Why am I being prescribed rituximab?
Rituximab is available for people with rheumatoid arthritis. It will only be prescribed if the arthritis is causing symptoms such as pain and stiffness and you have already tried standard drugs (including sulfasalazine, gold injections, methotrexate and the ‘anti-TNF’ drugs – adalimumab, etanercept and infliximab), or cannot use these. Rituximab is available only on prescription from a consultant rheumatologist. Rituximab will not be prescribed if: your rheumatoid arthritis is not causing trouble you have not tried standard treatments first (if suitable for you) you are pregnant or breastfeeding you have an infection. Your doctor may decide not to prescribe rituximab if: you get short of breath very easily your B-cell or antibody levels are low. Rituximab is also used for other diseases associated with autoantibodies, such as lupus. You are less likely to be given rituximab if you have seronegative rheumatoid arthritis (with no rheumatoid factor), because it may be less effective for t
