Omalizumab for Urticaria User Reviews (Page 5)

• Kat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 24, 2017

"This is the best thing to help my CIU! I had to leave my last year of high school because my hives would cause my lips and eyes to swell up every day for 7 months, and nothing seemed to help. We went to a doctor that recommended Xolair, and I started getting the shot monthly. I was devastated because the first three months of being on the shot, nothing happened, it cleared them up a little bit, but not to where I was happy and feeling any better. My fourth shot of Xolair was like a miracle, I woke up the next morning, and there were 0 hives. I've been on the shot for 7 months now and have been hive-free for 3 months straight. The only time they come back is when I'm more than a week late for my next shot. It's amazing, it gave me my life back."

• Vcu...
• November 22, 2017

Omalizumab "I am 52 years old. On Xolair for 3 years. I get 2 injections every 4 weeks. The shot is painful because the medicine is thick, but having the shot injected at the back of my arm has helped. I've had hives since I was 17. I've been on most kinds of allergy medicines. I was on Benadryl before it was OTC. I've had lips and eyes swell to beyond recognition. I've had swollen hands and feet and have woken up in the middle of the night with hives from head to foot. Prednisone was the only thing that helped before Xolair. Insurance companies are a pain, though. I missed my last dose waiting on insurance, who wants to make sure the other meds won't work. With the missed dose and the appearance of hives, I think Xolair works."

• din...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 5, 2021

Omalizumab "Works very well for chronic hives. As a treatment, I rate it a '9.' With the first two injections, I saw immediate improvement. For cost, I rate it a '1.' The monthly co-pay for the prescription with Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO is $2,273.54 through the Walgreens Alliance RX pharmacy the BCBS policy requires us to use. The co-pay does not apply to my annual total out-of-pocket limit. Physician's service for administering the injections is not included in the co-pay billing for the prescription. $27,282.48 annually as a co-pay for Xolair is out of reach for the majority of Americans, including me. While it has significantly improved my health, I have to discontinue using Xolair due to cost. Blue Cross Blue Shield does not cover Xolair. Check with your insurance company before considering using."

• Lyn...
• February 13, 2016

"I am now 33 years old and have been on Xolair injections for 6 months. I get two 150 mg shots (one in each arm) every 4 weeks. I lived with chronic hives with angioedema for 4 years. Took countless antihistamines that never helped and even done a course of a transplant drug they give organ transplant patients with the hopes of rebooting my immune system to no avail. I couldn't even walk on the beach without my feet swelling so much I couldn't stand on them. I have been hive and swelling free since the first dose of Xolair, and luckily my insurance covers the whole amount. I hope to continue to have great results with these injections."

• Lou...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 29, 2020

Omalizumab "21 yr M with idiopathic angioedema - swelling of hands, feet, intestines, tongue, throat, face. First administration of Xolair was in 2016, side effects were minimal, minor flushing in face and hands. 300 mg every 4 weeks, I've had maybe 3 small flares since my first injection. Diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes have also helped my condition."

• Noc...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 11, 2018

Omalizumab "I take 450 mg of Xolair injections every 4 weeks, and while it starts to work within 24 hours at this dose, it starts to wear off at week 3. My government won't pay for more than 450 mg every 4 weeks, it would have been nice to have had 300 mg every 2 weeks, but oh well. I still have to rely on a total of 5 other meds besides Xolair to control my severe chronic urticaria, including Zyrtec, Benadryl, naltrexone, doxepin, and Singulair."

• Asi...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 22, 2023

Omalizumab "In 2022 summer, my hives started popping up every other week or so, and I would only get hives where my clothing was pressing the most on my skin, like the knot that you tie behind your neck from a halter top. After three months of what were hives every other two weeks or so in isolated areas, they grew to palm-sized hives randomly throughout the day, all day, from my scalp down to my feet. I couldn't leave my house, I could not put clothing on, sleep comfortably, cuddle my animals, or even move without extreme itching and pain. I was eventually diagnosed with chronic urticaria and prescribed Xolair in Dec 2022. It is now Nov 2023, and I am taking the shot every 6-8 weeks, and my life has drastically changed. I am thankful for this drug and the Genentech Foundation, who aids in making this drug accessible to me ever since I was laid off."

