Xolair User Reviews & Ratings (Page 2)

• Tired
• June 19, 2020

For Urticaria "Am female now 56 Had experienced chronic Urticaria Lasting a few months probably 3 times over approx 20years. The episodes occurred & disappeared on their own. However 2 years ago, it came again & tried the Zyrtec benadryls Zantac etc, only had relief with Prednisone. Eventually got approved for the monthly Xolair & have been going into hospital monthly for 2x150mg injections into the stomach. My concern was when do I stop taking these injections given the hives may go away, have been gradually delaying my injection by a week each cycle & have noticed that By week 8 a small amount of hives start to appear. I know the discomfort of severe hives so very reluctant to stop injections in fear of it returning but I am now starting to have severe knee pain & struggle to lift myself when I kneel down . Other Recent issue has been Redness/ rosacea on face which I now take different medication for & am unsure if it’s related to the Xolair. Anybody else experiencing this?"

• Sandy...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 5, 2015

For Urticaria "I had CIU for a year and half before my first Xolair shot. For six months, I never went a day without hives, experienced the lip swelling and face swelling once (never want that experience again). I was told by my allergist that I had exhausted all types of therapy so Xolair was my last and only option. My first shot was in January, three days later I was hive free. I took monthly shots for 6 months, no hives so we decided to try 6 weeks between shots, no hives. It is August now - no hives! Yes it is expensive but not being covered with hives from my head to my toes makes that worth it. I would agree that it has made me gain about 10 pounds and I workout just about every day. I look like I am pregnant but not ready to give up yet."

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

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."

• Ben
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 11, 2017

For Asthma, Maintenance "I am glad to see that so many people had a positive experience with Xolair on this review page, I hope these reviews are real. I was fine on Xolair for about a year, although I will say I did not notice too much difference. In fairness, my asthma was relatively under control at the time with a daily steroid (Symbicort). One day after a shot, I experienced what can only be described as the most ridiculous sounding symptom on the Xolair box, feelings of impending doom. This was 3 years ago and I have suffered from severe anxiety ever since. My life, including my marriage, has been drastically affected by Xolair. PLEASE use caution before taking this and more importantly before letting your children take it."

• E123
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 10, 2014

For Urticaria "I have had chronic idiopathic uticaria 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!"

• MomWi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 6, 2014

For Urticaria "I started taking Xolair, and while it eliminated my hives (yay!) I experienced terrible stomach problems (constant gas and bloating) and weight gain of about 10 lbs that I cannot seem to lose. (I'm small so 10 lb is a lot) It's is hugely annoying- I feel pregnant, and I am very active and fit and have always been able to maintain my weight, and now I can eat almost nothing and work out and it's still there. Going off of Xolair, hope this problem resolves itself. Annoying!"

• Th3610
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 30, 2015

For Urticaria "Yesterday I received my 4th shot. For the past 2 months it seemed after week 3 I would start getting small patches of hives. This last month on the 3rd week ( week-10 days before I was due to receive my shots) my hives came in pretty bad. My ankles and feet start to itch then it works its way up my legs to my mid torso. I have to say I'm panicking since receiving my shot yesterday, and taking 2 benadryl even 4-5 hrs and zyrtec I'm covered with itchy hives!! Can it be that our bodies become immune to the xolar?? Please let me know because I feel like my freedom is taken away from me right as I was so happy and confident being hive free."

• lizzy
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 1, 2018

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 affect. Then I began 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 with out 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!"

• rajf
• June 11, 2020

For Urticaria "I have been on Xolair for 2 years next month, I have had months with no hives and some flares in between. I get 150 mg in each arm every four weeks . I know I have had some side effects, even though the allergist disagrees with me . But I have worked through them and the benefits are worth taking even though there are a lot of risks. I was hoping to be off all the antihistamines and prescription Singulair by now but still having to take them all with the Xolair . I don't know how much longer I can stay on the Xolair, my worry is what will happen to me once it is stopped, I worry will go back to being covered in hives again . I cannot go back to that , I have had a very much better quality of life by taking the Xolair"

• Rebecca...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 5, 2016

For Asthma, Maintenance "I have been taking xolair for 5 years now. It is an amazing medicine. I only have one fully developed lung so I had asthma pretty bad. I am also allergic to elm trees so I would get hives and itching alot when I was outside. No more trips to er anymore and I can go outside and not have to wear jackets in summer due to the trees giving me hives. I have had no side effects so far. All I know is this drug works for me. It has changed my life."

• Robh
• March 16, 2016

For Asthma, Maintenance "This is my second time I have been on this medication. I was on it about 5 years ago for severe asthma and had to stop because of cost and insurance not covering it. I went from a 42% lung capacity to 65% in just about 6 months I felt great and over about 3 years I started to decline again. I started back thanks to better insurance and the co-pay assistance and feel a lot better. My lung capacity still is not great but I have gone from using my rescue inhaler several times a day to using it only about once every few weeks. So far I have been lucky enough to not have any side effects. I highly recommend it but be sure you get the co-pay assistance in place before starting it."

• Melmu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 15, 2018

For Urticaria "I have had been diagnosed with severe Urticaria 3 months ago I was being rushed to ER every night for 2 weeks with anaphylaxis and a horrendous hive reaction and having to have adrenalin administered to ease it, I have now just started my first injection of Xolair, I must say the side effects have not been pleasant. I have experienced severe itching of my eyes, muscular and joint pain and horrible headaches, although I have not had a break out since the injection I am concerned about the side effects, can anyone tell me if they have had similar and if they subside eventually. I understand everyone reacts differently but I am just wanting to get a feel for what others have experienced."

