Xolair for Asthma, Maintenance User Reviews (Page 3)

• dar...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 26, 2018

"Why Darth Vader as a name? After my consultant tried for 6 years to get this drug, the hospital was my 2nd home, and every day, a mask was always around my mouth (aged 54). The trust would not pay for it despite it being the result of me having the dreaded MRSA! (No, I didn't sue.) I had to give up my business, so I moved once again, ending up in another hospital. Eventually, they asked if I had tried Xolair? NEVER LOOKED BACK, and if I am on holiday for over the limit, I pay over £200 to fly back for an injection. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME MY LIFE BACK."

• Anonymous
• August 29, 2019

"I started experiencing an increase in shortness of breath almost 2 years ago. I have had asthma (relatively well managed) for more than 40 years. Last year, I was hospitalized twice. I was eventually referred to both an allergist and respirologist. I had been on 3 back-to-back courses of prednisone. Allergy tests revealed severe environmental allergies as well as oral allergy syndrome. I was approved for fortnightly injections that began in June of this year. I noticed a benefit immediately, but after the 4th shot, the benefits were wearing off at approximately day 9. I had injections on Aug 13, had 2 full-blown asthma attacks on Aug 16 and 17, and continue to labor for breath. I had a scheduled appointment with the respirologist on the 20th. I gave him an update and expressed my frustration. The ragweed pollen is particularly high this year. He prescribed another round of prednisone. I have been taking it for 4 days and still feel like I should go to the hospital."

• Ric...
• May 3, 2015

"What a waste of time and money! Are the contributors on this site really patients and not Genentech plants? No help with asthma, phlegm after 5 shots at $3000 each, big pharma just printing money with these drugs."

• Wen...
• July 14, 2017

"I can't really rate the drug itself, since I've never taken it. I don't even meet the criteria to be on it, that of the maker or of my insurance. But the pulmonologist was pushing me to get on it. He called me on the phone but only told me the name and that the insurance would cover it. I looked it up, I've only been in the hospital once for asthma, for 2 days, in my life (at 60), no ER trips for it for years, not on ICS because I can't use them due to severe side effects in me. I told him he must be thinking of another patient. Then he tried using the result of the IgE test and the fact I have pets, which I don't even react to. He exaggerated everything about my history. Some sort of kickback is all I can figure here."

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

"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!"

• Can...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 4, 2021

"I am losing my eyesight due to Xolair! I had perfect eyes before, no problems with my eyes until I started taking Xolair monthly for my asthma. Then every month I noticed it was harder for me to see. So I went to the eye doctor and lost 60% in my right and 40% in the left! I immediately stopped taking it and told my doctor I didn’t want to take it! If I could give my review a zero, I would! Be aware."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 1, 2018

"This drug works very well with me! My PFT baseline has gone up, however, my IgE is still very elevated. My breathing has improved, and I hardly ever have to use my inhaler or nebulizer. Before, I’d have to be in the hospital several times a year in the ICU."

• GHa...
• December 9, 2020

"I have been on Xolair almost a month. I had horrible asthma and allergies. At one point, I couldn’t even walk without getting out of breath. I’m 25 now. These breathing issues started around 22! Xolair has changed my breathing for the best, but I am in so much pain bodily. My bones and muscles feel like they are constantly under some form of warfare. Aches, pains, and spasms all over my entire body. I can breathe, but I constantly feel like I was hit with a car and just keep living after each hit. I am trying to change my diet and move around more, hopefully, these changes will help all the icky, horrible side effects."

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

"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."

• Jka...
• October 23, 2021

"I was on it from late 2005 till about 2012. Shortly after I started taking the medication, I developed heart PVCs. I believe it was caused as a direct result from the Xolair. I went to a cardiologist and got a full workup. The PVCs are annoying and can be unsettling, but they are not life-threatening (not as of yet anyways). I still have the PVCs from time to time, but not as often as I did when I was on the Xolair. My asthma has been very well controlled since I got off the Xolair and started taking Symbicort. Just my experience."

• Ang...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 3, 2021

"31-year-old female, no known allergies. Woke up one day with full-body hives that did not react well to steroids/antihistamines until I upped my dose to four Zyrtec per day. Started on 300 mg of Xolair 5 weeks ago and am hive-free. No Zyrtec needed. I noticed a headache the first time around and did feel like it made me overly alert, but honestly, I'm super happy to not have to take so much Zyrtec. I just got my second dose and am still happy. Will check back in in 4-6 months. Had to fight with insurance to get approved, but it was worth it."

