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Rituxan vs. Hadlima

Are Rituxan and Hadlima the Same Thing?

Rituxan (rituximab) and Hadlima (adalimumab-bwwd) are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Rituxan is also used in combination with other cancer medicines to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Hadlima is also used to treat juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), adult Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), and plaque psoriasis (Ps).

Rituxan and Hadlima belong to different drug classes. Rituxan is a type of cancer medication called a monoclonal antibody and Hadlima is a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker.

Hadlima is biosimilar to Humira (adalimumab).

Side effects of Rituxan and Hadlima that are similar include headache.

Side effects of Rituxan that are different from Hadlima include fever, chills, stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, heartburn, flushing, night sweats, weakness, muscle or joint pain, back pain, and dizziness.

Side effects of Hadlima that are different from Rituxan include infections (e.g. upper respiratory tract, sinusitis), injection site reactions (redness, itching, bleeding, pain, and swelling), and rash.

Both Hadlima and Rituxan may interact with cyclosporine and live vaccines.

Rituxan may also interact with cisplatin, auranofin, azathioprine, leflunomide, minocycline, sulfasalazine, blood pressure medications, medications to treat malaria, and other medicines to treat rheumatoid arthritis (adalimumab, certolizumab, etanercept, golimumab, infliximab, leflunomide, and sulfasalazine).

Hadlima may also interact with abatacept, anakinra, warfarin, and theophylline.

What Are Possible Side Effects of Rituxan?

Side effects of Rituxan include:

  • headache,
  • fever,
  • chills,
  • stomach pain,
  • nausea,
  • diarrhea,
  • heartburn,
  • flushing,
  • night sweats,
  • weakness,
  • muscle or joint pain,
  • back pain, or
  • dizziness.

Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of Rituxan including:

  • increased thirst or urination,
  • swelling of the hands or feet, or
  • tingling of the hands or feet.

What Are Possible Side Effects of Hadlima?

Common side effects of Hadlima include:

  • infections (e.g. upper respiratory tract, sinusitis),
  • injection site reactions (redness, itching, bleeding, pain, and swelling),
  • headache, and
  • rash

What Is Rituxan?

Rituxan (rituximab) is a cancer medication used in combination with other cancer medicines to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Rituxan is also used in combination with another drug called methotrexate to treat symptoms of adult rheumatoid arthritis.

What Is Hadlima?

Hadlima (adalimumab-bwwd) is a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker indicated for treatment of rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), adult Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), and plaque psoriasis (Ps). Hadlima is biosimilar to Rituxan (adalimumab).

 

What Drugs Interact With Rituxan?

Rituxan may interact with cisplatin, adalimumab, auranofin, azathioprine, cyclosporine, etanercept, infliximab, leflunomide, minocycline, sulfasalazine, blood pressure medications, or medication to treat malaria.

What Drugs Interact With Hadlima?

Hadlima may interact with abatacept, anakinra, warfarin, cyclosporine, theophylline, and live vaccines.

 

How Should Rituxan Be Taken?

Rituxan is administered under a physician's supervision. The dose of Rituxan varies depending on the disorder being treated and the number of infusions (doses) needed.

How Should Hadlima Be Taken?

The dose of Rituxan to treat adult rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis is 50 mg once weekly with or without methotrexate (MTX). The dose of Rituxan to treat ankylosing spondylitis is 50 mg once weekly. The dose of Rituxan to treat adult plaque psoriasis is 50 mg twice weekly for 3 months, followed by 50 mg once weekly. The dose of Rituxan to treat pediatric plaque psoriasis or plaque psoriasis (patients who weigh 63 kg or more) is 50 mg once weekly.