Re: 12 months, no improvement-is it time to give up ?

[Guest guest]

,

We have had a small number of members who did not see any improvement

until after the 12th month. Doug's story in particular is

relevant to your situation. I am sure he will post a reply to you

in the next 24 hours.

One thing to remember is that our bodies are continually making new

IgE, some of us at very high rates. Therefore, it takes some amount of

time for Xolair to bind to enough IgE for any patient to see improvement

in IgE-mediated symptoms. If your severe asthma is indeed severe

allergic asthma, you should see improvement on Xolair. I would not

discontinue until/unless you see no improvement after 18 months on

Xolair.

Addy

Group co-owner

>

> I have now been on Xolair injections ( maximum dose- 3 injections 2x

> month) for 12 months with absolutely no improvement in my severe

asthma

> conditions. My Pulmonologist has sent me on a number of diagnostic

> tests that all come up negative;can't find any underlying reason for

> breathing problems other than severe asthma.

>

> At what point does one give up on Xolair ?

> It has been 12 months-how much longer should one stay on med that has

> not worked in that period of time ? Appreciate any thoughts.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

>

> I have now been on Xolair injections ( maximum dose- 3 injections 2x

> month) for 12 months with absolutely no improvement in my severe asthma

> conditions. My Pulmonologist has sent me on a number of diagnostic

> tests that all come up negative;can't find any underlying reason for

> breathing problems other than severe asthma.

>

> At what point does one give up on Xolair ?

> It has been 12 months-how much longer should one stay on med that has

> not worked in that period of time ? Appreciate any thoughts.

>

>

,

It took me about 14 months. Give it as long as your doctor thinks

necessary. I wanted to quit at 6 months but my doc talked me into

staying the course. I am glad I did.

Doug

Group founder

on Xolair 4.5 years

[Guest guest]

I would also say not to give up yet, but your IgE levels at the start

should give you some idea of the likelihood your asthma was allergic

in nature. Did your asthma seem worse when your were experiencing

allergic systems. Not all asthma is caused by an allergic process.

>

> I have now been on Xolair injections ( maximum dose- 3 injections 2x

> month) for 12 months with absolutely no improvement in my severe

asthma

> conditions. My Pulmonologist has sent me on a number of diagnostic

> tests that all come up negative;can't find any underlying reason for

> breathing problems other than severe asthma.

>

> At what point does one give up on Xolair ?

> It has been 12 months-how much longer should one stay on med that

has

> not worked in that period of time ? Appreciate any thoughts.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

baroo, my total IGE was over 1500 before initiating Xolair 12

montns ago; much higher than Xolair recommended range of 30 - 700.

Now my IGE total is 500. What might that indicate ?

> >

> > I have now been on Xolair injections ( maximum dose- 3 injections

2x

> > month) for 12 months with absolutely no improvement in my severe

> asthma

> > conditions. My Pulmonologist has sent me on a number of

diagnostic

> > tests that all come up negative;can't find any underlying reason

for

> > breathing problems other than severe asthma.

> >

> > At what point does one give up on Xolair ?

> > It has been 12 months-how much longer should one stay on med that

> has

> > not worked in that period of time ? Appreciate any thoughts.

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

> > >

> > > I have now been on Xolair injections ( maximum dose- 3

injections

> 2x

> > > month) for 12 months with absolutely no improvement in my

severe

> > asthma

> > > conditions. My Pulmonologist has sent me on a number of

> diagnostic

> > > tests that all come up negative;can't find any underlying

reason

> for

> > > breathing problems other than severe asthma.

> > >

> > > At what point does one give up on Xolair ?

> > > It has been 12 months-how much longer should one stay on med

that

> > has

> > > not worked in that period of time ? Appreciate any thoughts.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >I don' think you should give up.However, I do think you should be

getting allergy shots.

My allergies are so severe that I have to have 2 injections at a

time.I am 4 plus to everything from all trees, all grasses, all

molds, etc.I am better with the shots combined with the xolair.I

hope you get to feeling better.

>

[Guest guest]

It indicates that the Xolair has bound a percentage of your unbound

IgE at the doseage you have taken thus far. But, my IgE levels were

about 345 when I first commenced the drug and I was not terribly

symptomatic. I guess the argument by the drug manufacturer, the FDA

and your doctor may be that even at an IgE level of 500 you may

still remain symptomatic or not. It all depends on what IgE has been

bound. For example, if your are allergic to grass pollen and mould,

and a percentage of those IgEs remain unbound, you cans still

experience symptoms. Although my belief is that with your IgE levels

dropping your episodes or symptoms should not be as severe.

Many doctors believe in atopic individuals that there is a baseline

IgE level that does not produce symptoms. So you can get someone

with an IgE level of 40 versus someone with an IgE level of 300 and

the former can be much more symptomatic. The theory is that in atopy

not all the IgE comes into play and produces symptoms. A classic

example is atopic dermatitis. Usually, the IgE levels in these

patients is very high (well into the thousands). Yet, there only

symptom is AD and often it is episodic.

Xolair deals with the known. Put a patient on a certain doseage in

attempt to control all of the IgE, thus diminishing greatly the

symptoms of an allergic reaction. Unfortunately, the drug as yet to

be approved by the FDA and insurance companies to treat allergies

without asthma or other allergic disorders.

> > >

> > > I have now been on Xolair injections ( maximum dose- 3

injections

> 2x

> > > month) for 12 months with absolutely no improvement in my

severe

> > asthma

> > > conditions. My Pulmonologist has sent me on a number of

> diagnostic

> > > tests that all come up negative;can't find any underlying

reason

> for

> > > breathing problems other than severe asthma.

> > >

> > > At what point does one give up on Xolair ?

> > > It has been 12 months-how much longer should one stay on med

that

> > has

> > > not worked in that period of time ? Appreciate any thoughts.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

>