If you have a certain kind of blood cancer, your doctor might suggest Gazyva as a treatment option for you.

Gazyva is a prescription medication that is used to treat certain forms of arthritis.

The active ingredient in the drug is nutobiuzumab. An active ingredient is what makes a drug work. Monoclonal antibodies are a drug class that includes Gazyva.

Gazyva is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion (an injection into a vein over a period of time). You’ll receive doses at your doctor’s office or another healthcare facility (such as an infusion clinic).

This article describes the dosage and administration of Gazyva, as well as its strength and form. To learn more about Gazyva, see this in-depth article.

Note: This article covers Gazyva’s usual dosages, which are provided by the drug’s manufacturer. But your doctor will prescribe the Gazyva dosage that’s right for you.

The information below explains how Gazyva works.

What is Gazyva’s form?

Gazyva comes as a liquid solution that’s given as an intravenous (IV) infusion (an injection into a vein over a period of time). You’ll receive doses at your doctor’s office or another healthcare facility (such as an infusion clinic).

What strength does Gazyva come in?

One strength of Gazyva is 1,000 milligrams per 40 liters of solution.

What are the usual dosages of Gazyva?

Your Gazyva dosage can be different.

  • The condition is called Gazyva.
  • You experience side effects.

You may need to adjust your dose or receive your injection more slowly. The first Gazyva infusion you receive will affect how you react.

Your doctor will give you a recommended dose of Gazyva. They may adjust your dose slowly over time. They will prescribe the smallest dose that will provide the desired effect.

Dosage for There is chronic lymphocytic leukemia. (CLL)

You will receive Gazyva for treating CLL.

“Your first Gazyva dose will be split into two separate treatments. The first day of your first cycle may be called your test dose. You will receive a small dose by IV over 4 hours. The test dose helps make sure that you don’t have any reactions to the drug. On the second day of treatment, you will receive the rest of your first dose.”

The chart shows the dosage for CLL.

Cycle/Day Dose
Cycle 1, Day 1 100 mg (smaller test dose)
Cycle 1, Day 2 900 mg
Cycle 1, Day 8 1,000 mg
Cycle 1, Day 15 1,000 mg
Cycle 2 through 6, Day 1 1,000 mg

If you have any reactions to the infusions, how long will they last? Talk to your doctor about the information.

Dosage for There is a type of cancer called follicular lymphoma. (FL)

If you have tried treatment before for FL, your dosage will depend on that.

Dosage for relapsed or refractory FL.

To treat FL that has relapsed (returned or worsened after treatment) or is refractory (didn’t respond to treatment), you’ll use Gazyva with Treanda (bendamustine). You’ll only receive this treatment if you’ve used another drug called Rituxan (rituximab) before and your FL came back or got worse.

You will receive six cycles for this use. If your cancer has not worsened, you may receive a single infusions every 2 months for up to 2 years.

The chart shows the Gazyva dosage for relapsed or refractory FL.

Cycle/Day Dose
Cycle 1, Day 1 1,000 mg
Cycle 1, Day 8, Day 15 1,000 mg
Cycle 2 through 6, Day 1 1,000 mg
Gazyva used alone every 2 months for up to 2 years 1,000 mg

Your doctor will keep a close eye on you while you receive the Gazyva infusions, and they may adjust the rate of the drug if you have a bad reaction.

Untreated stage 2 bulky, stage 3, or stage 4 FL

For stage 2 bulky, stage 3, or stage 4 FL that hasn’t been treated before, you may receive Gazyva with chemotherapy drugs for six or eight treatment cycles. Each cycle may last 21 days or 28 days.

If your cancer has not worsened after six or eight cycles, you will receive Gazyva doses without the use of drugs. You will receive Gazyva infusions every 2 months for up to 2 years.

The chart below shows the dosage for FL.

Cycle/Day Dose
Cycle 1, Day 1 1,000 mg
Cycle 1, Day 8 and Day 15 1,000 mg
Cycle 2 through 6 (or Cycle 2 through 8), Day 1 1,000 mg
Gazyva alone every 2 months for up to 2 years 1,000 mg

If FL has not been treated before, your doctor may prescribe Gazyva. These may include:

  • Treanda (bendamustine). Your Gazyva dosage will be 1,000 mg given in six treatment cycles. Each cycle is 28 days.
  • Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide), doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone. Your Gazyva dosage will be 1,000 mg given in six treatment cycles. Each cycle lasts 21 days. Then you’ll receive another two cycles of Gazyva infusions without the other drugs.
  • Cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone. Your dosage of Gazyva will be 1,000 mg given in eight cycles. Each cycle is 21 days.

Is Gazyva used long term?

Gazyva may be used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Gazyva is safe and effective for you, you will likely use it for a long time.

Depending on how your body responds to treatment, you may receive Gazyva every 2 months for up to 2 years.

You will receive up to 6 treatment cycles of Gazyva. Most people finish treatment in 6 months.

Dosage adjustments

If you experience an reaction to an injection, your doctor may slow the rate of your next injection. Your doctor can tell you the rate of the Gazyva injections.

The doctor may prescribe a different amount of Gazyva. These include:

  • The type of condition you are treating.
  • You may experience serious side effects.

Gazyva is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion (an injection into a vein over a period of time). You’ll receive doses at your doctor’s office or another healthcare facility (such as an infusion clinic).

The first dose of Gazyva may take 4 hours. Future doses may take less time if your body reacts to the injection in a certain way.

Before you receive Gazyva, your doctor may give you certain medications to help prevent reactions. These drugs can be examples.

There are examples of reactions related to the infusion.

Your doctor may slow the rate of your infusion if you have a reaction during the injection. They may stop your infusion to treat your reaction.

Your doctor may slow the rate of your infusions for future doses. If you have a serious reaction, they will end your treatment.

It is important to attend all your appointments. If you miss an appointment, call your doctor. If you missed an appointment, they can change your schedule.

If you need help remembering your appointments for your doses of Gazyva, you might try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or downloading a reminder app on your phone.

The dosages provided by the drug manufacturer are described in the sections above. If your doctor recommends Gazyva, they will prescribe the correct amount.

If you have questions about your current dose, talk to your doctor.

Some questions you may want to ask your doctor.

  • Is it necessary for me to have a lower dose of Gazyva?
  • “Will I need a higher dose of Gazyva if it isn’t working for me?”
  • Is it necessary to change the dosage of Gazyva if I also take other medications?

Disclaimer: Healthline 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.