Re: new and more questions

[Guest guest]

Jody,

I believe that what the manufacturers were seeking in the clinical

trials was an improvement in peak flow/quality of life while

decreasing oral steroid use following introduction of Xolair. The

two published articles I read only indicated reduction in oral

steroid use.

That said, the general working thought is, since Xolair binds to the

IgE and prevents it from binding to the mast cell and starting the

allergic process, ALL allergic symptoms should improve and therefore

severely allergic people should need less of their meds. Xolair is

now in clinical trials for allergic rhinitis and peanut allergy.

I must say that that has been true for me. I can't tell you the

last time I had used any type of inhaler. I haven't used my

nebulizer since January. I haven't had oral pred in two months, and

then only a very short, low-dose taper when my sinuses exploded

following a drop in barometric pressure which was not allergy

related. I do still need to take Claritin 3-4 times a week, but

that's hardly anything, is it?

Take care, and welcome to the board.

Addy

[Guest guest]

Jody,

I have been on Xolair for almost a year, and have seen such a

significant improvement in my symptoms that I no longer consider

myself 'asthmatic'.

I do still use Advair 500 twice daily, and I also use Nasacort AQ

regularly. I seldom, if ever, use a rescue inhaler any more.

I take prednisone (10 mg alt days) but mostly for another affliction

that is not related to asthma. i used to take 40 mg daily. My

hematologist got on my case when I saw him last because I had cut

the pred so low, but I've had no problems so I am glad to be able to

cut it back.

Since the reduction in pred, the weight has literally fallen off.

The 'moon face' is gone and so is my gut. Of course, since my

symptoms have improved, I can exercise without fear of choking up.

Month after month, my symptoms continue to improve, and I live in

a 'high allergy' area of the US. My allergist tells me that my lung

function will not likely improve much, since I have had asthma for

so long. I am trying to prove him wrong.

The most important thing for me, though, is the significant

improvement in quality of life. I have an active five-year-old son,

and I can do things with him outside, at any time of year, that I

never thought I would be able to do. Whether I am playing in the

snow, playing on the beach, camping or hiking, mowing the lawn or

raking leaves, I no longer worry about having to stop to use my

rescue inhaler.

I can live with having to take a few maintenance medications. That

is a small price to pay. Prior to Xolair, even with all of the

other meds (including prednisone) I was never really symptom-free.

Now, aside from some occasional sinus problems, I feel great.

Good luck.

Greg

--- In , " PurpleJody " <purplejody@y...>

wrote:

> I was wondering if anyone knows if Xolair is supposed to take the

> place of all the other asthma meds at some point??? By taking

> Adviar, Singular, Albuterol, Flonase along with the Xolair....will

I

> be able to drop the others? Anyone have this experience? My

> physician's assitant is trying to find this out for me and will be

> going to a conference this summer. But I'd like to hear

from 'real

> people' like us.

> Thanks,

> Jody

[Guest guest]

Jody,

Based on my understanding of the way Xolair works, I believe it is

a 'forever' kind of medication.

Problem with making that determination is that the drug is so new,

there have been no true long-term users, so it is impossible to

conclude this for certain.

Greg

> Thank you for the reply.

>

> I have found that I was able to discontinue the prednisone also

after starting on xolair. Before that, I was taking 60-80 mgs a day

and could not get off of it. It was just awful, as many of you

probably know. I was so stressed out by that prednisone.

>

> Does anyone know if the xolair is a 'forever' kind of

medication......like the inhaled steriods would be forever to keep

the symptoms under control. Or, will it 'fix' the symptoms and then

not be needed?

>

> I have so many questions and I am glad I have found this group. I

heard about this group from a market research person when I did a

questionaire session on xolair. Has anyone else done that?

> Thanks,

> J.

>