What is Rituxirel 500mg injection?
Rituxirel 500 mg injection contains rituximab, given through an IV drip. Reliance Lifesciences makes this product. It belongs to a drug class called monoclonal antibodies. These are special type of antibodies created by humans using the lab-made proteins that target one specific marker on cells. Patients searching for this treatment sometimes look it up as Reditux 500 mg injection. Both names point to the same rituximab therapy.
Uses of this injection
Doctors use rituximab for certain blood cancers and some immune system disorders. It is not for general infections or minor illness.
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer of the lymph system
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia, a slow-growing blood cancer
- Rheumatoid arthritis that has not responded to other drugs
- Certain autoimmune conditions where the immune system attacks healthy tissue
This is given in a hospital or infusion center, never at home.
How does Rituxirel 500 mg injection work in the body?
Rituximab locks onto a marker called CD20, found on certain white blood cells called B-cells. Once it attaches, it flags those cells for the immune system to destroy. In cancers like lymphoma, the harmful B-cells multiply out of control. This drug clears them out. In autoimmune disease, the same B-cells produce antibodies that attack the body’s own tissue. Lowering their number calms the disease down. Healthy B-cells regrow over time after treatment ends.
Side Effects?
Most side effects show up during or right after the infusion. This happens because the body reacts to the protein entering the bloodstream.
- Fever and chills
- Nausea or feeling sick
- Headache
- Low blood pressure
- Skin rash or itching
- Tiredness for a day or two after the dose
- Serious infections, since the immune system is weaker for a while
Chest tightness, trouble breathing, or swelling of the face and throat during the infusion need urgent attention.
Who should not take Rituxirel 500 mg injection?
- People with an active infection that has spread through the body should wait until it clears
- Anyone with a known allergy to rituximab or any part of the injection
- Pregnant women, unless the doctor decides the benefit outweighs the risk
- People with weak hearts should be watched closely, since the infusion can affect blood pressure and heart rhythm
Tell your doctor about any past reaction to antibody-based drugs before starting.
How to store?
- Keep the vial in a fridge between 2 – 8°C. Do not freeze it.
- Keep it away from light and store it in its original carton until it’s time for the infusion.
- Heat exposure can damage the protein structure, so keep it cold-chain protected until it is ready for the usage.
Can the vial keep at room temperature for travel?
You must store this injection in refrigerator unless you are ready for its usage.
