 4 weeks. Then, 4 to 6 months later, you’ll get two follow-up doses. Each follow-up dose is given 2 weeks apart. After that, you’ll receive one Rituxan infusion every 6 months.
  • For non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), you may receive one infusion of Rituxan weekly or on certain days of your chemotherapy cycle. Or, you may be given Rituxan infusions on the first day of your chemotherapy cycle.
  • For pemphigus vulgaris, you’ll receive one infusion every 2 weeks for the first two doses. After that, you’ll get one infusion 12 months later. Then, a fourth infusion will be given 6 months after that. You may receive more doses of Rituxan if your condition comes back between doses.

For information about Rituxan dosages in children, talk with your child’s doctor.

To learn more about these conditions and how Rituxan is used for them, see the “Is Rituxan used for RA?” and “Is Rituxan used for other conditions?” sections.

How Rituxan is given

Your doctor will explain how Rituxan infusions will be given to you. They’ll also explain how much you’ll be given and how often. Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions.

You’ll receive Rituxan infusions in a clinic, doctor’s office, or hospital.

Preparing for Rituxan infusions

For your first dose of Rituxan, you should plan to spend most of the day at the location where you’ll receive the dose. This is because your first dose of Rituxan will have an infusion time of 4 to 6 hours. Each dose after that will have an infusion time of 3 to 4 hours.

To help pass the time during your infusion, you can bring a book, music, or other activity. Ask your doctor if you can bring a snack with you. You can also bring a sweater or jacket to help you stay comfortable in case the infusion room is cool.

Receiving Rituxan with other drugs

Before each Rituxan infusion, your doctor may give medications to you to help lessen the risk of an infusion reaction. (For information about infusion reactions, see the “What are Rituxan’s side effects?” section.)

For this purpose, your doctor may prescribe acetaminophen (Tylenol) and an antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl).

While you’re using Rituxan, your doctor may also prescribe drugs that help prevent certain infections. Examples of these infections include pneumonia and herpes.

Using other drugs with Rituxan will also depend on the condition you’re treating. For example:

  • if you have RA, you’ll use Rituxan together with methotrexate (Trexall).
  • If you have cancer, you might take Rituxan with corticosteroids or other cancer drugs, including chemotherapy drugs. Examples of corticosteroids include prednisone (Rayos) and methylprednisolone (Medrol). Examples of other cancer drugs include:

Questions about receiving Rituxan

Here are answers to some questions related to receiving Rituxan.

  • What if I miss a dose of Rituxan? If you miss an appointment to get your Rituxan infusion, call your doctor’s office right away to reschedule. And check with your doctor about whether a missed dose will affect your usual dosing schedule.
  • Will I need to use Rituxan long term? The length of time you’ll use Rituxan depends on the condition you’re using the drug to treat. In some cases, you may only receive up to 16 doses of the drug. Talk with your doctor about the length of time you should expect to use Rituxan.
  • How long does Rituxan take to work? Rituxan begins working right away after your first dose is given. But, for conditions such as cancer, you may not notice the drug working in your body. Your doctor will monitor you periodically to make sure it’s working. Talk with your doctor about how they’ll monitor your condition during Rituxan treatment.

Costs of prescription drugs can vary depending on many factors, such as what your insurance plan covers. The cost of Rituxan treatment also include fees to receive doses of the drug at a clinic, doctor’s office, or hospital.

If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also visit the Rituxan manufacturer’s website to see support options.

Learn more about saving on your prescriptions.

Both Rituxan and Truxima contain the drug rituximab, which is a biologic medication. A biologic drug is made from parts of living organisms.

Truxima is a biosimilar form of Rituxan. Biosimilars are like generic drugs. But unlike generics, which are made for non-biologic drugs, biosimilars are made for biologic drugs.

Both Rituxan and Truxima are used to treat certain cancers and other conditions that affect the immune system. If you have these conditions, you may want to know more about how Rituxan and Truxima are alike and different.

