Rituxan

[jnet1589]

has anyone had any experience with Rituxan? I'm thinking of going on it but I would like to know if anyone has had any experience with it nothing seems to be working for me.

[Kimba22]

Hi jnet1589,

I'm sorry to hear nothing else seems to be working for you. I have not had any experience with Rituxan, but to find other threads about the drug, you can do an advanced search by clicking on the word "Search" (found above, on the blue bar where you see the words "User CP", "FAQ", "Calendar", "Arcade", "Guidelines", "New Posts", "Search", "Quick Links", and "Log Out"). Next, click on the words "Advanced Search," then type Rituxan for the key word, and click on Search Now. You'll then see threads that have this word in them.

I hope others who have had experience with the drug will also see your thread, soon, and post a reply.

Best of luck to you,

[Myoak]

If you don’t mind a personal opinion…

Rituxan is another name for rituximab. IMO, it is one of the best, if not the best, medicine for MS. Trials have shown it to be highly effective in MS.

Tysabri is highly effective but it appears to only prevent infected B cells from crossing the blood brain barrier, Gilenya is pretty effective but it only sequesters those problem cells in the lymph system, rituxan kills infected B cells selectively. It doesn’t kill stem cell B cells or plasma B cells because those cells do not have CD20 receptors and that is what rituxan attaches to in killing B cells.

For me, it is reasonable to believe when Tysabri or Gilenya treatment is halted you would get a rush of these blocked B cells and could easily experience a rebound of MS. However, if those cells were killed by rituxan then they would not be able to do damage if or when you stopped treatment.

Hope that makes some sense. Bottom line, rituxan has a great chance of working very well for you, IMO. You may not find many comments about it because it would only be prescribed off label in MS. Not many using it for MS, yet.

Enter rituximab when you search for info on rituxan.

[jnet1589]

thank you so much for getting back to me I go to my neurologist on April 29th and I'm going to tell her I want to be put on it

[Pomegranate]

I have been on Rituxan for a year now. Next week will be the beginning of year two for me. I was on Copaxone before and was having a minimum of two relapses a year. My new neuro wanted to switch me to tecifedra, but I was JCV+, and I couldn't go on Gilenya because they found a borderline heart condition. So my only option was Rituxan and I love it. I went from having to use a cane or a wheel chair for moderate to long distances and now I use nothing. I've only had one relapse this year, which is great for me.

I love not having to take a medication everyday. I can basically forget I have MS when I'm doing well. I have had no reactions to the medication, though it does take a good 6-8 hours to infuse, but once every 6 months is more than manageable.

I was afraid of the immuno suppression since I do work in the medical field, but as long as you are aware of sick people around you, wash your hands and don't share food you will be fine. I haven't gotten sick once this year unlike every other year.

I definitely highly recommend this drug. It had definitely changed my life.

[grace4et]

i start rituxan may 8th so i will pray for you and ask that you do the same for me that everything goes smoothly for us. we'll be just fine!

[jnet1589]

hi grace! I just went to the doctor today. I will start Rituxan in about 2 months for my secondary progressive at multiple sclerosis. I will pray for you and thank you for doing the same for me let's keep in touch so we know how each other are doing.

[jnet1589]

well I am going to start with rituxan Thursday. I m secondary progressive MSI will keep you all informed as to how I feel and what is going on.

[Kimba22]

Hi jnet1589,

I really hope this drug helps you, and I'll be anxiously awaiting to read your updates!

Best of luck!

[grace4et]

Hey guys. Im ok. I started about a month ago and I don't feel any better....if anything I feel like my legs are even weaker and more spastic and achy......but don't rely on my story because my memory is horrible and I could be feeling like this because of many reasons I.e. missed other medication, gaining weight, unhealthy eating or maybe because im rrms or something....I don't know but I hope it does better for you guys!

[Kimba22]

Hi grace4et,

Thanks for the update, but so sorry to hear that you don't have better news. They just don't know yet who will be a responder to these drugs, like Pomegranate , and who won't. , until we try them. What did your neurologist have to say?

I hope you start feeling better and at least get back to your previous baseline, soon.

Keep us updated on how you are doing, OK? You are in my prayers.

[grace4et]

Hi grace4et,

Thanks for the update, but so sorry to hear that you don't have better news. They just don't know yet who will be a responder to these drugs, like Pomegranate , and who won't. , until we try them. What did your neurologist have to say?

I hope you start feeling better and at least get back to your previous baseline, soon.

Keep us updated on how you are doing, OK? You are in my prayers.

Thanks 4 the prayers!.....and ill be fine and will keep you all updated.

[jnet1589]

well this is this about 8 days after my treatment I was sick about 4 days into it I did not throw up just felt queasy this Thursday I have my second treatment so just a couple days of not eating much that's it the first night I felt very weak. I am stretching and working my arms so I am trying to keep strong I will let you know how it goes after my second treatment then nothing for 6 months not bad. Hopefully I will feel better in a few weeks thank you for your prayers.

[jnet1589]

well I've had infusion number 2 I was weak for a few days and now I feel like I'm comin back I need to get my strength back up but other than that things went well I will have my next infusion in six months. If anyone has had this done I would appreciate and how long this lasts and how you are doing. thank you

[mgoerke]

Hey guys. Im ok. I started about a month ago and I don't feel any better....if anything I feel like my legs are even weaker and more spastic and achy......but don't rely on my story because my memory is horrible and I could be feeling like this because of many reasons I.e. missed other medication, gaining weight, unhealthy eating or maybe because im rrms or something....I don't know but I hope it does better for you guys!

I'm about three weeks post my first infusion..my specialist does not do the two infusions two weeks apart. I feel pretty crappy. All my muscles feel weaker. Some days Ritalin perks me up and some days it does nothing. I'm definitely not better than I was pre-rituxan. I don't know that I'm worse in some ways. I just feel weaker.