• Ms ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 2, 2019

Omalizumab "I have had CIU (chronic idiopathic urticaria) once before in the past about 10 years ago. I can't remember how long I had had it, but I woke up one day and it was gone. In June this year, I noticed I was itching more than normal, and my nightmare CIU was back. Needless to say, I still have it, and it is worse. I have had 3-4 shots of Xolair, and I have no results yet. The shots hurt, and I hope at the end of the day it's worth it."

• Eli...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 27, 2021

Omalizumab "I got my first injection in January. Had great results. Second injection almost 2 weeks ago, and I've had severe hives every day since. It is awful, they are everywhere. Nothing helps in subsiding them."

• MAR...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 22, 2022

Omalizumab "I received my first injection about a month and a half ago. I just received my second injection this past Monday, and I am still itching! I am not sure how long this medication takes to officially make you stop itching. I am at my boiling point with dealing with these hives on a daily basis. Has anybody else had a similar experience where it takes a couple of months to stop itching all over your body?"

• Itc...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 30, 2019

Omalizumab "Worked for about 9 months as long as it was given every 2 weeks on time. It is difficult to get the medication delivered to the doctor's office consistently, though. Follow-up testing needs to be done for possible adverse effects."

• CMS...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 15, 2017

Omalizumab "I have been getting 2 injections once a month for almost two years now. Before the doctor diagnosed me as having chronic urticaria with angioedema, I went into anaphylactic shock 3 times in a month. Xolair has made a huge difference for me. I have not had any hives since I started getting Xolair injections. My big issue is my insurance (Blue Cross Blue Shield of TN) requires me to go to a different office within a group in order for them to cover the cost of injections. Every time I have gone to this other office, I end up with a hard spot at the injection site with major bruising. It is very frustrating. Still outweighs the horrendous hives."

• Rub...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 1, 2024

Omalizumab "I struggled with chronic spontaneous urticaria for 10+ years. My allergist was concerned because I was taking so many drugs at such high doses to control the hives. She had suggested Xolair on a couple of occasions, and I always declined. In February 2024, I had a severe flare that I finally agreed to try Xolair. I had my first injection on March 4. Since that date, I’ve only had one very mild flare shortly after the first injection. In May, my allergist started weaning me off my oral meds. Since that first injection, I haven’t had to retake prednisone or use topical clobetasol. I now give myself my injections at home (300 mg every 28 days). The only real side effect that I notice is a slight headache for a day or so after the injection. Xolair has been nothing short of a miracle for me!"

• Nat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 16, 2022

Omalizumab "My 13-year-old daughter suddenly broke out with chronic hives, basically covering every part of her body daily. After 4 months with not one day not covered, our immunologist got her into Xolair (2 x 150). Thank goodness after the 3rd dose (monthly), it worked, and she’s been hive-free ever since. She had her 4th dose last week, and it’s changed her life (thank goodness). She will continue on this dose for several months and will then look to increase the period between doses (to 5 weeks, etc.). Thank goodness in Australia it’s covered by the PBS. I highly recommend this product. I have written my comments because, like so many, I was constantly reading reviews, etc."

• iSt...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 6, 2016

"I've had chronic idiopathic urticaria since May of 2003. I'd get hives all over my body, every day, non-stop. After trying a whole slew of medicines, I wound up on a self-implemented regimen of 30 mg of loratadine (Claritin) twice daily (60 mg total, 6x the daily dose). It worked okay, and I was avoiding the steroids. Then I tried Xolair. I'm writing the review in the waiting room of my doctor after having just received my 5th shot (2 shots, 1x per month). The day after shot 1, I quit loratadine cold turkey. From day 1 until today (5 months), I haven't had one hive! This is a miracle drug for those suffering with CIU."

• Axg...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 22, 2016

"I just had my first round of Xolair. I fought really hard to get it approved and finally got the two shots 10 days ago. I did not get relief from it, unfortunately. I itch all the same. Plus, I have had daily migraine headaches. The day after, I was in bed all day with the headache, and it has been very hard to function normally after the shots. No relief, weakness, daily headaches. Give me the misery of just the hives back!"

