Xolair and Pain: What Users Say

• Moe...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 14, 2018

For Urticaria "Suffered from chronic urticaria for 2 years. Was MISERABLE!! STARTED XOLAIR 1.5 years ago. Hives are GONE. BUT I feel I have severe side effects. Body pain so bad I can't function. I'm a very active person... generally... Now I can barely get up to pee in the middle of the night!!!!! Anyone out there with the same problem????"

• Aid...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 4, 2021

For Urticaria "I've had chronic urticaria for six months now. They started soon after my flu shot, although my first allergist said it's not possible. Whatever! I tried everything, including four Allegra a day, Singulair, Pepcid, Doxepin, Xyzal, and the dreaded Prednisone. One trip to the ER because of anaphylaxis. I am miserable. My new allergist started me on Xolair. I just got my second dose, and honestly, after each dose, I flared up worse than when on my daily regimen of antihistamines. I am still waiting for my miracle. Unfortunately, I am experiencing back pain and knee pain. Although I do suffer from pain already, this pain is much worse and constant. I am now using a cane to get up when I sit down. Walking and standing are issues as well. Let me know if anyone else is experiencing the same issues."

• E12...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 10, 2014

For Urticaria "I have had chronic idiopathic urticaria for over 17 years. Since I was 3, all I can remember is the stress, pain, embarrassment, etc. that this condition has caused me. Now, at age 20, I'm finally receiving the medicine I've been hoping and praying for. For a while, Doxepin combined with many different types of antihistamines worked to reduce the amount of hives I would get. Now, only prednisone will temporarily help my hives. Prednisone has caused me to gain weight. Nothing has worked to reduce my hives other than the prednisone, until I found Xolair. The shot did hurt, but it's worth the pain. Towards the end of my first shot, I did get a lot of hives. I'm hoping the next few reduce them even more. I am so happy to have Xolair!"

• Chr...
• November 29, 2017

For Urticaria "I am beyond disappointed that Xolair had no effect on my chronic urticaria. For 18 years, I have suffered with the disabling disease. My hives are so bad, I cannot even wear clothes because anything touching my skin causes unbearable pain, swelling, redness, and my eyes become bloodshot/swollen, and pus comes out of them. I also have full-blown lupus, and I am human leukocyte antigen (HLA) B27 positive (HLA-B27 positive). My life is completely ruined and over. Can't work, have zero support from anyone, live in poverty (thank you, SSD), lost my home... horrible situation. Xolair did nothing. Not one thing! Pain, redness, swelling, itching still there after two months with two treatments of two shots a month. Beyond depressed. It is hard to live like this."

• Bia...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 1, 2019

For Asthma, Maintenance "So far, I have had two shots of Xolair. I will say my breathing is somewhat better, I'm not using my rescue inhaler as often as I have been. I'm able to do things that I hadn't been able to do for a long time due to my asthma. I have noticed I am experiencing more headaches than normal, my vision is blurry. My blood pressure has gone up, and my legs ache and cramp. I have mentioned this to my nurse practitioner. I was told, let's keep an eye on it, that's kind of odd, so now I'm at the point where I don't even want to take the shot anymore due to all the side effects."

• Mad...
• November 16, 2017

For Urticaria "I was very hesitant to start this medication because of all the warnings I came across online. After 4 months on this medication, I can honestly say it has 100% improved my life. I had hives and angioedema covering most of my body. The pain and hives would come and go and change from day to day, but I was for the most part homebound because of it. I was taking Benadryl (like Tic Tacs), Zyrtec, Singulair, Fatidomide, and Prednisone for the really bad breakouts. Within the 1st week after the 1st shot, I saw significant improvement. Now I only have some breakouts right around the 28th or 29th day of the next shot that is due. I would highly recommend this medication for chronic urticaria."

• Gra...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 10, 2018

For Asthma, Maintenance "My experience with Xolair was life-changing. I struggled with chronic asthma and allergies my whole childhood and teenage years. My allergist prescribed this shot to me, so I could eventually be healthy enough to receive allergy shots. I started Xolair at age 13 and received my last dose of it when I was 16. Xolair was worth the pain, time, and money. The serum is extremely thick, and I received 3 shots of it every 2 weeks, but nothing compares to the quality of life I have now. I recommend this drug to anyone who has exhausted all options, who has maxed out on maintenance medication, who frequently finds themselves on Prednisone and antibiotics for the common cold, and can't remain healthy enough to receive allergy shots."

• pba...
• November 19, 2019

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."

• Hon...
• June 12, 2018

For Asthma, Maintenance "Highly recommend Xolair. Was in the clinical trials for Xolair well over 10 years ago. Before Xolair, I was a severe asthmatic who could be found in the hospital almost monthly due to allergic asthma. I received 2 injections every 2 weeks... until I became allergic to it. The company requested - and received - my DNA in order to help them understand why I became allergic and to help others in the future. Xolair was a miracle drug for me - and still is. We don't know why, but it seems to have had a residual effect of some sort with me. A year after stopping the injections, I was stung 2-3 times by yellow jackets. I would have immediately gone into anaphylaxis without the residual effect of the Xolair. Instead, I drove myself to the ER (EpiPen ready to use) without any problems. There was a 'typical' reaction of swelling and pain around the site of the stings with no other reactions."

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

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."

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

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!"

• Vcu...
• November 22, 2017

For Urticaria "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."

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

For Urticaria "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."

• GHa...
• December 9, 2020

For Asthma, Maintenance "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."