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’s used in adults to treat certain forms of:
The active ingredient in Gazyva is obinutuzumab. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) Gazyva belongs to a drug class (group of drugs) called monoclonal antibodies.
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 Gazyva dosing for each of its uses.
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?
Gazyva is available in one strength: 1,000 milligrams (mg) per 40 milliliter (mL) of solution (1,000 mg/40 mL).
What are the usual dosages of Gazyva?
Your Gazyva dosage depends on:
- the condition Gazyva is being used to treat
- side effects you experience
In certain cases, you may need a dose modification (adjustment), or you may need to receive your infusion more slowly. This depends on how your body reacts to the first Gazyva infusion you receive.
In most cases, your doctor will begin your treatment with the recommended dose of Gazyva. Then they may adjust your dosage slowly over time to reach the right amount for you. They’ll ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.
Dosage for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
For treating CLL, you will receive Gazyva in 28-day cycles.
For your first treatment cycle, your first Gazyva dose will be split into two infusions. The dose you receive on day 1 of your first cycle may also be called your test dose. This is a smaller dose that you’ll receive by IV infusion slowly over 4 hours. The test dose helps make sure that you won’t have any infusion-related reactions to the drug. You’ll receive the rest of your first dose on day 2 of treatment.
The chart below lists 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 |
How long your infusions last will depend on whether you have any infusion-related reactions. For more information, talk with your doctor.
Dosage for follicular lymphoma (FL)
For treating FL, your dosage depends on whether you’ve tried treatment for FL before.
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.
For this use, Gazyva is given as 28-day cycles, and you’ll receive six cycles. After this, if your cancer has improved or has not worsened, you may receive infusions alone (without Treanda) every 2 months for up to 2 years.
The chart below lists 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 monitor you closely while you receive Gazyva infusions, and they may adjust your infusion rate based on how your body reacts to the drug.
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 improved or has not worsened after you complete six or eight cycles, you’ll receive Gazyva doses without chemotherapy. For this use, you’ll receive Gazyva infusions every 2 months for up to 2 years.
See the chart below for details on Gazyva’s dosage for untreated 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 |
For FL that hasn’t been treated before, your doctor may prescribe Gazyva with other drugs. 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?
Yes, Gazyva may be used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Gazyva is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely use it long term.
Depending on how your body responds to treatment, you may receive Gazyva every 2 months for up to 2 years for FL.
For CLL, you’ll receive up to a total of 6 treatment cycles of Gazyva. Most people complete treatment in about 6 months.
Dosage adjustments
If you experience an infusion-related reaction from Gazyva, your doctor may slow the rate of your current or future infusions. Your doctor can tell you more about the infusion rate they’ll use for your Gazyva doses.
The dosage of Gazyva your doctor prescribes may depend on several factors. These include:
- the type of condition you’re using Gazyva to treat
- serious side effects you may experience
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).
Your first dose of Gazyva may take about 4 hours. Depending on how your body reacts to the infusion, your future doses may take less time.
To help prevent infusion-related reactions, your doctor may give you certain medications before you receive Gazyva. Examples of these drugs include:
- antihistamines, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
- corticosteroids, such as dexamethasone
- a fever reducer, such as Tylenol (acetaminophen)
Examples of infusion-related reactions include:
- itching or rash at the infusion site
- fever
- low or high blood pressure
- shortness of breath
- chest pain
If you have a reaction during the infusion, your doctor may slow the rate of your infusion. They may also pause or stop your infusion to treat your reaction.
For future doses, your doctor may slow the rate of your infusions. But if your reaction is serious or life threatening, they’ll end your Gazyva treatment.
It’s important to attend all your appointments to receive Gazyva infusions. If you miss an appointment, call your doctor’s office as soon as you remember. They can reschedule your missed appointment and adjust your future dosing schedule if needed.
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 sections above describe the usual dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Gazyva for you, they’ll prescribe the dosage that’s right for you.
If you have questions or concerns about your current dosage, talk with your doctor.
Here are some examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- Would I need a lower dose of Gazyva if I have a reaction to the infusion?
- Will I need a higher dose of Gazyva if the drug isn’t working for me?
- Do I need a different dosage of Gazyva if I’m also taking 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.