• KelseyB
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 20, 2015

For Asthma, Maintenance "I have been taking this medication on and off for the last 6 years. The only reason I didn't take it the whole time was because I was pregnant twice and insurance issues the other time. When I'm not on this medication I can't even so much as look at a cat or dog. I have not had to take oral steroids monthly like I used too, only now maybe once a year with I get a cold or flu. I was so restricted in what I could do before I took xolair, now I can go to the gym or play with the kids just fine. I would recommend to anyone who has asthma and is allergic to an animal."

• Jim...
• February 16, 2016

For Asthma, Maintenance "I've been taking this injection monthly for 9 years and have been extremely happy with the way it's improved my quality of life. I use my rescue inhaler less and I need prednisone courses very infrequently. Although I try hard to be regimented about getting my shot, I forget to schedule the appt. and/or the delivery to my doctor's office. My body can tell when it's ready for the next one. I feel badly for the person who's posted with such hostility on here about it not working for him/her. It's a godsend for me and many other severe asthmatics."

• michlle...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 13, 2012

For Asthma, Maintenance "This medicine is a miracle, it has changed my life completely. Before Xolair I was being admitted to hospital via ambulance every 6-7 days, with ICU admissions, without this medicine I would not be alive today, as there was nothing else that would help. I have tried everything going, every attack via ambulance they were injecting me with adrenaline until they got me to hospital. "

• susan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 11, 2013

For Asthma, Maintenance "I have have had far fewer Asthma attacks and allergies since being on Xolair injections every 2 wks and have become a lot less dependent on my rescue inhaler. I've on this medicine for at least 4 yrs and have had no adverse effects and I highly recommend it...it has changed my life."

• MarMar
• February 26, 2016

For Urticaria "I have had chronic hives every day all over my body since 1982. I went to many doctors and had all kinds of tests and no one could find out why. I researched the internet a few times a year to see if there was any new research done that would prove to be helpful. Last year I read about Xolair After a long discussion with my doctor, we decided to try Xolair injections. On the day of my first injection, I had a swollen hive 4" by 6" on my back that was very painful. After the shot, it started to shrink and I haven't had one single hive since then. I am thrilled. No side effects. My health insurance covers almost all of the cost. I am so thankful to finally be relieved of so many years of suffering!"

• Rich
• May 3, 2015

For Asthma, Maintenance "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."

• Anonymous
• September 28, 2012

For Asthma, Maintenance "I have been on this medicine for 7 months and it has absolutely changed my life. The severity of my asthma was so bad, that it would land me in the hospital at least once every two months. And I mean admitted for like a week, not just ER visits. I take 300mg 4 times a month. The results are phenomenal. I am able to do things and participate in physical activities that i havent been able to do in years. I have zero side effects, and although it is a pain to have to go the infusion center at the hospital once a week, it is beyond worth it. If the possible benefits outway the possible risks, I would definitely recommend Xolair."

• Ameri...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 28, 2019

For Urticaria "Prior to starting Xolair a little over 1 year ago, I have had chronic hives for 18 years. More days with than without hives. Swelling of face, lips, eyes, hands and feet. Hospitalized several times. In ER at least 10 times a year. Zolaire ended all of that. A small manageable flair ups infrequently. No side effects whatsoever. This medicine has restored my quality of life as well as my sanity. I no longer feel as if my hives will one day kill me if a hospital isn't nearby. Thank you makers of Zolaire!"

• Mike...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 12, 2012

For Asthma, Maintenance "I was diagnosed with asthma at the age of 2. For years I was a very sick, steroid dependant child. At the age of 11 I was admitted to the number 1 asthma and immunology hospital in the world, as an impatient for just over a year. I did gain a little more control over my asthma, but missed many, many days of school. In my early 20's I became disabled due to my asthma. For years I would do the emergency room thing, be admitted to the local hospital into ICU for a week or so at a time, several times each year. I've been intubated several times due to respiratory failure. I've only been to the ER twice since being on Xolair. All of my other medicines have been discontinued. Thank you."

• Fay
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 19, 2020

For Urticaria "Ive been suffering for 18 yrs with this crazy hives I did all the pills to I'm still taking 1 Zyrtec a day, one Singulair a day, 150mg xolair shot a month I'm clean and clear and thank God. Finally after many years of misery I thought I was the only person out there suffering. The shot has been a miracle for me but I do agree with with the sugar cravings and weight gain. I have to diet and watch what I eat all the time so I don't blow up but I'm very grateful for the shot it has changed my life back to normal"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 23, 2020

For Urticaria "2 years ago I was diagnosed with ciu - Chronic idopathic urticaria - which made my life miserable holding my ice pack all day long every where I go till my doctor introduced my to xolair injection. I got relief instantly. I get 2 shot 150mg every 4 to 6 weeks I'm so blessed this medicine has worked for me."

• Ray
• July 20, 2019

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 andall over my body rashes..! Thank goodness for it. But I’m always in joint pain!! Should I take anything for it."

• Chapuna
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 4, 2019

For Urticaria "I was diagnosed with CIU 2.5 years ago, but have been suffering for over 6 years. I have been taking Xolair for almost 2 years now. In the beginning it did wonders for me. I had no flair up, almost no itchiness at all. It was a miracle. Then this summer, after 1.5 years of 350mg/4 weeks it stopped working. I am taking 100 to 150mg of Benadryl every 6 hours, and still the itching is driving me crazy. To be able to sleep I need to strap icepack to my legs and arms to calm the itching. Anyone else is in the same boat? Thanks"