What Are the Side Effects of Rituxan?

The anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody Rituxan is effective in treating patients with certain B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas along with a number of other indications.

It does, however, cause a number of side effects. No patient will experience all of the potential side effects of Rituxan; some will experience many, others will experience few.

It is extremely important to notify one's physician or health care team of any side effects upon receiving Rituxan, for some indicate a crisis and require immediate medical attention.

The most immediate and dangerous potential side effect of Rituxan is an allergic reaction.

Potential side effects of Rituxan

• Blood in urine or painful urination
• Low back pain
• Muscle problems: contraction, weakness, tightness
• Breathing problems, or changes in heart rate
• Confusion, dizziness, weakness on one side of the body
• Chest pain
• Nausea, sweating
• Flu symptoms such as fever, chills, body aches
• Bruising easily
• Earaches, mouth ulcers
• Skin rashes or skin sores
• Severe constipation
• Night sweats

Major side effects

• Tumor lysis syndrome, a metabolic crisis in which many cancer cells die en masse, flooding the bloodstream with chemicals.
• Immunosuppression, which makes the patient much more vulnerable to infection than under other circumstances.
• Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML), a fatal brain virus that has been linked to Rituxan.
• Hepatitis B reactivation

Infusion reactions, which can be mitigated at the time of infusion

• Urticaria
• Hypotension
• Angioedema
• Hypoxia
• Bronchospasm
• Pulmonary infiltrates
• Acute respiratory distress syndrome
• Myocardial infarction
• Ventricular fibrillation
• Cardiogenic shock

An extensive list of all reported side effects of Rituxan can be found via the manufacturer's website.