Rixathon Dosage/Direction for Use

Rituximab should be administered under the close supervision of an experienced healthcare professional, and in an environment where full resuscitation facilities are immediately available (see Precautions).
Premedication and prophylactic medications: Premedication consisting of an anti-pyretic and an antihistaminic, e.g. paracetamol and diphenhydramine, should always be given before each administration of rituximab. In adult patients with NHL and CLL, premedication with glucocorticoids should be considered if rituximab is not given in combination with glucocorticoid-containing chemotherapy.
In paediatric patients with NHL, premedication with paracetamol and H1 antihistamine (=diphenhydramine or equivalent) should be administered 30 to 60 minutes before the start of the infusion of rituximab. In addition, prednisone should be given as indicated in Table 20.
Prophylaxis with adequate hydration and administration of uricostatics starting 48 hours prior to start of therapy is recommended for CLL patients to reduce the risk of tumour lysis syndrome. For CLL patients whose lymphocyte counts are >25 x 10⁹/L it is recommended to administer prednisone/prednisolone 100 mg intravenous shortly before infusion with rituximab to decrease the rate and severity of acute infusion reactions and/or cytokine release syndrome.
In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, GPA or MPA or PV, premedication with 100 mg intravenous methylprednisolone should be completed 30 minutes prior to each infusion of rituximab to decrease the incidence and severity of infusion related reactions (IRRs).
In adult patients with GPA or MPA, methylprednisolone given intravenously for 1 to 3 days at a dose of 1,000 mg per day is recommended prior to the first infusion of rituximab (the last dose of methylprednisolone may be given on the same day as the first infusion of rituximab). This should be followed by oral prednisone 1 mg/kg/day (not to exceed 80 mg/day, and tapered as rapidly as possible based on clinical need) during and after the 4 weeks induction course of rituximab treatment.
Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) prophylaxis is recommended for adult patients with GPA/MPA or PV during and following rituximab treatment, as appropriate according to local clinical practice guidelines.
Paediatric population: In paediatric patients with GPA or MPA, prior to the first rituximab IV infusion, methylprednisolone should be given intravenously for three daily doses of 30 mg/kg/day (not to exceed 1 g/day) to treat severe vasculitis symptoms. Up to three additional daily doses of 30 mg/kg intravenous methylprednisolone can be given prior to the first rituximab infusion.
Following completion of intravenous methylprednisolone administration, patients should receive oral prednisone 1 mg/kg/day (not to exceed 60 mg/day) and tapered as rapidly as possible per clinical need (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions).
PJP prophylaxis is recommended for paediatric patients with GPA or MPA during and following rituximab treatment, as appropriate.
Posology: It is important to check the medicinal product labels to ensure that the appropriate formulation is being given to the patient, as prescribed.
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL): Follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: Combination therapy: The recommended dose of rituximab in combination with chemotherapy for induction treatment of previously untreated or relapsed/refractory patients with follicular lymphoma is: 375 mg/m² body surface area per cycle, for up to 8 cycles.
Rituximab should be administered on day 1 of each chemotherapy cycle, after intravenous administration of the glucocorticoid component of the chemotherapy if applicable.
Maintenance therapy: Previously untreated follicular lymphoma: The recommended dose of rituximab used as a maintenance treatment for patients with previously untreated follicular lymphoma who have responded to induction treatment is: 375 mg/m² body surface area once every 2 months (starting 2 months after the last dose of induction therapy) until disease progression or for a maximum period of two years. (12 infusions in total.)
Relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma: The recommended dose of rituximab used as a maintenance treatment for patients with relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma who have responded to induction treatment is: 375 mg/m² body surface area once every 3 months (starting 3 months after the last dose of induction therapy) until disease progression or for a maximum period of two years. (8 infusions in total.)
Monotherapy: Relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma: The recommended dose of rituximab monotherapy used as induction treatment for adult patients with stage III-IV follicular lymphoma who are chemoresistant or are in their second or subsequent relapse after chemotherapy is: 375 mg/m² body surface area, administered as an intravenous infusion once weekly for four weeks.
