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You may already be infected with hepatitis B (a virus that infects the liver and may cause severe liver damage) but not have any symptoms of the disease. In this case, obinutuzumab injection may increase the risk that your infection will become more serious or life-threatening and you will develop symptoms. Tell your doctor if you have or ever had hepatitis B virus infection. Your doctor will order a blood test to see if you have an inactive hepatitis B virus infection. If necessary, your doctor may give you medication to treat this infection. Your doctor will also monitor you for signs of hepatitis B infection during and for several months after your treatment with obinutuzumab. If you experience any of the following symptoms during or after your treatment, call your doctor immediately: excessive tiredness, yellowing of the skin or eyes, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, stomach pain, or dark urine.
Some people who received obinutuzumab developed progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML; a rare infection of the brain that cannot be treated, prevented, or cured and that usually causes death or severe disability) during their treatment. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: new or sudden changes in thinking or confusion, dizziness, loss of balance, difficulty talking or walking, new or sudden changes in vision, or any other unusual symptoms that develop suddenly.
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain tests to check your body's response to obinutuzumab injection.
Talk to your doctor about the risks of receiving obinutuzumab injection.
WHY is this medicine prescribed?
Obinutuzumab injection is to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL; a type of cancer of the white blood cells), follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL; a slow-growing blood cancer), and lupus nephritis (a disease in which the immune system attacks the kidneys). Obinutuzumab injection is in a class of medications called monoclonal antibodies. It treats CLL and NHL by killing cancer cells. It treats lupus nephritis by blocking the action of certain immune cells that may cause kidney damage.
HOW should this medicine be used?
Obinutuzumab injection comes as a solution (liquid) to be slowly injected intravenously (into a vein) by a doctor or nurse in a medical office or hospital. Your doctor will tell you how often you will receive obinutuzumab injection. The schedule depends on the condition you have and on how your body responds to the medication.
Obinutuzumab injection may cause a severe reaction during or shortly after the infusion of the medication. Your doctor will give you other medications before each infusion to prevent certain side effects. A doctor or nurse will watch you carefully while you are receiving the medication. If you experience any of the following symptoms, tell your doctor immediately: dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, fast heartbeat, chest pain, difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, diarrhea, sudden reddening of the face, neck, or upper chest, rash, hives, headache, chills, and fever.
Your doctor may need to delay or stop your treatment, or treat you with additional medications if you experience certain side effects. Talk to your doctor about how you are feeling during your treatment with obinutuzumab injection.
Are there OTHER USES for this medication?
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
What SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS should I follow?
Before receiving obinutuzumab injection,
What SPECIAL DIETARY instructions should I follow?
Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.
What should I do IF I FORGET to take a dose?
If you miss an appointment to receive obinutuzumab, call your doctor right away.
What SIDE EFFECTS can this medicine cause?
Obinutuzumab injection may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if this symptom is severe or does not go away:
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING or HOW section, call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:
Obinutuzumab injection may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while receiving this medication.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).
What should I do in case of OVERDOSE?
In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at http://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.
What OTHER INFORMATION should I know?
Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about obinutuzumab injection.
Keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines, vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements you are taking. Bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to the hospital. You should carry the list with you in case of emergencies.
This report on medications is for your information only, and is not considered individual patient advice. Because of the changing nature of drug information, please consult your physician or pharmacist about specific clinical use.
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. represents that the information provided hereunder was formulated with a reasonable standard of care, and in conformity with professional standards in the field. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, any implied warranty of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose, with respect to such information and specifically disclaims all such warranties. Users are advised that decisions regarding drug therapy are complex medical decisions requiring the independent, informed decision of an appropriate health care professional, and the information is provided for informational purposes only. The entire monograph for a drug should be reviewed for a thorough understanding of the drug's actions, uses and side effects. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. does not endorse or recommend the use of any drug. The information is not a substitute for medical care.
AHFS® Patient Medication Information™ Copyright, 2025. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists®, 4500 East-West Highway, Suite 900, Bethesda, Maryland. All Rights Reserved. Duplication for commercial use must be authorized by ASHP.
Selected Revisions: December 15, 2025.