Omalizumab and Joint Pain: What Users Say

• Max...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 20, 2019

Omalizumab for Asthma, Maintenance "My mother was very excited to try Xolair. It seemed to help many people with asthma. Unfortunately, after her second shot, she experienced three of the common side effects: anxiety, severe joint pain, and a heart attack. She has been hospitalized for four days now, and today the doctor came in to talk about end-of-life care. Buyer beware."

• liz...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 1, 2018

Omalizumab for Asthma, Maintenance "I started Xolair and had wonderful results for about 4 months, and then I began to experience a lot of hair loss. When I complained to my doctor, they denied that it was the Xolair, but it is a known side effect. Then I began to have extreme joint discomfort, and it got worse after each shot. Finally, I had a positive antinuclear antibodies (ANA) test, and I have never had anything like that!! I have been off the Xolair for 2 months without much relief of my joints, although my hair loss has slowed down. I was told it will take time for it to all get out of my system. I don't want to say it's a terrible drug because not everyone has these side effects. But I hope that anyone who is wondering if the cause of their issues could be Xolair, it probably is!"

• Ray...
• July 20, 2019

Omalizumab for Urticaria "I've been taking it for a year now and still going, it is a miracle. It helped me with asthma, urticaria, redness, and all over my body rashes! Thank goodness for it. But I’m always in joint pain! Should I take anything for it?"

• Ebo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 1, 2016

Omalizumab for Urticaria "I began to experience hives and angioedema really, really bad. Every morning I would wake up, my body would be covered, from head to toe. My face would be 10x its normal size. It was devastating and painful to have your hands and feet swell due to hives covering them. My allergist placed me on prednisone, but that is a very mean drug! I was on 3 antihistamines: Allegra, Zyrtec, and Singulair. I was on 2% hydrocortisone, and nothing helped! Until my insurance approved Xolair. It literally changed my life! After day 3 of my first injection, hives disappeared! The only downfall was the horrible headaches and joint pain I experience after the injections. I also have fibromyalgia, and it just intensifies the pain for a few days."

• Abe...
• October 30, 2018

Omalizumab for Urticaria "I have had 2 Xolair shots. I took a month break in between to think about how I felt about the experience. After the first shot, I experienced severe sugar cravings and felt starving for about 8 days. My joints hurt as well, but by the second week, things got better. The hives came back about 8 weeks after the first shot, more painful and swollen than before, so I decided to get the 3rd shot. Now, 2 weeks in, I am still starving and craving sugar. I have gained weight, but the hives are gone. Had anyone else experienced the cravings? I did notice it in one review here but would like to know if there are any others. My doctors don’t believe me. Frustrated."

• PKa...
• March 19, 2018

Omalizumab for Urticaria "I have urticaria hives for almost 7 years. I have tried Zyrtec, Claritin, and all other medicines. No luck. Finally, I found Xolair. It really worked well for a while. I was amazed to have that injection every time. No hives, itching, redness. Yeah, I got what I needed. But after a year, I realized my elbow and palm were getting muscle pain and joint pain in fingers. And also, if I got a cold, it would take time to recover even if I had the cold and cough syrups. I used to have the cold for more than 10 days. Sneezing, coughing, runny nose. You can say, 'It might be allergies.' Yes, I tried Zyrtec for allergies also, nothing worked. Xolair destroys our immune system totally, whatever we built from our childhood. Sometimes, when you get a cold, people will have a fever tablet also for precaution. But after having the tablet only, they will feel fever. Same here, slowly you will be like an asthma patient after getting Xolair even if you don't have asthma. No Xolair. Avoid sugar whenever possible (sugar will lead to being itchy). Good luck."

• Bro...
• June 1, 2022

Omalizumab for Urticaria "I don't recommend. I developed severe side effects after the third month of injections, 300 mg, when changed to the abdomen. Side effects too severe to continue treatment. Limited space, so will list all symptoms, but some were severe skeletal, muscle and joint pain, severe muscle tightness, intense fatigue, severe insomnia, rapid weight gain, debilitating GI distress, tightness of bilateral Achilles tendons, dry and prickly skin, dry eyes, hair loss, toothache, earache, hot flashes, and stopped menses."

• Kry...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 22, 2020

Omalizumab for Asthma, Maintenance "I started Xolair to treat CIU (chronic idiopathic urticaria) and have always had asthma. It took about 2 injections before I started to see a difference. Now I’m basically hive-free for 3 weeks out of the month. It starts to come back when I’m due for my next shot, then goes away after a few days. My breathing is so much better. My side effects were pretty severe anxiety, but hydroxizine helped with that, some leg cramps, and joint pain, but I am so thankful and happy I can live a normal life now! Thank you, Xolair!"

• Arl...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 29, 2019

Omalizumab for Asthma, Maintenance "I was at a point where I had to use Prednisone for approximately 20 days out of every month. I had now developed asthma on top of the COPD. My lung doctor decided on the Xolair for the immunotherapy. I had 1 injection - for 3 months total. It worked miracles for my breathing!! My side effects were headaches and fatigue for the 1st week after the shot. After the 2nd month, I developed bone and joint aches and pain in my legs and plantar fasciitis! My toes and fingers feel swollen (but they're not) when I bend them. I would feel like I'm 100 years old. I was so stiff. I've been taking Motrin on a daily basis for the past 2 months for the pain and stiffness. Some of the aches, pains, and stiffness have decreased - because of the prednisone I'm taking. After I'm off this round of prednisone, we're giving the side effects a few more weeks before contacting the pharmaceutical company for some answers. I hope the side effects aren't permanent."

• J J...
• August 4, 2017

Omalizumab for Urticaria "I had 1 injection less than a month ago and recently started having the following symptoms: intense fatigue, herpes outbreak, painful joints in hands and knees, neck pain, cough, sore throat, depression."

• Ng2...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 11, 2019

Omalizumab for Asthma, Maintenance "I’m on my 3rd Xolair 300 mg. I have experienced joint pain, leg and feet ache and hurt, and hair loss. I was told these were not side effects. It has helped me with my asthma, it is now controlled. Seeing a rheumatologist now!"

• Abe...
• April 10, 2018

Omalizumab for Urticaria "I suffer from urticaria for 11 months and I had my 1st Xolair injection last month, and I am going to take the 2nd in a few days. I suffer from joint and muscle pain even before I had my Xolair medication, and it is still there. I can say that I am feeling better, especially with the hives and the rash, although they appear, but still, they are not as severe as before. I hope that better results are seen with my coming injections."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 13, 2023

Omalizumab "I am taking this for angioedema. I have been experiencing fatigue, nausea, headache, joint pain, sore throat, and viral symptoms. The discomfort at the injection site was minimal. All experienced within the first week, but it’s only been a week, and so far I am not very happy."

• Jew...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 1, 2017

For Urticaria "I have had one shot and the hives went away. However, one month after my first shot, I have felt like I have had a chronic cold with extreme fatigue and joint ache. Now I have to figure out if I want to deal with the hives every day or these side effects."

• Bil...
• October 12, 2024

Omalizumab for Urticaria "Keeps hives itching and especially welts down drastically. I do have joint pain with this and it seems to lower my blood pressure and pulse."