Xolair for Urticaria User Reviews (Page 4)

• Ama...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 25, 2018

"Was diagnosed with chronic urticaria 4 months ago, with no signs of relief. Once the shot kicked in after a few days, the breakout periods extended. I haven't had the hives, which is great, as they covered me from head to toe, but I still suffer from lips and face swelling up like balloons every week or so. Hopefully, my next shot will fix that! Experienced no side effects at all."

• Itc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 24, 2019

"I have had chronic spontaneous urticaria for 9 months. After going through all the OTC drugs and prescription drugs, I was started on Xolair injections 6 weeks ago and have had 2 shots. I have experienced no change in the severity of the hives nor the itching since starting the injections. I've been told Xolair can take 12 to 16 weeks to fully take effect, so I'm still hoping it will work. In the meantime, I'm losing sleep, tearing at my skin, and have become a recluse as I don't want people to see me scratching all the time. I started having acupuncture, cupping, and herbal treatment 2 weeks ago, and that helps for a day or two. However, the cost of 3 to 4 acupuncture treatments a week has resulted in my savings all gone just to get some relief from this infernal itching. I have been to the ER, and they can't give me prednisone or other steroids as I'm on warfarin."

• Obi...
• January 12, 2020

"I took Xolair for over 1 year; at times I would get hives. My issue: I still had to take Zyrtec, Allegra, Singulair, Zantac, and Benadryl at least 2, sometimes 3. I used to have lip swelling, and that definitely improved; however, my last shot was Dec 6. Our insurance changed, so I have not had a Jan shot, and this morning I have broken out again. My problem with the shot: if 3 or pills work, why pay so much for it? I have had hives for 29 years."

• J J...
• August 4, 2017

"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."

• Mlw...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 5, 2019

"I had chronic hives for 2 months, and Zyrtec and Zantac did not help. Prednisone was the only thing that stopped them. I was approved for Xolair in month 3. On the 3rd injection, I no longer have hives. After 12 months, developed side effects of stuffy nose, headaches, chills, hot flushed face."

• MLW...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 7, 2019

"I had hives starting July 2018, and Zyrtec & Zantac did not help, but prednisone did. After 2 months, insurance approved Xolair. I was told up front it would take 3 Xolair injections to feel relief, and it did. After 8 months of Xolair, I began having side effects of chills, cold/painful hands and feet. After 11 months, I had nasal congestion, sore throat, headaches, and cough that have lasted 4 months with no relief. They start to get a little better, then get worse after injection, but the provider refuses to admit it is Xolair causing it. I am considering dropping Xolair to see if hives are gone, and unfortunately, the only guidance on discontinuing is from Johns Hopkins in that it wears off in 6 to 12 months and has not cured hives. Hopefully, my body has when I stopped. I believe this is a big moneymaker for my provider, who charges me $250 just to give an injection. Thankfully, I have the Genentech/Novartis $5 copay for injection cost and Xolair cost."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 4, 2020

"Helps a great deal when the pharmacy will ship it on time. However, for those who have a problem with hives, look into mast cell activation disorder. Particularly if there are other symptoms that may seem unrelated."

• Kri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 4, 2018

"I had chronic hives for almost 5 years, and nothing worked. I was ready to totally break down and knew Xolair was my last hope! Had my first shot a month ago and have had no hives, no edema, no itching, and lots of smiles, and am feeling like me again! Do whatever it takes to get this med if you are at the end of your rope. The only side effect has been dental pain, which has been way more manageable! Forever grateful for Xolair!"

• WJM...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 28, 2024

"I started getting monthly Xolair 300mg (2x150mg, one in each arm), injections in January of 2023, after a months-long bout of flare-ups of urticaria/angioedema. I had been suffering from intermittent flare-ups of these for several years and was just taking antihistamines along with Prednisone periodically to control it. In January of 2023, my allergist at the time suggested trying Xolair, and am I glad I did. This drug has done wonders for me. I haven't had a single flare-up of either urticaria or angioedema ever since! I started out with monthly injections every 4 weeks, but after 6 months, we decided to extend it to every 6 weeks, and I haven't had any issues by extending it. I haven't had any issues with side effects of any kind. This drug is extremely expensive and I would have never gotten on it without the help of insurance. I have never had an out-of-pocket expense that I was responsible for. Also, these injections don't make my arms ache or hurt at the injection sites!"

• LBa...
• March 19, 2021

"I had severe hives all over my body for 4 months before starting Xolair treatments. The hives started clearing up within a week of receiving my first dose. I have a few days of headache, fatigue, feeling feverish after the injections. It's 100% worth it, though."

• Des...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 31, 2018

"I have had another appointment, but with no effect on histamine intolerance. I am on my second dose, but things still are getting worse. Why should I need to still take my previous preventive pills if Xolair is supposed to work? It is not working, sorry!"

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

"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!"

• Abb...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 7, 2015

"Urticaria: I'm 34 years old, Indian male and working in UAE for the past 3 years. Suddenly, one day, I developed hives and swelling on my lip, then consulted a dermatologist and started to live with an antihistamine tablet called Lezine. All three reports, blood, urine, and stool, were normal. But these hives used to come on my body almost once a month, but they were not severe ones. It used to be on my thighs, legs, and shoulders, sometimes on my lip. I was not able to trace the reasons. I did an IgE component test, it was expensive, however, this was also normal. Today, I finally planned to go on Xolair injection, took 2 shots same time, i.e., 300 ml, thank God my insurance approved this expensive injection. I will update you guys accordingly about the effect."

• VC ...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 19, 2023

"I felt less hives and itchy after a couple of weeks. I was ready for another injection by the time I was scheduled for my 4-week follow-up. Still hives and itchy, but as time goes on and it's been close to a year, I have improved a lot. I have side effects with muscle pain and swelling in my veins. The itchy burning hives are much worse without the Xolair. I can tolerate the pain with Advil. I am now on a 6-week schedule to see if I can be weaned down. This will be my second month waiting for my next 6 weeks. I am having fewer breakouts and use prednisone spray to control the itching. I do get pressure hives and I have to be careful what I wear due to the type of material which causes itching, and if I scratch, I will break out with small hives. They will spread if I get anxious. All in all, I think this medication saved me from going crazy. I have had some really good days and a few that were a bit itchy. I have had several days that I had no hives. I'm thinking positive and praying for none."

• jus...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 18, 2024

"For the longest time, I've had hives that were red, and I mean it was all over my body. It would heat up to the point I felt like I was burning, and it would burn my skin. I finally found someone that would listen to me because I've been unhappy my whole life. She did her research, they did biopsies, and it came back as normal hives. I also have other conditions along with this, but this is the only medication that's ever helped me. I've never had any negative side effects. I absolutely love it, and thank you for making it, to whoever did. At first, I did most of my shots at the doctor's office, and then we moved to at home. It was easy to use the syringes with the safety features, it's wonderful, especially if you have children. I am on 300 mg once a month."

• Abe...
• April 10, 2018

"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."

• Vcu...
• November 22, 2017

"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

"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."

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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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."