Rituxan
Free Defective Drugs Case ReviewOn December 18, 2006, the Food and Drug Administration alerted medical health care professionals and their patients to a new warning regarding the drug Rituxan and the potential hazards of prescribing it to for off-label treatment for a condition called systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE. Rituxan is only approved to treat rheumatoid arthritis and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, but many doctors have discovered that it is a suitable treatment for a number of other autoimmune diseases. Unfortunately, Rituxan has been linked to 23 reported cases of a deadly brain and central nervous system viral infection called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, or PML.
Rituxan works by suppressing a type of white blood cell called a B cell. While this approach is an effective treatment for many types of conditions, it is not without certain risks. The most common risk is that in suppressing the immune system, Rituxan opens up the body to a number of serious complications such as viral and bacterial infections. These are particularly dangerous for someone with an already compromised immune system, and when doctors use Rituxan for off label purposes to treat SLE it is difficult to determine if the side effects of the drug are actually PML or merely the symptoms the drug is trying to treat.
Early warning sign of PML include:
- Dizziness
- Loss of Balance
- Vision difficulties
- Difficulty speaking
- Difficuly walking
- Confusion
There is no effective treatment for PML, and the disease is usually fatal.
Rituxan is so dangerous that in February 2006 the labeling of the drug was changed to reflect the likelihood of severe viral infections such as PML, and doctors were advised to only prescribe the drug for its intended uses, rather than for off label treatments. Rituxan should only be used when all other conventional treatments have failed, in order to reduce the potential for serious complications.
If you or someone you know has been adversely affected by the off label use of Rituxan, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your pain and suffering. If you wait too long, however, the time restrictions called the statute of limitations in your state could prevent you from getting the financial restitution you may deserve. Let our dedicated, aggressive, and experienced defective drug attorneys help you. Contact us today.
Comments on This Topic: There are 11 comments related to:
Defective Drugs: News, Statistics and Legal Guide.
| Judy says: | 2007-04-07 12:26:36 |
| We just loss someone treated with rituxan for B-Cell lymphoma. After treatment with the rituxan she developed all the symptoms of PML. Our concerns were ignored until she became totally incapacitated by neurological problems. They found lesions on her brain which they claim was the b-cell that broke through the blood brain barrier. We don\'t believe it. She died shortly after. | |
| edward carter says: | 2007-04-11 11:36:50 |
| my wife did not suffer from rheumatoid arthritus or non hodgkins lymphoma.she had a form of multiplesclerosis called divets disease.she was given a treatment of rituxan.approximately 30 hrs.later she went into an uncontrolable scream and later became unconscious.she came out of it a couple months later but after about six weeks she went into another comma and later died.they said it was a progression of her illness which i know is not true. WARNING:DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICINE! | |
| J Adams says: | 2007-04-27 17:12:39 |
| My doctor wants me to take this but I\'m leery. I took remicade and had confusion, short term memory loss and other problems. Would like to chat with anyone who\'s used this with success. thx | |
| J Adams says: | 2007-04-27 17:13:00 |
| My doctor wants me to take this but I\'m leery. I took remicade and had confusion, short term memory loss and other problems. Would like to chat with anyone who\'s used this with success. thx | |
| Jack Adams says: | 2007-06-07 08:13:40 |
| My Little Woman was treated with Rituxan plus other Chemo drugs for CLL a form of NON FATAL Leukemia in late 2004 with a final follow up Chemo treatment in 2005. A total of 3 different Chemo drugs were used , Rituxan was the first in 2004. July 2006 she developed Jc virus leading to a diagnosis of PML by Sept. 2004.She was sent home , with no prognosis, no more info, we got our info from one of the doctors in the rehab unit the day before she was discharged, I also went to the web for info.Her attending Neuroloigist DID NOT inform us of the FATAL-ness of this disease.We went home SLIGHTLY DEVASTATED.Sought a form of treatment she responded to while in for treatment, has worked so far . She has lost complete use of Left arm,she was left handed,left leg does not function well,both feet are slightly numb,kind of like asleep,memory loss,menstral cycle completely stopped,has trmors in left shoulder ,left side,she is rendered completely disabled. Have contacted Attorneys, no one of them wants to do anything, I supposed becaused she didn\'t DIE=Wrongful Death, but is now DISABLED, will not be able to do 75 % of the things she could do before the PML. I personally feel she DESERVES some kind of compensation, she\'s 56 yrs. old and hopefully has more years ahead of her unfortunately she now has physical issues to deal with on a daily basis-non stop. | |
| OTIS says: | 2007-07-14 12:46:19 |
| DON\'T TAKE THIS DRUG. One of my closest friend\'s had large B-cell lymphoma. After one treatment with Rituxan she developed all the symptoms of PML. She then deteriorated in to a child-like state, coma and eventually died from a perforated stomach. Up until she took the rituxan she was fine. Don\'t trust this drug. | |
| Merissa says: | 2007-10-08 10:10:30 |
| My grandfather was recently treated with Rituxan for B-cell non-Hodgin\'s lymphoma. He\'s only undergone his first round of treatment and within the past few months his mental status has progressively declined. My heart is breaking for my family. | |
| Christopher Kelly says: | 2008-02-07 20:00:28 |
| Dear Jack Adams, What dope doctor told you that CLL is a non-fatal form of leukemia. CLL is terminal, although you might not die from the disease it self, you will most certainly die from adverse side effects from loss of immune system over a long period of time. Most patients die from pneumonia. | |
| RituxanSupporter says: | 2008-03-11 13:38:15 |
| I got this drug in 2005 for Chronic ITP. Rituxan put me into remission for years now with ZERO infusion problems and ZERO sideeffects. I asked my nurse during the infusions if she rememebered the medicine in the mixture because it felt like I was simply receiving normal saline. I am now diagnosed with Lupus, and I want Rituxan again. Lupus NEEDS medicine choices so badly, don\'t slow down the FDA from approving this drug for Lupus with your horror stories. Everything has risks, and while it is sad people have died from Rituxan...many many more are suffering and dying because of Lupus. We havnt had a new treatment in over 35 years :( Rituxan is hope to me. Without FDA approval, insurance will rarely ever approve and pay. | |
| Nicole says: | 2008-04-09 16:49:22 |
| I recieved my first treatment for rituxan uesterday. I had know idea that it could kill you! No one told me that. The only side effect I am having is a really bad head ache. Is that normal? | |
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Rituxan information on PML, side effects and off label use page updated on 1/18/2007.