How is bendamustine and rituximab administered?

Bendamustine + Rituximab is usually given in an outpatient infusion center, allowing the person to go home afterwards. On occasion, it may be given in the hospital if someone is too sick for outpatient treatment. Bendamustine + Rituximab is repeated every 28 days. This is known as one Cycle.

How is Rituxan dosed?

Administer RITUXAN as two-1,000 mg intravenous infusions separated by 2 weeks in combination with a tapering course of glucocorticoids. Administer RITUXAN as a 500 mg intravenous infusion at Month 12 and every 6 months thereafter or based on clinical evaluation.

How often is rituximab dosed?

Rituxan is typically given every 6 months, or based on your doctor’s evaluation of your symptoms. If your symptoms return before it’s time for your next course, you and your healthcare provider may decide to treat earlier (but no sooner than 4 months).

How often is rituximab given for lymphoma?

You usually have rituximab once every 3 or 4 weeks, although this varies depending on the type of lymphoma you have and any chemotherapy drugs you are having (if any). Most people have up to 8 cycles of treatment.

How long is bendamustine infusion?

For patients with indolent NHL, bendamustine is administered as a 60-minute IV infusion on days 1 and 2 of a 21-day cycle for up to 8 cycles. The recommended dose is 120 mg/m2. A patient’s dose of bendamustine is placed in a 500-mL infusion bag of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP (normal saline).

Is bendamustine chemotherapy or immunotherapy?

This drug is currently used for lymphoma and leukemia that does not respond to rituximab (Rituxan). Bendamustine is a chemotherapy drug. This type of treatment kills both cancer cells and healthy cells by damaging DNA. As a result, bendamustine treatment may lead to secondary cancers, which develop in 4% of patients.

How is rituximab infusion rate calculated?

Standard Infusion: Initiate infusion at a rate of 50 mg/hr. In the absence of infusion toxicity, increase infusion rate by 50 mg/hr increments every 30 minutes, to a maximum of 400 mg/hr. For Pediatric Patients with mature B-cell NHL/B-AL: Initiate infusion at a rate of 0.5 mg/kg/hr (maximum 50 mg/hr).

What is a cycle of rituximab?

Background: There is increasing evidence that a single cycle of rituximab (375 mg per square meter [corrected] of body surface area once weekly for 4 weeks) is efficacious in patients with severe pemphigus. The approved protocol in rheumatoid arthritis is 1 g on days 1 and 15.

How quickly does rituximab work on lymphoma?

Patients treated with Rituxan may notice an early response within 8 weeks of treatment, but this is generally transient and due to the glucocorticoid pre-medication given alongside the Rituxan infusion.

How long can you stay on Rituxan?

Rituxan can provide up to 6 months of symptom improvement from 1 course of treatment (2 infusions given 2 weeks apart). Be sure to talk with your doctor to find out if starting and continuing treatment with Rituxan is right for you.

Does bendamustine require a central line?

Each treatment takes between 30 and 60 minutes. You can have it through a thin short tube (a cannula) that goes into a vein in your arm each time you have treatment. You can also have it through a long line: a central line, a PICC line or a portacath.