Medical Disclaimer: This tool is for educational purposes only. Always cross-verify calculations with institutional protocols and pharmacy labels. Never exceed the maximum recommended rate of 400 mg/hr.
Understanding Rituximab Titration Protocols
Rituximab (Rituxan) requires a strict titration schedule to monitor for infusion-related reactions (IRRs). The infusion rate is measured in milligrams per hour (mg/hr), but intravenous pumps require the input in milliliters per hour (mL/hr). This calculator converts the target mg/hr dose into the appropriate mL/hr pump setting based on your specific concentration.
Standard First Infusion Protocol
For the first administration, the standard protocol is usually as follows:
Time Interval
Rate (mg/hr)
Action
0 – 30 mins
50 mg/hr
Initial start
Every 30 mins
+50 mg/hr
Increase if tolerated
Maximum
400 mg/hr
Maximum ceiling
Subsequent Infusion Protocol
If the patient tolerated the first infusion well, subsequent doses can typically be administered faster:
Time Interval
Rate (mg/hr)
Action
0 – 30 mins
100 mg/hr
Initial start
Every 30 mins
+100 mg/hr
Increase if tolerated
Maximum
400 mg/hr
Maximum ceiling
How to use this calculator
Total Dose: Enter the total mg of Rituximab added to the bag (e.g., 375mg/m² calculation).
Total Volume: Enter the final volume of the IV bag (e.g., 250mL or 500mL).
Target Rate: Select the current titration step in mg/hr according to your protocol.
Result: The calculator provides the mL/hr value to be programmed into the infusion pump.
Example Calculation
If a patient is prescribed 700 mg of Rituximab in a 500 mL bag, and the protocol calls for a starting rate of 50 mg/hr:
Concentration = 700 mg / 500 mL = 1.4 mg/mL
Infusion Rate = 50 mg/hr / 1.4 mg/mL = 35.7 mL/hr
function calculateRituxRate() {
var dose = document.getElementById("totalDose").value;
var volume = document.getElementById("totalVolume").value;
var targetMgHr = document.getElementById("targetMgHr").value;
var doseNum = parseFloat(dose);
var volumeNum = parseFloat(volume);
var targetNum = parseFloat(targetMgHr);
if (isNaN(doseNum) || doseNum <= 0 || isNaN(volumeNum) || volumeNum <= 0) {
alert("Please enter valid positive numbers for Dose and Volume.");
return;
}
// Concentration (mg/mL) = Total Dose (mg) / Total Volume (mL)
var concentration = doseNum / volumeNum;
// Rate (mL/hr) = Desired Rate (mg/hr) / Concentration (mg/mL)
var mlHr = targetNum / concentration;
// Update the UI
document.getElementById("mlHrResult").innerHTML = mlHr.toFixed(1);
document.getElementById("concentrationResult").innerHTML = concentration.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("rituxResult").style.display = "block";
// Smooth scroll to result
document.getElementById("rituxResult").scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth', block: 'nearest' });
}