For retreatment with rituximab monotherapy for patients who have responded to previous treatment with rituximab monotherapy for relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma, the recommended dose is: 375 mg/m² body surface area, administered as an intravenous infusion once weekly for four weeks (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions properties).
Adult Diffuse large B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: Rituximab should be used in combination with CHOP chemotherapy. The recommended dose is 375 mg/m² body surface area, administered on day 1 of each chemotherapy cycle for 8 cycles after intravenous infusion of the glucocorticoid component of CHOP. Safety and efficacy of rituximab have not been established in combination with other chemotherapies in diffuse large B cell NHL.
Dose adjustments during treatment: No dose reductions of rituximab are recommended. When rituximab is given in combination with chemotherapy, standard dose reductions for the chemotherapeutic medicinal products should be applied.
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL): The recommended dose of rituximab in combination with chemotherapy for previously untreated and relapsed/refractory patients is 375 mg/m² body surface area administered on day 0 of the first treatment cycle followed by 500 mg/m² body surface area administered on day 1 of each subsequent cycle for 6 cycles in total. The chemotherapy should be given after rituximab infusion.
Rheumatoid arthritis: Patients treated with rituximab must be given the patient alert card with each infusion.
A course of rituximab consists of two 1,000 mg intravenous infusions. The recommended dose of rituximab is 1,000 mg by intravenous infusion followed by a second 1,000 mg intravenous infusion two weeks later.
The need for further courses should be evaluated 24 weeks following the previous course. Retreatment should be given at that time if residual disease activity remains, otherwise retreatment should be delayed until disease activity returns.
Available data suggest that clinical response is usually achieved within 16 to 24 weeks of an initial treatment course. Continued therapy should be carefully reconsidered in patients who show no evidence of therapeutic benefit within this time period.
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA): Patients treated with rituximab must be given the patient alert card with each infusion.
Adult induction of remission: The recommended dose of rituximab for induction of remission therapy in adult patients with GPA and MPA is 375 mg/m² body surface area, administered as an intravenous infusion once weekly for 4 weeks (four infusions in total).
Adult maintenance treatment: Following induction of remission with rituximab, maintenance treatment in adult patients with GPA and MPA should be initiated no sooner than 16 weeks after the last rituximab infusion.
Following induction of remission with other standard of care immunosuppressants, rituximab maintenance treatment should be initiated during the 4 week period that follows disease remission.
Rituximab should be administered as two 500 mg IV infusions separated by two weeks, followed by a 500 mg intravenous infusion every 6 months thereafter. Patients should receive rituximab for at least 24 months after achievement of remission (absence of clinical signs and symptoms). For patients who may be at higher risk for relapse, physicians should consider a longer duration of rituximab maintenance therapy, up to 5 years.
Pemphigus vulgaris (PV): Patients treated with rituximab must be given the patient alert card with each infusion.
The recommended dose of rituximab for the treatment of PV is 1,000 mg administered as an intravenous infusion followed two weeks later by a second 1,000 mg intravenous infusion in combination with a tapering course of glucocorticoids.
Maintenance treatment: A maintenance infusion of 500 mg intravenously should be administered at months 12 and 18, and then every 6 months thereafter if needed, based on clinical evaluation.
Treatment of relapse: In the event of relapse, patients may receive 1,000 mg intravenously. The healthcare provider should also consider resuming or increasing the patient's glucocorticoid dose based on clinical evaluation.
Subsequent infusions may be administered no sooner than 16 weeks following the previous infusion.
Special populations: Paediatric population: Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL): In paediatric patients from ≥6 months to <18 years of age with previously untreated, advanced stage CD20 positive DLBCL/BL/BAL/BLL, rituximab should be used in combination with systemic Lymphome Malin B (LMB) chemotherapy (see Tables 20 and 21). The recommended dosage of rituximab is 375 mg/m² BSA, administered as an intravenous infusion. No rituximab dose adjustments, other than by BSA, are required.
