Be a part of the ITP community and stay informed.
Login to your account or REGISTER.

•  Web site Help & Info

Welcome, Guest
Username: Password: Remember me
Forgot your password? Forgot your username? Create an account
Forum
Adults With ITP
Treatment - General
Side effects Promacta be Rituxan
  • Page:
  • 1

TOPIC:

Side effects Promacta be Rituxan 4 months 2 weeks ago #72915

  • KellMichelle
  • Offline
  • Posts: 2
  • Thank you received: 0
Seeing my Doctor tomorrow. I can’t tolerate a high dose of steroids so it appears my choice of treatments will be between these two. Any side effects I should be aware of that may help me make a decision? Thank you in advance. 

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Side effects Promacta be Rituxan 4 months 2 weeks ago #72917

  • MelA
  • Offline
  • Posts: 1106
  • Karma: 2
  • Thank you received: 367
Not many of us could tolerate the high dose steroids - when I was diagnosed the only treatments were prednisone (I was given 60mg) or splenectomy.   I do sympathize with you!

Have you talked with your hematologist about the side effects of the 2 treatments being considered?

Good luck!
"Instead of wasting your time worrying about symptoms, just get it checked out" -Nieca Goldberg, MD

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Side effects Promacta be Rituxan 4 months 2 weeks ago #72919

  • CindyL
  • Offline
  • Posts: 1549
  • Karma: 1
  • Thank you received: 239
I have no experience with Promacta, but I did Rituxan in 2011 and haven't had any side effects since.  But you have to remember, we are all different.  Just because I didn't doesn't mean you won't.
Mel is right.  You should talk to your heama doc about the two medications.
Good luck.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Side effects Promacta be Rituxan 4 months 2 weeks ago #72924

  • KellMichelle
  • Offline
  • Posts: 2
  • Thank you received: 0

Not many of us could tolerate the high dose steroids - when I was diagnosed the only treatments were prednisone (I was given 60mg) or splenectomy.   I do sympathize with you!

Have you talked with your hematologist about the side effects of the 2 treatments being considered?

Good luck!

Yes, I’ve talked to her. She’s pushing Promacta, but I was looking for real world experience from someone who was taking them. 

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Side effects Promacta be Rituxan 4 months 2 weeks ago #72926

  • Margaret k
  • Offline
  • Posts: 172
  • Thank you received: 37
I've been on Promacta without a break for 7 years and have had no noticeable side effects. A trial before that with rituxan was ineffective and screwed up my immune system so much that I got necrotising gingivitis- not at all nice- so I would vote for Promacta. My count is now stable between 100 and 150 on  just 4x 25mg a  week.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Side effects Promacta be Rituxan 4 months 2 weeks ago #72930

  • midwest6708
  • Offline
  • ~ Janet ~ Diagnosed Sept. 2008
  • Posts: 402
  • Karma: 2
  • Thank you received: 92
I take Nplate, which works by the same mechanisms as Promacta. Five years ago, I took my doctor's recommendation to try Rituxan and had a terrible reaction to it that hospitalized me for six days and left me with a permanent balance disorder.  Not saying there's any high probability that would happen to you, but you can understand why my first choice would be one of the platelet booster drugs vs. one that destroys otherwise beneficial blood components. 

By now you’ve seen your doctor.  Have you made your choice? 

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Side effects Promacta be Rituxan 4 months 2 weeks ago #72932

  • mrsb04
  • Offline
  • ITP since 2014. Retired nurse. My belief is empower patients to be involved as much as possible in their care. Read, read, read & ALWAYS question medics about the evidence base they use.
  • Posts: 2116
  • Karma: 7
  • Thank you received: 608
Promacta has dietary restrictions but these can be got round fairly easily.
It can take a while to work.
Side effects I experienced in no particular order, crazy dreams,  poor sleep pattern, coughing, sneezing, aches and pains all over, bowels on overtime up to 7 times day. All dose related; the higher the dose the worse the side effects. 

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
  • Page:
  • 1
Forum
Adults With ITP
Treatment - General
Side effects Promacta be Rituxan

Charity NavigatorGuideStar Seal NORD Member BadgeTHSNA logo