Allergic reaction to Xolair

[Guest guest]

Has anyone had an allergic reaction to the Xolair shot? What was your

physician's response?

I have been on 225mg Xolair since August 2005 without any problems.

Friday, 10 minutes after my shot, my throat started feeling like it was

swelling. The nurse gave me benedryl, and when that didn't help, epi.

I wasn't having any other type of problems, and after 30-45 minutes,

the throat issue went away. My doctor is unsure if it was a reaction

to Xolair but said on my next show they would possibly drop the doseage.

I had two anaphylatic reactions when I started allery shots in late

2000, before the doctor discontinued the allery shots. I have also had

varying reactions to a couple of NSAIDS and IV dye. This was similar

but at the same time different from those reactions.

I don't want to stop Xolair, I haven't taken oral pred in 2 years and

no flair ups of my asthma since starting Xolair.

Debbie

[Guest guest]

At my last Xolair injection (450 mgs) 6 months ago I was having tightness in my

chest and couldn't breathe when I sat back in the chair.  However, I fully

believe I was having a regular old asthma attack ... think it was in a mild form

when I walked in and then there was the stress of a stupid RN, a dirty medical

school infusion center, $$$, hassles, and generalized buffoonery.  The RN did

not do a thing about my breathing problem - good reason not to go back. 

Unfortunately, for just a few weeks (maybe 3 or 4?) before I quit Xolair, it

seemed to stop working on asthma for whatever reason.  Therefore, I truly

believe it had nothing to do with Xolair - yes, I'm VERY allergic and

asthmatic.  In fact, if they get with the program and let me home inject I will

consider Xolair again.  I have attacks every day and out of breath every day

upon exertion and while asleep. 

 

It's always possible to react to something/anything and Xolair, like many new

drugs is not fully understood.  I agree with your doc and the other poster about

reducing the dose of Xolair and then later gradually increasing it - with epi

pen precautions and trying to keep someone close at hand in case you do have

difficulties.  

 

I'm not sure they've had anyone on Xolair that long who has reacted to it ... of

course there's always the first time but I would tend to consider other

triggers.  Would allergy testing through blood tests be appropriate now to see

if you've developed a new allergy?  Perhaps even a cold/flu virus that is

otherwise very mild? 

 

Keep us posted!  (pun intended)  

 

Best to you. 

 

[Guest guest]

They can't do blood tests while on Xolair if I recall correctly, I've

asked multiple times because I think I have some new food allergies or

old ones that didn't use to bother me much before and the only way I

could get re-tested (blood, prick, or otherwise) was by laying off the

Xolair for some period of time so I would have accurate results. If

anyone knows of a way they can do allergy testing while on Xolair,

please let me know...I've tried the elimination diet but being

allergic to everything (or so it seems) I get discouraged quickly.

>

> At my last Xolair injection (450 mgs) 6 months ago I was having

tightness in my chest and couldn't breathe when I sat back in the

chair.  However, I fully believe I was having a regular old asthma

attack ... think it was in a mild form when I walked in and then there

was the stress of a stupid RN, a dirty medical school infusion center,

$$$, hassles, and generalized buffoonery.  The RN did not do a thing

about my breathing problem - good reason not to go back. 

Unfortunately, for just a few weeks (maybe 3 or 4?) before I quit

Xolair, it seemed to stop working on asthma for whatever reason. 

Therefore, I truly believe it had nothing to do with Xolair - yes, I'm

VERY allergic and asthmatic.  In fact, if they get with the program

and let me home inject I will consider Xolair again.  I have attacks

every day and out of breath every day upon exertion and while asleep. 

>  

> It's always possible to react to something/anything and Xolair, like

many new drugs is not fully understood.  I agree with your doc and the

other poster about reducing the dose of Xolair and then later

gradually increasing it - with epi pen precautions and trying to keep

someone close at hand in case you do have difficulties.  

>  

> I'm not sure they've had anyone on Xolair that long who has reacted

to it ... of course there's always the first time but I would tend to

consider other triggers.  Would allergy testing through blood tests be

appropriate now to see if you've developed a new allergy?  Perhaps

even a cold/flu virus that is otherwise very mild? 

>  

> Keep us posted!  (pun intended)  

>  

> Best to you. 

