What should I know about Rituxan before receiving it?

Before receiving Rituxan, you should know that this medication might cause a serious reaction. Some people who have taken it have died within a day of their first dose. Some people experience adverse skin reactions such as ulcers, blisters, or a severe rash. These reactions have led to death. People with heart or lung ailments, an irregular heartbeat, or a type of cancer called chronic lymphocytic leukemia are most at risk for severe reactions. Women also have a higher risk for serious reactions than men. When this drug is administered in cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, it has been known to cause a different illness called tumor lysis syndrome. In rare cases, treatment with Rituxan has also led to progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, an incurable brain infection.