That's too bad, pmcki96ey, and quite scary. I will say a prayer that his treatment tomorrow goes better. Best wishes to him and please let us know.

I did Rituxan for cancer treatments. It is known to cause allergic reactions. Not everyone will be able to take it but most can. The real trick is to drip very slow to help avoid allergic reactions. While it is being infused, it is critical that you let them know anything you are feeling that isn't normal. The earlier they respond, the less severe it will be. I was told the first treatment is the most unpredictable but each one should be a little better allergy wise.

My infusions always took at least 7 hours. I took 2 Tylenol before they started and got a bag of Benedryl before the Rituxan. Then they started the drip excruciatingly slow and sped it up after about 2 hours.

I share this story because Rituxan is tricky but it is also very successful for some people. I hope your husband can accept the infusion better this time. Make sure they go slow. It helps. If he has another reaction, he might be one of the people that can't tolerate it well. Bless you both.

I am so sorry to read your post. I do hope your husband has recovered well and that you both have a better day today. Autumm

Hi pmcki96ey, I put in some prayers for your husband. I am sure the doctors will be watchful and slow with the drip. Thank you for the heads-up on your husband's experience too. I hope things will work out for your husband's best health interest with or without the infusion. Best Wishes. Keep us posted.

Meow,

I'm on my second series of 4 with Rituxan. I get what Lexi got: A Tylenol w/a Bag of Benadryl I also take Lisinopril HCTZ before the infusion. Mine takes 6-7 hours to drip. All I have is a sleepiness when I get home. I take a 2 hour nap, and feel okay...stronger. It seems to be the only thing that brings down my CPK. I had 4 bags last year, and now I'm getting these. Looks like my doc will have to request a 4 bag series every year from now on.

I can't take IVIG. I do hope your hubby can stand today's infusion. Maybe if they slow it down. If they monitor his blood pressure while getting the infusion, don't let them put the cuff on the same side as the IV. Hurts more on the same side. .

Please let us know how he did with 10/28th's infusion. My doc spaces my bags one week apart. I have one tomorrow (10/29), then I have #2 on 11/6. I wish him well as a fellow patient of this lovely disease. I have PM.

Purr.

Thanks for all the good vibes ladies it seemed to do the trick!! I am not sure what kind of different pre-med bag they did but I do know they gave him double the dosage of Benedryl(which knocked his butt out at the clinic!) and slowed the pace of the drip. Much better day! Just slight elevations of heart rate and blood pressure about half way thru but nothing like day one. He is also doing 4 bags a month a week apart like you Buttercup. Every Tuesday until November 11th. Then he starts back his IVIG in December which I do think helps him with his swallowing and speech problems. Do you think the Rituxan helps you feel better buttercup and if so when did you feel it kick in? Any long term side effects that you noticed? He is going to do another round of Rituxan in 6 months but he will have to go back to Johns Hopkins in January if this round does not help him. Keeping the faith that this will be the drug of choice for him!! Thanks again ladies.... going on 2 years with hard core treatment with no relief for him.. at least they started to lower the prednisone.. now at 30mg... been at 40mg for a year and a half. That new trail drug looks exciting too!!

Hi PMCK. This is good news. Wish your husband every success in the treatment. Best wishes. Autumm