A time limit for Rituxan??

[mum2kat+3]

Hello all,
I'm due for my 3rd round of Rituxan(rituximab) in a few weeks.
So far I've had 2 big flares and a couple of little ones before starting Rituxan and so far so good.
Neuro still won't officially say ms because my brain mri is relatively normal. He's sticking with umbrella treatment of Rituxan for NMO, recurrent transverse myelitis or ms.
I'm wondering if there is a limit to how long one can be on Rituxan for? Am I treating my(what seem like) small symptoms/flares and could "save" this treatment that is keeping things at bay for when I really really need it? If I stop is there a rebound affect?
Just wondering others experience on this med?

Thanks. I do appreciate coming back here for your knowledge to help me with my crazy questions!

Ann-Marie

[Lazarus]

Hi,
Everybody has a different experience with selected drugs but there are some generalities ...
I have been on rituxan for several years now. I love the way it works for me.

Right now I am so ready for my next round. For me that means that I am having trouble thinking clearly and the hours each day that I am active have hrunk. So, I start doing something on my farm or in the house and just do not finish a task or the task takes ten times longer to finish than it usually does.

I see my neuro in a couple of weeks and expect to set up the next infusion. The positive effects last --for me--about 7 or 8 months so I can set up infusions at that rate instead of every six months. My neuro is careful and concerned about making sure I am having no damage from it but...there is some risk. Did you get the blood test to see if you are positive for the PML virus.

You must have a lot of pain...I hope things go well for you with the rituxan. When I get to the end of the infusion cycle my symptoms start coming back, one by one. But the rituxan wipes the slate again.

I saw Agate's reply and realized I was not clear. There is no written end point for taking rituxan. Perhaps you were thinking of Novantrone. With Novantrone the FDA limits the lifetime quantity you can receive and that usually takes two years.

[agate]

Hi mum2kat+3,

I haven't taken Rituxan but noticed you asked about a time limit. This information page doesn't mention any time limit:

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