>  

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Addy - the oddball thing is that before Xolair, my total IgE was about 900, but

after a year and a half on Xolair, my unbound IgE was 1900. Go figure. Puldoc

says he doesn't understand it nor does Genentech. He did, however, do a

bronchoscopy Monday.

OP

----- Original Message -----

From: pyle456

Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2009 7:46 PM

Subject: [ ] Re: Allergic reaction to Xolair

Actually there IS an IgE test that has been developed by Genentech

(of course) that distinguishes between bound and unbound Xolair so

those of us who are on Xolair can get some idea of our real unbound

IgE count. It is not, however, widely available as yet. I found out

through Terry that our practice has it (yep, there's two of us who go

to the same practice, but not the same doc), but I don't think

everyone has it.

Ask your doctor. It may be that it's not a matter of the practice

having it, but the lab that actually gets the blood sample....

Addy

Group co-owner

> >

> > At my last Xolair injection (450 mgs) 6 months ago I was having

> tightness in my chest and couldn't breathe when I sat back in the

> chair. However, I fully believe I was having a regular old asthma

> attack ... think it was in a mild form when I walked in and then

there

> was the stress of a stupid RN, a dirty medical school infusion

center,

> $$$, hassles, and generalized buffoonery. The RN did not do a thing

> about my breathing problem - good reason not to go back.

> Unfortunately, for just a few weeks (maybe 3 or 4?) before I quit

> Xolair, it seemed to stop working on asthma for whatever reason.

> Therefore, I truly believe it had nothing to do with Xolair - yes,

I'm

> VERY allergic and asthmatic. In fact, if they get with the program

> and let me home inject I will consider Xolair again. I have attacks

> every day and out of breath every day upon exertion and while

asleep.

> >

> > It's always possible to react to something/anything and Xolair,

like

> many new drugs is not fully understood. I agree with your doc and

the

> other poster about reducing the dose of Xolair and then later

> gradually increasing it - with epi pen precautions and trying to

keep

> someone close at hand in case you do have difficulties.

> >

> > I'm not sure they've had anyone on Xolair that long who has

reacted

> to it ... of course there's always the first time but I would tend

to

> consider other triggers. Would allergy testing through blood tests

be

> appropriate now to see if you've developed a new allergy? Perhaps

> even a cold/flu virus that is otherwise very mild?

> >

> > Keep us posted! (pun intended)

> >

> > Best to you.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Prior to Xolair, my IgE had been tested at various levels - 565, 785,

etc. It's theoretically possible that you were at the high end of

your personal scale on your last IgE test.

But as you implied, who knows?

GO BLUE DEVILS!!

Addy

> > >

> > > At my last Xolair injection (450 mgs) 6 months ago I was

having

> > tightness in my chest and couldn't breathe when I sat back in

the

> > chair. However, I fully believe I was having a regular old

asthma

> > attack ... think it was in a mild form when I walked in and

then

> there

> > was the stress of a stupid RN, a dirty medical school infusion

> center,

> > $$$, hassles, and generalized buffoonery. The RN did not do a

thing

> > about my breathing problem - good reason not to go back.

> > Unfortunately, for just a few weeks (maybe 3 or 4?) before I

quit

> > Xolair, it seemed to stop working on asthma for whatever

reason.

> > Therefore, I truly believe it had nothing to do with Xolair -

yes,

> I'm

> > VERY allergic and asthmatic. In fact, if they get with the

program

> > and let me home inject I will consider Xolair again. I have

attacks

> > every day and out of breath every day upon exertion and while

> asleep.

> > >

> > > It's always possible to react to something/anything and

Xolair,

> like

> > many new drugs is not fully understood. I agree with your doc

and

> the

> > other poster about reducing the dose of Xolair and then later

> > gradually increasing it - with epi pen precautions and trying

to

> keep

> > someone close at hand in case you do have difficulties.

> > >

> > > I'm not sure they've had anyone on Xolair that long who has

> reacted

> > to it ... of course there's always the first time but I would

tend

> to

> > consider other triggers. Would allergy testing through blood

tests

> be

> > appropriate now to see if you've developed a new allergy?

Perhaps

> > even a cold/flu virus that is otherwise very mild?

> > >

> > > Keep us posted! (pun intended)

> > >

> > > Best to you.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >