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rituximab (sp?)

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Posted 6/5/2006 5:55 AM (GMT 0)
hi everyone,

new here, usually post over in the lupus forum.  my reason for being here, you ask?  i have been accepted into a lupus study for rituximab which has been approved by the fda for RA.  is anyone familiar with it?  i don't know how new it is but am curious what anyone might have to say about it. 

i read a few of your postings here and it sounds like you all have a lot of fun with each other.  i giggled tongue

thank you,

e

Posted 6/5/2006 11:22 AM (GMT 0)

Hi e.  Welcome to the arthritis board!  We do have a lot of fun.  I don't know much about the drug you are referring to, but my rheumatologist has mentioned it.  Is that one of the newer drugs that is an IV drip?  If so, my rheumatologist said he would try me on it, but I would like to exhaust the injectables first since they're a heck of a lot more convenient.  My rheumy did say there were two newer RA drugs that were just FDA approved, and that there were several more late in the approval process.  Pretty soon there will be a whole host of new TNF-inhibitors.  Good luck in your study!  I hope it helps you.

Elcamino 

Posted 6/6/2006 2:03 AM (GMT 0)

Hey e - welcome to the arthritis side of the house!  Yes, we can be a rowdy bunch here... but it is all in good fun... yeah

I found this website about rituximab... Please read the warnings and discuss entirely with your rheumy.  As we all know, we have side effects with everything now-a-days, but with this being so new please be careful.

Let us know how you are doing and what you decide... take care and rest easy... Duck

Posted 6/7/2006 5:08 AM (GMT 0)

hi elcam and ducky!

i love that "ducky!"  what does el camino stand for (if anything)?  it makes me think of my dad's old el camino (as in car).  i think that is what he had way back in the 70's.  those were the days!

thank you for your replies and support.  appreciate the website ducky.  those are some scary warnings!  yikes!!  i just found out that a good friend of mine (who has ra) is in the same study.  i knew she was in a study for the past almost year but until today it never occurred to me to ask her which med it was for.  yes, "el" it is infusions, yukk!  after the first one it is something like 1 or 2 six months later.  i have to go in to UCSD med center on the 19th and go over the consent form with all the warnings and so forth and if i sign then i will make the appt for the first infusion.  it is a reality check to see all those warnings, i have 4 children to think about (3 are 4 and under).  but then again, i am not functioning very well as a parent the way i am right now and the plaq and mtx are not helping me feel better to date.  i don't have insurance and couldn't get insured even before my dx be/c of chronic illnesses for the past 12 years so this is and even bigger dilemma for me because at least i would be monitored for free.

i love all your "good moanings,"  you all have a great sense of humor over here.  i think i will visit more often if you don't mind?

thanks!

e

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