Eltrombopag Promacta vs Rituxan/Dexamethasone

My daughter was given two different treatment options today. First is the combination of rituxan/dexamethasone over a 32 day period and the second is Eltrombopag Promacta while participating in a study. Can anyone provide feedback on either? If one doesn't work ,can she would try the other. We are debating which to do first.

Have you checked to see if insurance will cover Rituxan?

WAs told that it shouldn't be a problem.

Your hematologist's office should contact the insurance company and get it approved before any infusion! Never start an expensive treatment unless you know it is going to be covered!

My hematologist's office called my insurance company while I was there in the exam room when I had crashed to make sure it covered WinRho - after the call and the approval then WinRho was scheduled.

Do not trust "it shouldn't be a problem"

Emma; There is no best answer on which to try first. But there are several current posts on this site that Rituxan has been moderately to toally successful with some participants, and not others. My experience with Rituxan was partially successful on the first go-around and a total failure on a subsequent re-treatment. I am on the verge of restarting promacta (after a unrelated medical setback) but the first two weeks were beyoud expectation. So for you, it could be an occasional Rituxan treatment or a daily Promacta.

Emma, As you know, not all treatments will work the same for everyone. I have had a somewhat decent response to rituxan. My doctor also has me starting the promacta again. For myself, it seems that I ended up getting more infections when I was on methotrexate and promacta combined. More sick than when I was on methotrexate, prednisone, and rituxan at the same time. Go figure. In my treatments, it seemed that the rituxan worked faster, but you also feel the side effects stronger than the promacta. Takes a little longer for the promacta kick in.

I had no success with Rituxin. I just started Promacta. I'm anxious to see what my platelets are on Friday.