SPACE COAST CANCER CENTERS
An Affiliate of H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center
Space Coast Medical Associates, LLP
Richard M. Levine, MS, MD Solomon Zimm, MD, FACP R. Duff Sprawls, MSSW, MD
Board Certified Medical Oncology Board Certified Medical Oncology Board Certified Medical Oncology
Juan L. Castro, MD Ashish V. Dalal, MD Germaine M. Blaine, MD, MPH
Board Certified Medical Oncology/Hematology Board Certified Medical Oncology/Hematology Board Certified Medical Oncology/Hematology
Firas R. Muwalla, MD Katie Wilkerson, MSN, ARNP
Board Certified Medical Oncology Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner
Rituxan
General Information
! Rituxan is a new kind of anti-cancer therapy, an antibody that binds to and kills both cancerous and normal B
cells in non-Hodgkin lymphoma, but has little known effects on other types of cells.
! During your course of Rituxan therapy, you should be able to continue your normal activities, including
work. You should not lose your hair. Generally, there is no delayed nausea and/or vomiting.
! Your first infusion of Rituxan will probably require most of the day, so you should set aside the day to
receive your treatment.
! The most common side effects are fever, shaking chills, tiredness, and headache. These effects are less
common after the first treatment.
! Rituxan causes few serious side effects; however, some patients have experienced hypersensitivity reactions
and have become dizzy or short of breath or have had a sensation of tongue or throat swelling. Some patients
who had heart pain or irregular heartbeat before have had these symptoms again. If these occur, tell your
nurse or doctor so that they can be treated.
! Sometimes it is necessary to slow down or interrupt Rituxan therapy for common or some serious side
effects, but usually treatment can be resumed when symptoms have resolved and may be finished on the same
day. You may have to stay longer at the office or clinic, especially since this usually happens on your first
(longest) day of treatment.
! There is a possible reactivation of hepatitis B infection.
Possible Side Effects
! Fever ! Lowered blood counts:
! Chills " Drop in white blood cell count (WBC)
! Infection - Increased chance of infection.
! Weakness and/or fatigue - Avoid people with colds, flu, etc.
! Headache - Report temperature of 100.5 degrees,
! Abdominal pain chills, sweats, or any symptoms of
! Throat irritation, increased cough infection, such as burning on urination,
! Hypotension (low blood pressure) cough, etc. to your doctor.
! Hypertension (high blood pressure) - Maintain good skin and oral hygiene.
! Nausea & Vomiting " Drop in platelets
! Diarrhea - May bruise or bleed more easily.
! Peripheral edema - Notify your doctor of any unusual
! Muscle or bone pains bleeding.
! Dizziness and/or anxiety - Do not take aspirin. (Tylenol is okay)
! Night sweats " Drop in red blood cell count (RBC)
! Rash and or itching - May notice fatigue.
! Dyspnea (difficulty breathing) ! Rhinitis
Center of Excellence
490 N. WASHINGTON AVE. 225 CONE ROAD 699 W. COCOA BEACH CSWY#606 840 EXECUTIVE LANE #120
TITUSVILLE, FL 32796 MERRITT ISLAND, FL 32952 COCOA BEACH, FL 32931 ROCKLEDGE, FL 32955
Telephone (321) 268-4200 Telephone (321) 453-1361 Telephone (321) 783-9544 Telephone (321) 453-1361
FAX (321) 268-1386 FAX (321) 452-4939 FAX (321) 783-0212 FAX (321) 636-9083
Correspondence to Titusville Office
Celebrating 25 Years of Care to Our Community
Rituxan
Page 2
Hepatitis B virus as reactivation with fulminant hepatitis, hepatic failure, and death has been reported in some
patients with hematologic malignancies treated with rituximab. Median time to diagnosis of hepatitis is
approximately four months after the initiation of rituximab and approximately one month after the dose. Hence,
patients at high risk for hepatitis B infection should be screened before the initiation of rituximab therapy.
Carriers of hepatitis B should be closely monitored for clinical and laboratory signs of active hepatitis B infection
and for signs of hepatitis during and for up to seven months following rituximab therapy. In patients who develop
viral hepatitis rituximab and concomitant chemotherapy should be discontinued and appropriate treatment
(including antiviral therapy) initiated.
Do not administer live virus vaccines prior to or during Rituxan therapy.
The following additional serious viral infections, either new, reactivated, or exacerbated, have been identified in
clinical studies or post-marketing reports. These viral infections included hepatitis C, herpes simplex virus,
cytomegalovirus, parvovirus B19, varicella zoster virus, and West Nile virus. In some cases viral infections
occurred as late as one year following discontinuation of Rituxan and have resulted in death.
Print patient name:
Signature of patient or person authorized to consent: Date:
Witness: Date:
Physician’s signature: Date:
Copy given to patient:
Center of Excellence
490 N. WASHINGTON AVE. 225 CONE ROAD 699 W. COCOA BEACH CSWY#606 840 EXECUTIVE LANE #120
TITUSVILLE, FL 32796 MERRITT ISLAND, FL 32952 COCOA BEACH, FL 32931 ROCKLEDGE, FL 32955
Telephone (321) 268-4200 Telephone (321) 453-1361 Telephone (321) 783-9544 Telephone (321) 453-1361
FAX (321) 268-1386 FAX (321) 452-4939 FAX (321) 783-0212 FAX (321) 636-9083
Correspondence to Titusville Office
Celebrating 25 Years of Care to Our Community