Ruxience

Generic name:rituximab [ ri-TUX-i-mab ]
Brand names: Riabni, Rituxan, Ruxience, Truxima
Drug class:CD20 monoclonal antibodies

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on Jan 4, 2021. Written by Cerner Multum.

What is Ruxience?

Ruxience is used alone or in combination with other medicines to treat the following conditions in adults:

• non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or chronic lymphocytic leukemia;

• rheumatoid arthritis; or

• pemphigus vulgaris--a severe autoimmune reaction that causes blisters and breakdown of the skin and mucous membranes.

Ruxience is also used in adults and children at least 2 years old with certain disorders that cause inflammation of blood vessels and other tissues in the body.

Ruxience may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Warnings

Ruxience may cause a serious brain infection that can lead to disability or death. Call your doctor right away if you have problems with speech, thought, vision, or muscle movement. These symptoms may start gradually and get worse quickly.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had hepatitis B. Ruxience can cause this condition to come back or get worse.

Severe skin problems can also occur during treatment with Ruxience. Call your doctor if you have painful skin or mouth sores, or a severe skin rash with blistering, peeling, or pus.

Some side effects may occur during the injection or within 24 hours afterward. Tell your caregiver right away if you feel itchy, dizzy, weak, light-headed, short of breath, or if you have chest pain, wheezing, sudden cough, or pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest.

Before taking this medicine

Ruxience may cause a serious brain infection that can lead to disability or death. This infection may be more likely if have used an immunosuppressant drug in the past, or if you have received this medicine with a stem cell transplant.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• liver disease or hepatitis (or if you are a carrier of hepatitis B);

• an infection, including herpes, shingles, cytomegalovirus, chickenpox, parvovirus, West Nile virus, or hepatitis B or C;

• kidney disease;

• lung disease or a breathing disorder;

• a weak immune system (caused by disease or by using certain medicines);

• heart disease, angina (chest pain), or heart rhythm disorder; or