• Sil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 8, 2017

"This is the 4th episode of my life of chronic hives/angioedema. By far the worst. So far 8 weeks. Taking cyclosporine (worked in the past episodes) and max dose Zyrtec, Allegra, plus ranitidine, as needed Benadryl. Multiple prednisone courses and steroid shots. 1st Xolair injection 8 days ago. So far not effective. Hives remain daily 60-80% of body and itching with episodes of angioedema. Lack of empathy from medical providers astounding. Wish someone could assure me subsequent injections may bring some relief."

• Jam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 21, 2021

Omalizumab "Xolair gave me my life back! I was so miserable with CIU, and Xolair started working within 2-3 days of my first set of injections. I get maybe 2-3 hives at a time now, I sleep well and can work and exercise and do all of the things that I enjoy again now. I am scared of the side effects, and I hope I don't have to be on it for years, but I can honestly say that it has been my miracle."

• Tes...
• January 21, 2017

"I have had chronic hives for 10 years now. They started shortly after having gastric bypass surgery and have never gone away. I was on a cocktail of allergy medications for years, and they only kept the hives from getting too out of control. I also was on an immune suppressant (that organ transplant patients take) for almost two years with very little change. I tried acupuncture too. About two years ago, my allergist approved for me to get Xolair injections. This was the first time in 8 years where I didn't have hives at all. An injection lasts approximately 8 weeks, and then I start breaking out again. I have had no side effects from it. I hope one day my hives will go away, but for now, this has been the ONLY medication that has worked."

• dar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 22, 2024

Omalizumab "This medication is a miracle for MCAS. How much I itched even while taking 6 Allegra-D, 2 Singulair, and 2 Pepcid was making me miserable. 10 pills every day and still I was covered in hives and rashes daily. It took 2 rounds to fully work, but I would say Xolair fixes 95% of the issue. 5% left is starting reactions to my major triggers which is better than I ever expected. I have zero side effects except minor soreness at injection site for up to 24 hours."

• Twi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 23, 2022

Omalizumab "I just got my first shot of Xolair TODAY, for solar urticaria and chronic spontaneous urticaria, including angioedema that comes and goes, caused by random stuff-no confirmed allergies. I am a 45 y/o female in Florida, and we have a LOT of sunlight, so I have been using an umbrella, long sleeves, hats, and curtaining my house for two and a half years now. Today, that changed!!! I couldn't believe it. Within 5 hours of having the shot, I stood in sunlight with no protection, with minimal discomfort! My tiny numerous hives are down by 50-75% in numbers already! My face is still flushed, but my skin doesn't really itch like crazy now. This is a miracle drug!! I am praying this is a cure for me. I only had a 150 mg sample shot today, probably due to having milder symptoms. I also feel like my inflammation is better all over, already!!! Awesome stuff, thanks a lot, my Xolair peeps!! Also, I have had high blood pressure lately, so maybe this will bring that down while I lose weight again. Yaaaay! Happy!"

• Cas...
• March 3, 2016

"Hives out of nowhere 4 years ago. Severe angioedema as well. 6 antihistamines a day, prescriptions, Tagamet, acupuncture, etc., etc., etc. 4 years of being covered in hives every single day. Gave up on medicine. And then decided one more try. My immunologist said Xolair, and I had my first shot exactly a week ago today and haven't had a hive for two days! I had just one or two for the first few days after the shot. The shot did make me lethargic for a few days, but that has passed."

• Sof...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 29, 2022

Omalizumab "I first got my Xolair shot in June 2022. Within 3 weeks, I would say I started seeing a huge difference! Right until my second shot, I was completely free from hives! I have struggled with this for many years (5-6 years), it's been so draining for me. Thankfully, this has helped, and my insurance covered it! I recommend Xolair."

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 20, 2017

"I took Xolair for chronic idiopathic urticaria, the hives disappeared after the first injection. The first 3 months was 300 mg per 4 weeks. After 3 months, the hives came back… Reactine and Blexten (new antihistamine) can't do anything for my hives. The doctor increased my Xolair to 300 mg per 2 weeks. The hives completely disappeared, but after the injections, I have headaches for 3-4 days, and I'm so tired. But for the moment, it is more acceptable to have hives and angioedema! (Sorry, my English is bad)"

• Sar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 16, 2015

"I have severe allergy attacks and am now up to 11 medications I'm allergic to within the past year. 4 months on Xolair and became allergic to 2 more medications. I'm on 5 allergy medications and still not working. Xolair works? For some, not for everyone, but it can take some time to work."