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Rituxan Maintenance Dose

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13 years 9 months ago #20747 by jaing50
Replied by jaing50 on topic Re: Rituxan Maintenance Dose
My wife and I just got back from a visit to her hematologist. Platelet count 226,000 after one month completely off prednisone. He will see her again in June. If platelets are still ok, he will release her from his care. She'll still get a CBC on her regular visits to her PCP. A couple of days late, but it was our best Christmas present of the year. We asked her hematologist about what he considers remission. He said the Rituxan she took this summer caused a remission as soon as he saw her platelets go up to the normal range. He said the Rituxan itself only stays in the blood for a matter of "weeks". No need for any "maintenance doses" but he would not hesitate to use Rituxan on her in the future if she relapses. Anyway, we are thrilled and hope for the same response to all who read this looking for their own remission.
  • Sandi
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  • Sandi Forum Moderator Diagnosed in 1998, currently in remission. Diagnosed with Lupus in 2006. Last Count - 344k - 6-9-18
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13 years 9 months ago #20771 by Sandi
Replied by Sandi on topic Re: Rituxan Maintenance Dose
I've always been curious as to what that means...'released'. I've never been released. I still see my hemo once a year despite a 7 year remission. Even if I didn't, they would still have my 9 inch thick file sitting around. If I had a problem, I'd go back.

I'm glad your wife is doing well. Rituxan actually stays in the body at least 6 months.
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13 years 9 months ago #20782 by jaing50
Replied by jaing50 on topic Re: Rituxan Maintenance Dose
Sandi - In this case, I believe the only thing "released" means is there will no long be an appt. set up to see him for follow-up. If symptoms re-appear or if her count goes down on her routine blood test through her PCP, she'll go back to him.

Jim
  • Sandi
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  • Sandi Forum Moderator Diagnosed in 1998, currently in remission. Diagnosed with Lupus in 2006. Last Count - 344k - 6-9-18
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13 years 9 months ago #20786 by Sandi
Replied by Sandi on topic Re: Rituxan Maintenance Dose
Hmmm. You'd think he'd still want to see her occasionally. It's kind of soon to let go, although I can understand that there really isn't anything to be done unless counts drop.
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13 years 9 months ago #20788 by jaing50
Replied by jaing50 on topic Re: Rituxan Maintenance Dose
Sandi - My wife's PCP and hematologist are both at the Vanderbilt Univ. Medical Center. All her medical data is in the same place where all her doctors have access to it. If something shows up on one of her semi-annual visits to her PCP, he will see it. We are comfortable with this. We can't say enough good things about VUMC.
Jim
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13 years 9 months ago #20794 by ananta
Replied by ananta on topic Re: Rituxan Maintenance Dose
Here is info about how long Rituxan stays in the body:

Half-life of Rituximab

The amount of time needed to reduce circulating levels of a drug by half is called the drug's half-life. For rituximab, it is 40 hours to 16 days. The half-life depends on the dose, length of the treatment, and the amount of tumor a patient may have. Because of this long half-life, rituximab is present in the blood for 3 to 6 months after the treatment has stopped. Elimination of rituximab from the body is slower in women with rheumatoid arthritis than in men with rheumatoid arthritis, but the effectiveness in men and women is the same.

from: wiki.medpedia.com/Rituximab
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13 years 9 months ago #20801 by CindyL
Replied by CindyL on topic Re: Rituxan Maintenance Dose
My hema released me back in June. The way I understand it, is if my counts drop, my family doctor will put in a consult to my hema. I still go every two months for bloods and both docs get the result. So far, my Rituxan treatment has lasted just over a year.
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13 years 7 months ago #23038 by jaing50
Replied by jaing50 on topic Re: Rituxan Maintenance Dose
An update on my wife's platelet count on a routine visit to her PCP. Eight months after her last Rituxan infusion her platelet count is holding in the normal range at 219k! Her highest count was 245k about 2 weeks after her Rituxan. We are happy with Rituxan - no side effects whatsoever and it has allowed her to get off prednisone. Obviously no need for a maintenance dose. She's have another blood test and see her hematologist in June. To those of you considering Rituxan, we would recommend it - with the usual disclaimer that everyone is different and responds to therapies in different ways.
  • Sandi
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  • Sandi Forum Moderator Diagnosed in 1998, currently in remission. Diagnosed with Lupus in 2006. Last Count - 344k - 6-9-18
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13 years 7 months ago #23042 by Sandi
Replied by Sandi on topic Re: Rituxan Maintenance Dose
Great news and thanks for the update!
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13 years 4 months ago #25320 by jaing50
Replied by jaing50 on topic Re: Rituxan Maintenance Dose
It's been a while - actually about 3 months - since I posted on my wife's status. She had a visit with her hematologist last week. After close to one year since her Rituxan and 6 months since her last dose of prednisone, I am happy to report her platelet count is 253k! She still has some minor lingering effects from being on prednisone for over a year. Her doctor has not scheduled any further visits. Just keep doing the CBC whenever she sees her primary care physician. For us, Rituxan has been a great therapy. I wish good platelet counts for all who read this.
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