To learn more about the differences and similarities of these two drugs, see this detailed breakdown. And be sure to talk with your doctor about which drug is right for your condition.

Rituxan and Ocrevus are both used to treat certain conditions that affect your immune system.

Both medications are given by healthcare professionals as an intravenous (IV) infusion. (With an IV infusion, the drug is given as an injection into your vein over a period of time.)

Rituxan contains the active drug rituximab, but Ocrevus contains the active drug ocrelizumab.

If you’d like to know more about how Rituxan and Ocrevus compare with each other, check out this drug article. And talk with your doctor about which drug they recommend for you.

Rituxan and bendamustine are both used to treat certain cancers.

Rituxan contains the drug rituximab, while bendamustine is an active drug that comes as the brand-name medication Treanda.

Rituximab is a type of immunotherapy, while bendamustine is a chemotherapy drug. For more information about chemotherapy versus immunotherapy, see the “What are some frequently asked questions about Rituxan?” section.)

Both Rituxan and Treanda are given by healthcare professionals as an intravenous (IV) infusion. (With an IV infusion, the drug is given as an injection into your vein over a period of time.)

For more information, take a look at this side-by-side comparison of Rituxan and Treanda. Also, let your doctor know if you have any questions about these two drugs.

Rituxan and Rituxan Hycela are each used to treat certain cancers.

Both medications are given as injections by a healthcare professional. Rituxan is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion (an injection that’s given into a vein over a period of time). Rituxan Hycela, on the other hand, is given as a subcutaneous injection (an injection that’s given under your skin).

Rituxan and Rituxan Hycela both contain the drug rituximab. But, Rituxan Hycela contains rituximab together with another drug called hyaluronidase. This additional drug allows rituximab to be given under your skin instead of into your vein.

This article focuses on Rituxan, not Rituxan Hycela. Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about how these drugs compare.

Before taking Rituxan, talk with your doctor about your health history and other medical conditions you have. A few other important considerations are described here.

Interactions

Taking medications, vaccines, foods, and other things with a certain drug can affect how the drug works. These effects are called interactions.

Before taking Rituxan, be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you take (including prescription and over-the-counter types). Also describe any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you use. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you about any interactions these items may cause with Rituxan.

Interactions with drugs or supplements

The manufacturer of Rituxan didn’t look at drug interactions in studies of the medication. But, Rituxan is known to interact with the chemotherapy drug cisplatin.

It’s not known if other drugs interact with Rituxan.

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the interaction with cisplatin and any other possible interactions with Rituxan.

Other interactions

You should avoid getting any live vaccines while you’re using Rituxan.

Live vaccines contain a mild version of viruses or bacteria that cause the infections the vaccine protects you from. Live vaccines are different from inactivated vaccines, which contain an inactive (dead) form of bacteria or viruses.

Live vaccines generally don’t cause an infection in a person with a healthy immune system. But, Rituxan can weaken the ability of your immune system to fight off infections. As a result, you may have a higher risk for infection from a live vaccine while you’re using Rituxan.

Examples of live vaccines include:

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before you get any vaccines while you’re using Rituxan.

Boxed warnings

Rituxan has boxed warnings. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Rituxan’s boxed warnings include:

