Rituxan and pregnancy, breastfeeding, and birth control

Pregnancy and Rituxan

If you may be pregnant or can become pregnant, it’s important to consider whether Rituxan is a safe option for you.

Receiving Rituxan while you’re pregnant may harm a developing fetus. Rituxan can cause lymphocytopenia in a newborn. This refers to low levels of lymphocytes, which are white blood cells. These cells are a part of your immune system, and they help fight infection and disease. Low levels of lymphocytes can weaken an infant’s immune system and increase their chances of infections.

If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor before starting Rituxan treatment. They may recommend a different medication to treat your condition. If they prescribe the drug, they will monitor your newborn for signs of infection and suggest ways to treat any possible infections.

Breastfeeding and Rituxan

If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, it’s important to understand the effects that Rituxan could have on you or the breastfed child.

It’s not known whether Rituxan is safe to receive while breastfeeding. In animal studies, the drug passed into the breast milk of lactating animals. Because of this, do not breastfeed while receiving the drug. And do not breastfeed for at least 6 months after your last dose of Rituxan. This is to help avoid any potential side effects that may occur in breastfed children.

If you’re breastfeeding or are planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor before starting Rituxan treatment. They can advise you on the best ways to feed your child and the right treatment options for you.

Birth control and Rituxan

If you’re sexually active and you or your partner can become pregnant, it’s important to consider how Rituxan could affect your birth control options.

Rituxan can be harmful to a developing fetus. If you’re sexually active and you or your partner can become pregnant, talk with your doctor about your birth control needs while you’re receiving Rituxan.

Note: In this article, we use the terms “females” and “males” to refer to sex assigned at birth. For more information, see this article about the difference between sex and gender.

For females receiving Rituxan

Before starting treatment with Rituxan, your doctor will have you take a pregnancy test to check whether you’re pregnant. If you’re pregnant, your doctor likely won’t prescribe the drug. (For details, see the “Pregnancy and Rituxan”section.)

If you can become pregnant, use birth control while receiving Rituxan. And use it for at least 12 months after you complete your last dose of the medication.

For males receiving Rituxan

The manufacturer of Rituxan hasn’t provided any birth control recommendations for males who receive the medication. But if you’re male and receiving Rituxan and your sexual partner can become pregnant, talk with your doctor. They can review your birth control needs during and after your Rituxan treatment.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.