Emtux 500mg Injection
Description
Emtux 500mg injection contains the active constituent rituximab. It is used for several different disease conditions in adults.
Uses
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (cancer affecting white blood cells called B-lymphocytes)
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (a common form of cancer that affects B-cells)
- Rheumatoid arthritis (a type of disease where the immune system attacks the leukapheresis body cells of its own joints) in combination with methotrexate in adults
- Granulomatosis with polyangiitis or microscopic polyangiitis (inflammation of blood vessels that mainly affects the lungs and kidneys) in adults and children 2 years of age and older
- Pemphigus vulgaris (an autoimmune condition that causes painful blisters on the skin and lining of the mouth, throat, nose, and genitals)
Therapeutic Effects
Emtux 500mg injection is a monoclonal antibody that targets the antigen CD20 expressed on the cell surface of B-lymphocytes. It induces cell death in NHL and CLL, blocks cell activation and growth, and causes anticancer effects. It inhibits rheumatoid factor production, antigen presentation, T-cell activation, and proinflammatory cytokine production in rheumatoid arthritis.
Interaction with Other Drugs
Inform your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, nutritional and vitamin supplements, and herbal products. Certain medications may interact with Emtux 500mg injection and reduce its effectiveness by causing undesirable side effects.
Safety Advice
- Pregnancy: Emtux 500mg injection is unsafe to administer in pregnant women because it may affect the fetus.
- Breastfeeding: Breastfeeding is not recommended in patients taking Emtux 500mg injection because the medicine passes into the breast milk in small amounts and may harm your baby.
- Lungs: It is unknown whether Emtux 500mg injection can be used in patients with lung disorders. Consult your doctor if you have any lung diseases before starting the treatment.
- Liver: Whether Emtux 500mg injection can be used in patients with liver impairment is unknown. Consult your doctor if you have or ever had liver disease or hepatitis B infection before starting the treatment.
- Alcohol: Consuming alcohol may affect the effectiveness of Emtux 500mg injection. Stop consuming alcohol if you are taking this medicine.
- Driving: Caution is required while driving and operating machinery when you take Emtux 500mg injection because it may cause dizziness, sleepiness, tiredness, and risk of falling.
Side Effects
- Common: swelling in the face and body, diarrhea and nausea, itchy skin, anemia, muscle spasm, headache, urinary tract infection, fever, chills, and shivering, inflammation of nasal cavities, cough, sore throat, loss of hair.
- Serious: increased or decreased blood pressure, chest pain, hypersensitivity reactions, hepatitis B viral infection, memory loss, trouble thinking, difficulty in walking.
FAQs
What are the special precautions I should be aware of before starting treatment with Emtux 500mg injection?
- Inform your doctor about your pre-existing conditions (heart, kidney, liver, hepatitis B, or lung disease) and vaccination history. It is necessary to consult a doctor if you are taking medicines for blood pressure.
What are Emtux 500mg infusion-related reactions?
- Infusion reactions occur during or within 24 hours after administering Emtux 500mg injection. The symptoms are fever, chills, cough, itchy skin, nausea, vomiting, flushing, increased heart rate, and discomfort in the throat. Inform your physician immediately if you face any infusion-related reaction.
What will be the most important thing to monitor during Emtux 500mg injection?
- Your healthcare professional will monitor you carefully for unwanted side effects during the Emtux 500mg injection. You will be monitored for heart failure, increased blood pressure, or breathing failure.
Is weight gain a side effect of Emtux 500mg injection?
- Weight gain has been reported in patients treated with Emtux 500mg injection for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Does Emtux 500mg injection suppress the immune system?
- Yes, Emtux 500mg injection can suppress the immune system, and the chances of catching an infection are high. Inform your doctor if you have a severe active infection before taking Emtux 500mg injection because it may cause drug-induced immunosuppression.
Fact Box
- Molecule name: Rituximab
- Therapeutic class: Antineoplastics, DMARDs
- Pharmacological class: Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies
- Indications: Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis or microscopic polyangiitis, pemphigus vulgaris