How safe is the asthma Xolair or Omalizumab injection? Which you have done every 3 weeks in hospital.

[becky3344]

Hello everyone.

I would like to hear from people of their experiences if they went on this injection treatment.

I am unsure if i want to take this medicine. With the list of possible side effects, and more serious side effects.

I had a bad asthma flare up early on in the year. I saw the Respiratory Clinic 2 days ago, and he has offered me the asthma injection, which you have to go to hospital to have it done every 3 weeks.

I asked him about side effects. He said there are some rare ones. But he didn't spell out what any of the possible side effects are.

I went home and googled it. And i saw Xolair or Omalizumab side effects can be:

Common Xolair side effects may include:

1 itching, mild rash;

2 joint pain, bone fractures;

3 arm or leg pain;

4 nausea;

5 dizziness, tired feeling;

6 ear pain; or.

7 cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sinus pain, cough, sore throat.

But serious side effects can include:

1. Anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening,

2. Slightly higher risk of heart and brain blood vessel problems, such as mini-strokes, heart attacks, chest pain, high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs and blood clots.

Becky

[Jenzzie18]

I have xolair every two weeks. I do have to carry epipens just incase of a reaction. They have really helped one part of my asthma. By no means have they solved all my issues and still have really severe attacks but I can now tolerate some of my allergies which is great. As for side effects. I have had a few but nothing really major. They make me really tired for a while after and occasionally they make me itch lots. That’s about it though.

Hope this helps. X

[becky3344 in reply to Jenzzie18]

Thank you Jenzzie. Hearing your experience talking about how it was for you, does help.

Did you have any reservations about going on it? x

[Jenzzie18 in reply to becky3344]

Evening.

I didn’t really no as my asthma was causing me so much grief that my theory was I was willing to try anything as it had to be better than what was going on. I was a little worried when they handed me two epipens as I hadn’t realised that it entailed that and could be that serious. However having been on them since February I am now a little more relaxed about it all and know the signs of a mild reaction and one that is a little more serious. Never had a major reaction. Xxx

[becky3344 in reply to Jenzzie18]

HI Jenzzie. Thanks for your reply.

That's good that you haven't had any bad side effects.

Do you have allergic asthma?

My asthma isn't as bad at the moment, so think i will postpone it for the moment. The side effects do worry me, i don't want to increase my chance of getting cancer or blood clots or heart attacks. If my asthma got bad again i may think twice.

[Jenzzie18 in reply to becky3344]

I do have allergic asthma but mine is also triggered by viruses and stress too. Xx Hope your well. X

[becky3344 in reply to Jenzzie18]

Yes my asthma can be triggered by viruses, and stress abit. I try not to get stressed.... But not always easy. Are you well at the moment?

[Jenzzie18 in reply to becky3344]

I’m not too bad. My breathing is varying massively during the day. Hoping to keep on top of it as I’m off to New York on Sunday. Hope your well. X

[becky3344 in reply to Jenzzie18]

Have you tried lots of inhalers in your time? Have you ever been on DuoResp Spiromax? A dry inhaler. I really disliked the taste of it, to start with. But i can't taste it now for some reason. I notice my peak flow has gone up about 60/80L/min ISO from using it for only 2 weeks. Almost instantly.

I used to have a friend in New jersey/ Wee Hawken just through the Lincoln tunnel from manhatten. I used to visit him once a year.

Have you been before,

[Jenzzie18 in reply to becky3344]

I have been through most types of inhaler yes. That sounds like one I have at the moment. Are you in the uk? As I wonder if they are called different things in the uk to the USA. I’m currently on relvar 180 Elipta. To be honest I take so much I’m unsure as to what is most effective any more. X

[angievere]

My son started Xolair as a teenager about 3 years ago. They made such a difference. He feels a bit tired after the injections but no other side effects. If your doctor has offered it you should go for it. Good luck.

[becky3344 in reply to angievere]

Hi angievere. Thanks for replying. That's good that Xolair helped you teenager and it helped alot.

My asthma isn't as bad at the moment, so think i will postpone it for the moment. The side effects do worry me, i don't want to increase my chance of getting cancer or blood clots or heart attacks. If my asthma got bad again i may think twice.

[angievere in reply to becky3344]

Thank you Becky. My son’s asthma was so bad it was the last option, apart from full time steroids. Xolair turned things round for him. Good Luck. xx

[becky3344 in reply to angievere]

Update, i never needed it. They said i wasn't bad enough, appears they were right.. I now have my asthma much more under control with taking Montelukast tablets and a spiromax inhaler twice a day.

How is you're sons asthma at the moment?

[angievere in reply to becky3344]

Hi Becky, pleased to hear you are doing well. My son is ok thanks, had a bad exacerbation over the summer but is better now. xx

[becky3344 in reply to angievere]

Hi Angievere. I'm glad to hear that your son is better now. Was it steriod tablets which helped him this summer or did he have Xolair again?

[angievere in reply to becky3344]

Short course of steroids. He still has Xolair. xx

[becky3344 in reply to angievere]

Good that the steroids worked.. It can be scary when they don't work. You're son is strong and brave.

[Matti1]

Hi Becky I was on it 2 half years and felt tired the day I had them but I had 600mg which was 4 injections every 2 weeks. I can't say I had any major side effects but it didn't improve my asthma like I'd read it does for others. I was still getting high dose steroids regularly and infections and pneumonia so ultimately I chose to stop it.

What I didn't expect after stopping it my urticaria returned with a vengeance for a few months which it had obviously helped my eczema and urticaria but it's kind of settled down and is nearly a year since I stopped it.

I would say yes the side effects are scary but I just felt tired and fatigued but if it had helped my asthma I would have stayed on it. Give it a try as it's getting harder to get it as I asked to go back on it with the urticaria flare up and they said I'd have to go onto theophylline and another inhaler which actually made my asthma worse so I was told the guidance is stricter now.

I hope you give it a go, ask for an epipen for any anaphylaxis and if you don't see results in a year I'd make a decision to stop then. Good luck x

[becky3344 in reply to Matti1]

Hi Matti1. Thanks for your reply, i appreciate it.

Sorry to hear it didn't improve your asthma.

Is your asthma more under control now?

Do you have allergic asthma?

My asthma isn't as bad at the moment, so think i will postpone it for the moment. The side effects do worry me, i don't want to increase my chance of getting cancer or blood clots or heart attacks. If my asthma got bad again i may think twice.

[M-D-F]

Go for it, give it a try, I have mine monthly and have no side effects, plus all the people that I meet in the waiting room, all agree that any side effects are minimal. Go for give it a try.

[becky3344 in reply to M-D-F]

I never had it in the end, they said i wasn't bad enough, they were right. They gave me Montelukast tablets and Spiromax inhaler instead and it did the job. My asthma is much more under control now..

[Snazzyjack]

That's not good has i have been offered it, and was told there was hardly any side effects, worried about the sinus problems, as that is one of the reasons I have exacerbation's of my asthma in the first place. I already have joint pains, and have problems getting around, so that will not be good.

[becky3344 in reply to Snazzyjack]

It's okay, i didn't need it in the end, and they gave me Monetelukast tablets and a Spiromax inhaler, which has proved to work well. My asthma is much more under control now.. Thanks for you're reply.

I'm sorry to hear you are not well, and you have joint pains. I know what that's like with my back and knee.

Are you seeing any professionals which may be able to offer you some comfort and help?