Concerns about Rituxan after research

I have been looking into Rituxan.  I start this on Friday.  After researching it I am finding that it is found to be ineffective in people who are seronegative for the rheumatoid factor.  I am seronegative.  Wouldn't my Rheumatologist have brought this up?  Why would they make me go through such a risky medication if the odds are high that it won't work?  Does anyone know if this research has been found false?

Now I sure am getting nervous.  Is it really all about the money.

Theresa

Hi bloo,

Are you taking it with your MTX or alone? I don't know anyone that has taken the Rituxan but it is used for RA (more severe cases). I don't know anything about being seronegative? I am seronegative and I take MTX and it has worked for me. Both Methotrexate and Rituxan are chemo drugs, and are used for cancer treatments as well as moderate to severe cases of RA. A person can have a severe flare of RA without a positive test if this is what you are asking??? It has nothing to do with the meds working or not working.

In comparison of methotrexate to the Rituxan, if you are not taking methotrexate, I would ask for this one first? and see if it works? Since I am not sure what you have taken in the past..and if you are truly scared of taking it don't take it. Rituxan is used first hand for hodgkins, and I'm not sure how long it has been on the market? would have to ask my husband more on it. At least MTX has been around and it is tried and true.

HTH.

Hi Bloo...

I guess I don't understand the whole negative/ not negative when it comes to this particular medication? inflammation is inflammation!! Even patients with positive RF, are not positive all of the time, at least this is my understanding.. I don't think your negative test has anything to do with a med not working if you have inflammation. However, yes I would be leary at taking MTX, ARAVA, and adding in another drug in the same category with such drastic side effects.

Perhaps you need to discuss this with your doctor and talk about your concerns, and maybe he/she can explain more about the negative RF and this drug not working. If that were the case with RA meds, none of them would work for a lot of us:)

Gosh it looks like you are already taking a lot of meds already..are you on your max dose of MTX? I don't know anything about Bcells, but it sounds as if you need to just ask your doctor since you are negative and don't have excessive B cells if you really need to put another medication into your system...you seem to be on so many as it is, but this is only my 2cents.

For me personally, I wouldn't do it, if I were already taking the MTX, plus Arava and Enbrel, that is quite a cocktail of medications.