You and your health

Whether you've just been diagnosed with Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA) or Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA) or you've been living with either one of these diseases for a while, you know how frustrating and confusing living with a chronic disease can be at times. While there is currently no cure, there are treatments available to help you control these diseases.

Along your journey, you may see many different types of doctors to manage the different parts of your body that are affected by your disease. It can seem overwhelming at times. How can you keep all of these doctors on the same page? Well, it's important that you take an active role in making sure that your doctors are talking with each other and coordinating treatment plans.

Here are some tips to help you:

  • Keep a detailed list that includes doctors' contact information
  • Create an ongoing dialogue with your doctors
  • Take notes at each doctor appointment and share the information with your other specialists
  • Alert your doctors of any new symptoms you may be experiencing or if your symptoms have changed in any way
  • Be sure to ask questions if you don't understand something

These are just a few tips. To learn more about how you can be your own advocate and talk with your doctor about your disease and treatment options, click on the links below.

Being Your Own Health Advocate
Learn how to have the greatest impact on managing your disease.

Talking With Your Doctor
See if Rituxan may be the right treatment to help you control disease.

WHAT IS RITUXAN?

Rituxan® (rituximab) is used with glucocorticoids to treat adults with Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA) (Wegener's Granulomatosis) and Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA).

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Rituxan therapy can result in serious side effects, some of which can be life threatening. These include:

  • infusion reactions
  • tumor lysis syndrome (TLS)
  • severe skin and mouth reactions
  • progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML)

Other serious, potentially life-threatening side effects are:

  • hepatitis B infection that may become active again
  • serious infections
  • heart problems
  • low blood cell counts

Common side effects include infections and infusion reactions.

Before treatment with Rituxan, patients should tell their doctor if they have an infection, including one that will not go away or that keeps coming back.

If patients experience any symptoms or side effects during or after Rituxan treatment, they should seek immediate medical attention.

These are not all of the possible side effects with Rituxan. Tell your doctor about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Please see full prescribing information, including Medication Guide.

If you have any questions about this information, be sure to discuss them with your doctor.