Addiction to Xolair - variable allergic responses

[Guest guest]

I would like to echo what said and also add:

Our level of allergic and alleric asthmatic symptoms can vary

depending on any number of factors, including and especially exposure

levels. It has been said by a number of folks, including my own

doctor, that it is possible for the Xolair to be overpowered by heavy

exposure to specific allergens that one is very, very allergic too.

This could be seasonal for some of us. I experienced this last year

when I was exposed to a high level of mold every day for about three

weeks. I'd been doing very well on Xolair and almost no daily meds,

and then I had a really, really bad episode....

A number of folks who have posted to this board have shared that

their docs raised dosages when the initial dose did not seem strong

enough OR when their allergies seem to worsen, which is,

unfortunately, possible for all of us.

Margarita, I certainly hope you and your doctor are able to find a

therapy combination that works more effectively for you, be it an

increase in your Xolair dosage or taking your pred back up to 20mg

per day.

Well, that's my 2 cents, AND it's time for me to go mug an old lady.

Addy

Group co-owner

Dear

Margarita,

>

> I am nurse and I feel there must be a open discussion

> before people get the wrong impression.

>

> The term " addiction " is very value-laden in our

> society. We picture drug " addicts " mugging old ladies

> in the subway for cash. The true definition of

> addiction implies there is a psychological craving for

> the substance which leads to drug-seeking behaviours.

> People get addicted to drugs (eg opioids) as they

> stimulate the dopaminergic pleasure centre in the

> brain. Xolair does not do this.

>

> We can speak of a physiological dependence on a drug

> such as prednisone whereby the patient would exhibit

> withdrawl symptoms if it were abruptly stopped. This

> is not addicted. No one is mugging old ladies in the

> subway to get the pleasurable effects of pred.

>

> The symptoms you may be describing may have nothing to

> do with xolair per se. As you know, the allergy

> cascade is multifactorial and xolair targets only one

> area of it. Perhaps your prednisone dose has been

> lowered enough so that it is no longer covering your

> allergies and asthma and the initial response you got

> was just your body reacting to that drug and not the

> xolair.

>

> We do not know the long-term effects of xolair as the

> medication has only been approved since 2003. Everyone

> who takes it must realize that. Perhaps after 20 years

> of treatment, we will all turn bald and lose an eye.

> Who knows. We do assume that risk.

>

> Not everyone has the same reaction to the same drug.

> You are not " addicted " to it. You may have developed a

> tolerance requiring a higher dose. Long term studies

> have not yet shown if tolerance develops.

>

> If you are not happy being on xolair, then by all

> means please talk to your doctor and consider stopping

> it. Perhaps it is not the drug for you.

>

> We must be careful not to scare people when the facts

> do not support it and this is why this board is

> moderated by people like Doug, Addy, and

> myself.

>

>

>

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