Omalizumab and Tiredness: What Users Say

• hih...
• August 13, 2015

Omalizumab for Urticaria "I have been living with chronic debilitating hives with angioedema for over 30 years! After my first injection of Xolair, I have been almost virtually free of hives for 1 year and 1 month! I got a few hives once and got another injection, and they were gone. It has changed my life completely! No weight gain. Just a bit more tired than I used to be, but that is fine with me. I can bike and do 1000 more things than I could ever do with hives. The pain was ungodly, and I don't know how I lived that way and hope I never have to again."

• Puf...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 19, 2019

Omalizumab "I had severe edema. My lips, eyes, and face would swell constantly. I was on 60 mg of prednisone almost every day. It worked, but I had terrible side effects. Xolair was a life changer. I haven't had a swelling episode since my first shot. It's been a little over a year, and the only side effect I've had is I get a little tired the day of the shot. I wish it worked for everyone like it does for me. ❤"

• Jac...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 8, 2023

Omalizumab for Urticaria "I have had chronic hives since they randomly appeared one day when I was about 8. I have been taking Allegra and Zyrtec for years, and that has helped a bunch, but I still got flare-ups now and then. Finally, my doctor recommended Xolair. At first, it seemed to work, at least for the first two weeks. Then my hives started to flare up, covering my whole body and becoming unresponsive to any medicines. My doctor increased my dosage, but that has only made them worse. I have them every day. They are more painful and itchy than before I started taking Xolair. Side effects: for me, I have noticed that I am constantly tired. I used to be a night owl, and now I can barely make it past 9 p.m. I sleep 12 hours and wake up feeling exhausted. I have noticed some bone and muscle pains too. I feel a lot weaker overall. And I’m only 20. In conclusion, this drug might work for some, but for me, it only made things worse."

• nan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 28, 2017

Omalizumab for Urticaria "I've had hives off and on since 2002. I am 52 years old, and I've been diagnosed with Hashimoto's and lupus. I was tired of hive breakouts and constantly taking Benadryl, so I decided to start taking Xolair. Within a half hour after the shot, my hands got red and itchy. I told the nurse, she seemed unconcerned. I got very tired, went home, and slept half a day! That night, I got three hives on my leg and arm. The next morning, I was achy all over and got dizzy with a headache. I report I also got some chest heaviness. I called the doctor, and he said it was not from Xolair. I can stop Benadryl, but he wants me to continue shots. So far, I can't stop Benadryl because I'm still itchy! I don't know if I should get the next dose because I don't want worse side effects. Want to eat again."

• pba...
• November 19, 2019

Omalizumab for Asthma, Maintenance "I have been taking the Xolair shots for 4 months now, and I have really bad leg pain, and my feet hurt, headaches, and dizziness. When I said something to my doctor about it, he said I must have hurt myself, no side effects of the shots. I'm tired all the time. It really has helped me, but I'm tired of the side effects."

• itc...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 26, 2017

Omalizumab for Urticaria "I have been receiving Xolair injections for about a year and a half for chronic hives. It has gotten rid of it about 90 percent. Once in a while, I still need one or two 25 mg Benadryl tabs, but overall it seems to be working. I get 150 mg injections every 2 weeks. The only side effect is every time I get an injection, within a few days I get 1 hive about 5 inches below the injection site. It itches and resembles a bug bite. I know it's from Xolair because I switch arms, and it always happens on whichever arm. I have noticed fatigue and exhaustion, but not sure that is Xolair related. Sometimes still get pressure hives from underwear where elastic hits, but overall much better. Had an insurance problem, missed a month, hives returned, but okay now."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 31, 2017

Omalizumab for Asthma, Maintenance "I have been on Xolair for two months. Wow, what a difference this has made. I would cough all day and used my inhalers more than directed. Now I don't cough much and don't wheeze. I use inhalers once a day now. Two weeks after the first shot, I could tell a difference. This is a great drug. I do feel some tiredness with it, but it is tolerable."

• Mil...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 7, 2017

Omalizumab for Asthma, Maintenance "I’m 21 and joined the clinic program when I was 19/20. I was constantly in and out of the hospital with attacks. Since having this, I rarely get admitted. I have four injections every two weeks! I always feel tired after treatment and need a good sleep! Other than that, amazing drug."

• Cas...
• March 3, 2016

For Urticaria "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."

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

For Urticaria "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)"

• Ste...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 24, 2021

Omalizumab for Urticaria "Xolair is a miracle worker for me. Was dealing with hives for 2 years, and after seeing several doctors (at the ER) and trying about 12 different meds, nothing worked. I couldn't be active at home because I was in so much burning and itching pain, and the same goes for me at work. Because of the hives, I was tired all the time and being lazy. Finally, I had enough and went to see my family doctor before I decided to do something much worse to myself, and he told me what it was and he directed me to a skin specialist. She gave me an injection of Xolair and in 3 days, hives were gone completely, I was no longer tired and lazy. I was supposed to go for my 2nd dose 6 weeks ago, but something got messed up with the paperwork and all the hives, tiredness, and laziness came back. I contacted the skin specialist and she is going to give me another dose tomorrow. Xolair saved my life."

• xol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 20, 2022

Omalizumab for Asthma, Maintenance "It works for me. Within about an hour of the injection, I can breathe better and deeper. I have had lifelong dust mite allergies, which turned to allergic and eosinophilic asthma once I hit my mid-40s. This mitigates the asthma and a lot of the other allergy issues (e.g., nasal congestion) without the side effects. I feel a little tired the next day after the injection, but otherwise feel great with this med. I am back to running 3 miles a day, and my pace is picking up to where I was many years ago."