Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan)

**J@$0N** · 10-06-2021, 11:12 PM

How was your blood work, like your CRP, ANCA, and PR3?

**jrslim** · 02-17-2022, 02:40 PM

Thanks for all the great stuff.

They are starting me on Cytoxan. I did Ritux and it helped a little, but not really. My big issue is my eye (uveitis) and the pred and rituxan did not reduce the inflammation, so Cytoxan is the next great adventure.

Did anybody here get the nausea and vomitting or any other short term side effects for that matter? Don't want to miss work if I don't have to.

Thank you again!

**Pete** · 02-17-2022, 03:32 PM

@jrslim

While you’re on cytoxan, be sure to stay hydrated and urinate whenever you feel the urge. The metabolites of cytoxan are hard on the bladder. A longer-term side effect is bladder cancer. You may want your doc to give you a standing order for a urinalysis with microscopy to give you peace of mind about this.

Cytoxan is faster acting than rituximab and will get the disease under control more quickly. Once that happens, rituximab is a better choice (among others) to keep you in remission.

**jrslim** · 03-02-2022, 10:24 AM

Thanks Pete! You have lots of great stuff on here.

**jrslim** · 05-17-2022, 09:58 AM

Hello Everyone,

I've had 3 infusions of cyotoxan and progress on my GPA isn't what my rheumy would like to see, so she is considering putting me on the oral version. I would love to hear more about strengths and weaknesses of this approach. My rheumy says I'll take regular doses every day and while it will hit the GPA harder and more consistently then my monthly infusions, it will have more intense side effects. Would love to hear about your experiences.

More about me:
- I'm currently on 15 mg of pred daily
- My main symptom is inflamed sclera of my right eye. I go get runny noses from time to time
- The pred and the cyotoxan do a good job of controlling the symptoms, but the eye is healing very slowly
- My side effects from cyotoxan have been tiredness for 2-3 days, a bit of nausea, a slightly reduced immunity, nothing that has kept me from living my life.
- Being treated by UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) doctors. Great job by them.

Thank you in advance. Y'all have a great day!

**Wegetarian** · 09-06-2022, 06:53 AM

Originally Posted by jrslim

Did anybody here get the nausea and vomitting or any other short term side effects for that matter? Don't want to miss work if I don't have to.

When I had CTX infusions they would give me pills for the nausea, and a couple of pill to take home for the next time. Once they forgot to give pills home, and I was feelign quite nauseous for the next day.

To my understanding they no loger give it at all in the pill form in my country. Hopefully you'll be able to swith soon to another med.

BTW, one of the nurses suggested I'd flush the toilet twice after urinating after an infusions, as she said its quite possible that some of the CTX could vaporize into the air, which wouldn't be that great as I ahd young children at home. Haven't heard that elsewhere tough, but maybe its not a bad idea anyway.

**jmq** · 02-18-2022, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by jrslim

Thanks for all the great stuff.

They are starting me on Cytoxan. I did Ritux and it helped a little, but not really. My big issue is my eye (uveitis) and the pred and rituxan did not reduce the inflammation, so Cytoxan is the next great adventure.

Did anybody here get the nausea and vomitting or any other short term side effects for that matter? Don't want to miss work if I don't have to.

Thank you again!

I did not get any nausea or vomitting side effects from Cytoxan. Just lots of hair loss.
Agree with Pete, make sure you measure your water intake and take lots of water. I took Cytoxan because they had to act quickly and I didn't have the time required for RTX to work.

Hope the treatment goes well!

Jeannette