  • Infusion reactions: You may have infusion reactions during or after you receive does of Rituxan. This side effect was common in studies of the drug, but it wasn’t serious for most people. Rarely, infusion reactions from Rituxan may lead to death. Before each Rituxan infusion, your doctor may give medications to you to help lessen your risk for an infusion reaction. (See the “How is Rituxan given?” section for more information about this.) Symptoms of infusion reactions can include:
  • Severe skin and mouth reactions: You may have severe reactions on your skin or inside your mouth after receiving Rituxan. But, this is rare with Rituxan. This side effect wasn’t reported in studies of the drug. But skin and mouth reactions can still happen. In rare cases, these reactions may be life threatening. Symptoms of skin and mouth reactions include:
    • skin peeling
    • pustules (fluid-filled sacs on the skin)
    • blisters
    • other painful sores
  • Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML): Using Rituxan may cause PML. PML is a rare but serious infection that affects the central nervous system and brain. In some cases, PML can be fatal. Symptoms of PML include:
  • Reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV): Rituxan may cause reactivation of hepatitis B virus in people who’ve had hepatitis B in the past. Reactivation of HBV wasn’t reported in studies of the drug. But this can still happen when using Rituxan. Your doctor will also test you for hepatitis B virus before and during Rituxan treatment. If your test is positive for hepatitis B, your doctor may want to treat it before or while you take Rituxan. And they’ll closely monitor you for symptoms of HBV reactivation for up to 24 months after your last dose of Rituxan. Hepatitis B can lead to serious liver problems, such as liver failure. Hepatitis B can also lead to death in rare cases. Symptoms of hepatitis B include:
    • tiredness
    • jaundice (yellowing of the whites of your eyes or your skin)

If you have any symptoms of these boxed warning conditions, tell your doctor right away. They’ll likely recommend that you stop using Rituxan.

Other warnings

Rituxan may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Rituxan. Factors to consider include those in the following list.

  • Kidney problems: For some people who use Rituxan, the drug can cause kidney problems, such as kidney failure. If you have kidney problems before starting Rituxan, you may have a higher risk for this side effect. Talk with your doctor about any kidney problems you have before using this drug. They may recommend a treatment other than Rituxan for your condition.
  • Lung problems: Since it was approved, Rituxan has very rarely been related to lung damage that may lead to death. Before taking Rituxan, be sure to tell your doctor if you have lung problems or lung disease or have had either of these in the past. Your doctor can recommend appropriate treatment options for your condition.
  • Heart problems: Using Rituxan can lead to heart problems, such as heart attack and ventricular fibrillation (a type of abnormal heart rhythm). If you already have heart problems before taking Rituxan, you may have a higher risk for these side effects. Before starting Rituxan, tell your doctor about any heart problems you have. They’ll recommend if Rituxan is the right drug to treat your condition.
  • Infections or a suppressed immune system: Make sure your doctor knows about any infections you have before you start using Rituxan. And make sure to tell your doctor if you have any conditions that suppress (lessen the activity of) your immune system. Rituxan can increase your risk for serious infections. Your risk for this side effect may be even higher if you already have either of these conditions.
  • Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Rituxan or any of its ingredients, your doctor won’t prescribe Rituxan. They can likely recommend other medications that are better options for you.

Use with alcohol

There aren’t any known interactions between Rituxan and alcohol.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about the amount that’s safe for you to drink while using Rituxan.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

You shouldn’t use Rituxan during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Your doctor may recommend that you use birth control during treatment with this drug. If you’re able to become pregnant, it’s recommended to continue using birth control for at least 12 months after your last infusion. And you should not breastfeed for at least 6 months after your last Rituxan dose.

To learn more about the effects of Rituxan when used while pregnant or breastfeeding, talk with your doctor.

Q:

Is there anything I can do to lessen my risk for skin and mouth reactions while I’m taking Rituxan?

Anonymous

A:

Although very rare, severe skin and mouth reactions are possible side effects of Rituxan. These reactions can include Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). And these conditions can be fatal.

Currently, it isn’t known why some people have these reactions with Rituxan or how the reactions can be prevented. It’s also not known if there’s anything you can do to lessen your risk for these rare reactions.

Symptoms of these severe reactions can include:

  • blistering rash
  • fever
  • peeling skin

Severe skin and mouth reactions may happen on the first day you receive a dose of Rituxan. But they can also occur at any time while you’re taking the drug.

If you develop a severe skin or mouth reaction while you’re taking Rituxan, tell your doctor or seek medical help right away. You’ll likely need to stop taking the drug if your reaction is severe.

The Healthline Pharmacist TeamAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

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