Compare Cimzia vs. Rituxan
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Calms the immune system and prevents joint damage.
Cimzia (certolizumab) effectively calms down your immune system, but you have to be comfortable receiving injections.
Calms down your immune system.
Rituxan (Rituximab) is effective for treating multiple types of cancer and arthritis. That said, you'll need to watch for possibly serious side effects, especially infusion reactions.
Upsides
- People taking Cimzia (certolizumab) for Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune conditions had greater clinical response compared to people who did not take Cimzia (certolizumab).
- Compared to some other drugs used to treat autoimmune conditions, Cimzia (certolizumab) has not been associated with as many harmful effects during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- You can give yourself Cimzia (certolizumab) on your own at home rather than visiting a clinic or hospital.
- After the initial dosing, you need to take Cimzia (certolizumab) every 4 weeks.
- Cimzia (certolizumab) has been on the market for almost 10 years.
- Treats leukemia, lymphoma, and blood vessel inflammation.
- Also treats moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis that hasn't responded to anti-TNF treatment (but you'll need to take methotrexate too).
- The chance of having a reaction to the infusion is highest during your first dose, but the risk decreases each time you get Rituxan (Rituximab). It usually happens within 30 minutes to 2 hours after starting the infusion.
- Rituxan (Rituximab) is a targeted therapy that works differently than chemotherapy. Both work well when they're taken together, especially when treating CLL and NHL.
Downsides
- Cimzia (certolizumab) lowers your ability to fight infection and in some cases can cause serious life-threatening illness. The risk is greater if you take other drugs that lower your immune system, have an active infection, or had tuberculosis (TB) in the past.
- Can in some cases cause bladder infections, rash and respiratory infections (cold or flu)
- In rare cases, Cimzia (certolizumab) has been associated with cancers in children and adolescents.
- Can increase your risk of side effects if you have a history of heart failure, nervous system conditions, or hepatitis B.
- There's no generic available and it can be expensive.
- Only your doctor or other trained medical staff can administer Rituxan (Rituximab), so you'll need to go into an office or clinic for every dose.
- Not the best choice if you have heart problems.
- Rituxan (Rituximab) can stay in your body for up to 6 months after you complete treatment. Men and women who are able to have children need to use birth control for up to one year after finishing Rituxan (Rituximab).
- Discuss with your doctor the serious heart, kidney, liver, or stomach problems that can happen while on Rituxan (Rituximab).
Used for
- Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
- Chronic lymphoid leukemia
- Rheumatoid arthritis (moderate to severe)
- Polyarteritis nodosa
- Granulomatosis with polyangiitis
- Hodgkin's disease
- Sjogren's syndrome
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (Lupus)
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
- B-cell lymphoma
- Mantle cell lymphoma
- Evans syndrome
- Graft versus host disease
- Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
- Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
- Minimal change disease
- Pemphigus vulgaris (severe)
- Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder
- Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia
Dosage forms
- Injection
- Infusion (IV)
Price
Lowest price
$4386.38
Find instant savings near youNo pricing information available
Want to save even more money?
Sign up now for a 30-day trial and save up to 95% at CVS, Kroger, Albertsons, and other pharmacies.
Learn more
Reviews
Not enough review data.Leave a review
Not enough review data.Leave a review
Side effects
4possible side effects
- Infections38%
- Upper airway infections20%
- Urinary tract infections7%
- Joint pain6%
4possible side effects
- Any infection62%
- Infusion reaction12%
- Any serious infection11%
- Cardiac side effect2%
Risks and risk factors
- Serious infections
- Taking other immunosuppressant medications such as methotrexate or steroids
- Age 65 or older
- Active, chronic, or recurrent infection
- Comorbidities
- Cancers
- Taking other immunosuppressant medications, such as azathiprine or 6-mercaptopurine, at the same time as Cimzia (certolizumab)
- History of malignancy
- Adolescent age
- Heart problems
- History of heart failure
- Serious allergic reactions
- Lower blood cell counts
- Nervous system effects
- Multiple sclerosis
- Guillain-Barre syndrome
- Serious allergic reactions
- Serious infections
- Taking other immunosuppressant drugs
- Age 60 or older
- Weak immune system
- Nervous system effects
- Taking Rituxan (Rituximab) with immunosuppressant drugs (if using for RA)
- Taking Rituxan (Rituximab) with chemotherapy (if using for NHL or CLL
- Stem cell transplant
- Skin and mouth reactions
- Kidney injury
- Taking Rituxan (Rituximab) for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL)
- Rapidly growing tumors
- Heart problems
- History of heart problems
- Drug interactions
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Start of therapy with Rituxan (Rituximab)
- Blood problems