Rituxan
On December 18, the Food and Drug Administration alerted healthcare professionals about a risk of potentially deadly side effects found in people using the drug Rituxan. Rituxan is commonly seen as an off-label treatment for people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but recent reports discovered that a number of people developed what is called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a fatal viral infection that attacks the central nervous system. This condition may be go undetected for long periods of time, and may even be found in patients up to 12 months after the last Rituxan treatment.
Rituxan works on the immune system by decreasing the certain types of white blood cells, and has been effective in treating lymphoma and rheumatoid arthritis, but unfortunately it lowers the body's disease-fighting capabilities and increases the likelihood of infection. The drug is so dangerous it is only approved to treat non-Hodgkins's lymphoma and rheumatoid arthritis when other treatments have failed. Rituxan is not intended to treat SLE, but doctors prescribe it regardless, and experts speculate that over 10,000 people with SLE have received Rituxan at one point or another.
Since it was introduced in 1997, Rituxan has been associated with a 23 confirmed cases of PML with lymphoid malignancies during or after their treatment with the drug. In fact, the dangers of off-label prescriptions for Rituxan became so common, the label for the drug had to change in order to reflect the likelihood of serious complications caused by potentially fatal viral infections.
Possible early warning indications of PML include:
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Loss of balance
- Difficulty talking
- Difficulty walking
- Disruption of vision
It is particularly difficult to determine if these warning signs are in fact PML or are merely part of the diseases Rituxan is intended to treat.
If you or someone you know received Rituxan treatment and have suffered serious side effects, you need to consult our dedicated and experienced defective drug attorneys immediately. You could be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering, but if you hesitate the statute of limitations in your state could end your case before it has a chance to begin. Let us help you get the justice you deserve. Contact us today.
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