• Jol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 8, 2023

"I was on pre-filled injections twice a month for 6 months to treat my pulmonary aspergillosis and improve my IgE levels. This drug has ruined my life. Not only did it not help my breathing or IgE levels (went from a 1300-3000), but I went from 95 lbs to 112. I can’t stop eating since I got this. Plus, my legs, arms, and face swelled up, and I had heart palpitations. I discontinued the injections in November, and I’m still swollen and ravenous constantly. I’m trying to lose weight and control my hunger, but it is impossible! I read this stays in your system up to 6 months after stopping, so that could be why. I have no idea what this has done to me, but I’m furious that severe weight gain is not listed as a side effect. I went from a disciplined, extremely healthy person to being a completely out of control binge eater. I do not recommend this treatment to anyone!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 17, 2022

"Xolair has changed my life, but not for the better! I have asthma and was put on Xolair 6 months ago with mild improvement. But now my life is just sitting, my feet hurt, trouble walking, extreme fatigue. I used to walk 3 to 4 miles a day. I’ve stopped this drug and hope my symptoms improve. Please think about how you were before you started taking Xolair!"

• Tor...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 6, 2021

"I had severe asthma starting in my late 60s and was diagnosed with several allergies. The usual course of trial and error, steroids, and inhalers proved largely ineffective, and I ended up in the Emerg twice. A new doctor recommended Xolair, and after the second set of injections, my asthma was totally in control while I continued daily use of Zenhale and Spiriva and occasionally Salbutamol. As I told my doctor, you have given me my life back again. I still have asthma and must be prudent about my surroundings, but with Xolair, I have a largely normal life. I have no obvious side effects from Xolair other than the inconvenience of the bi-weekly injection schedule."

• Jus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 16, 2020

"Was previously taking biologics the 12 months prior. Dr. decided to try me on Xolair injections. Within the 1st week after the 1st injection, it was getting increasingly harder to breathe, was still not getting any better by the 2nd. This was NOT the one for me. I'm still struggling significantly to breathe and am now back taking prednisone."

• Xol...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 28, 2023

"Wow, I remember the first discussion with my pulmonologist that my lungs were not performing well, even though I was active, played competitive softball tournaments all weekend, ran, etc. When I blew into the handheld meter, I was at 200-250, he said 450 was where I should be. We started Xolair, and after about the third visit, I was over 500. That was like 9 years ago. Today I am still over 500, I have rarely, like once or twice a year, had (had maybe a little strong-but it did relax me) to use an emergency inhaler, when before I always had an emergency inhaler on me, two different pills, and another steroid inhaler. Side effects, none that I know of."

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

"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."

• Ano...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 5, 2025

"I started using Xolair when it was still in trials approximately 20 years ago. When I took my first injection, I could feel the difference in my breathing. I've been asthmatic since I was 2 years old. After my first injection, I dismissed not needing Prednisone and I dropped 14 lbs. Since then, I've taken Xolair off and on, off only when my insurance would not approve it. I'm not on it now, but I am sure if I could get it back, it would make a difference. I've been on Prednisone off and on for 3 hours. Prednisone caused my blood sugar to spike to over 1000, causing me a 3-day stay in the hospital. I'm now diabetic, on insulin and Ozempic."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 6, 2015

"I had one injection, then, three days later, I thought - something is different. I can breathe! Checked my peak flow meter, and it is up 45 points. Hurray. Can't wait for my next injection."

• Anonymous
• February 7, 2012

"I love it. I had no quality of life. I almost gave up on life because I have two kids, and I couldn't stand for them to see me suffer anymore. This saved my life."

• Sel...
• May 14, 2014

"Very useful for treating severe to mild asthma! Highly recommended!"

• A d...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 10, 2018

"They forgot to list the side effect, poverty. $500 per vial? Who are you kidding?"

• fre...
• February 28, 2009

"Prescribed for atopy. No side effect, but no efficacy after 6 months. My maintenance medications had to stay at the same dosage, so I stopped."

• jim...
• April 19, 2009

"In the treatment of my severe chronic asthma, this medication is best at managing my condition. I take it subcutaneously once each month, two injections of 150 mg each."

• Roy...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 21, 2017

"6 months, 2 injections every 2 weeks. Sorry, guys, but no effect at all. Still on 20 mg of prednisone a day. I wish it had worked."