The safety and efficacy of rituximab paediatric patients ≥6 months to <18 years of age has not been established in indications other than previously untreated advanced stage CD20 positive DLBCL/BL/BAL/BLL. Only limited data are available for patients under 3 years of age. See Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions for further information.
Rituximab should not be used in paediatric patients from birth to <6 months of age with CD20 positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions). (See Tables 20 and 21.)

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Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA): Induction of remission: The recommended dose of rituximab for induction of remission therapy in paediatric patients with severe, active GPA or MPA is 375 mg/m² BSA, administered as an intravenous infusion once weekly for 4 weeks.
The safety and efficacy of rituximab in paediatric patients (≥2 to <18 years of age) has not been established in indications other than severe, active GPA or MPA.
Rituximab should not be used in paediatric patients less than 2 years of age with severe, active GPA or MPA as there is a possibility of an inadequate immune response towards childhood vaccinations against common, vaccine preventable childhood diseases (e.g. measles, mumps, rubella, and poliomyelitis) (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Action).
Elderly: No dose adjustment is required in elderly patients (aged >65 years).
Method of administration: Rituximab is for intravenous use. The prepared rituximab solution should be administered as an intravenous infusion through a dedicated line. It should not be administered as an intravenous push or bolus.
Patients should be closely monitored for the onset of cytokine release syndrome (see Precautions). Patients who develop evidence of severe reactions, especially severe dyspnoea, bronchospasm or hypoxia should have the infusion interrupted immediately. Patients with NHL should then be evaluated for evidence of tumour lysis syndrome including appropriate laboratory tests and, for pulmonary infiltration, with a chest X-ray. In all patients, the infusion should not be restarted until complete resolution of all symptoms, and normalisation of laboratory values and chest X-ray findings. At this time, the infusion can be initially resumed at not more than one-half the previous rate. If the same severe adverse reactions occur for a second time, the decision to stop the treatment should be seriously considered on a case by case basis.
Mild or moderate infusion-related reactions (IRR) (see Adverse Reactions) usually respond to a reduction in the rate of infusion. The infusion rate may be increased upon improvement of symptoms.
First infusion: The recommended initial rate for infusion is 50 mg/h; after the first 30 minutes, it can be escalated in 50 mg/h increments every 30 minutes, to a maximum of 400 mg/h.
Subsequent infusions: All indications: Subsequent doses of rituximab can be infused at an initial rate of 100 mg/h, and increased by 100 mg/h increments at 30 minute intervals, to a maximum of 400 mg/h.
Paediatric patients - non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: First infusion: The recommended initial rate for infusion is 0.5 mg/kg/h (maximum 50 mg/h); it can be escalated by 0.5 mg/kg/h every 30 minutes if there is no hypersensitivity or infusion-related reactions, to a maximum of 400 mg/h.
Subsequent infusions: Subsequent doses of rituximab can be infused at an initial rate of 1 mg/kg/h (maximum 50 mg/h); it can be increased by 1 mg/kg/h every 30 minutes to a maximum of 400 mg/h.
Rheumatoid arthritis only: Alternative subsequent, faster, infusion schedule: If patients did not experience a serious infusion related reaction with their first or subsequent infusions of a dose of 1,000 mg rituximab administered over the standard infusion schedule, a more rapid infusion can be administered for second and subsequent infusions using the same concentration as in previous infusions (4 mg/mL in a 250 mL volume). Initiate at a rate of 250 mg/hour for the first 30 minutes and then 600 mg/hour for the next 90 minutes. If the more rapid infusion is tolerated, this infusion schedule can be used when administering subsequent infusions.
Patients who have clinically significant cardiovascular disease, including arrhythmias, or previous serious infusion reactions to any prior biologic therapy or to rituximab, should not be administered the more rapid infusion.