Re: Numbness and Pain in Hands and Arsm

[Guest guest]

>

> Dear Xolair people -

>

> I am writing on behalf of my friend Kathy to ask about numbness and

pain

> in hands and arms. Is anyone else having a problem like this?

>

> Kathy has had asthma for about 12 years and started Xolair 3 weeks

ago. So

> far she's had two injections. Before her first shot she had already

> suffered numbness and pain in both hands and arms in association

with a

> trial of Singulair and one other inhaler - neither of which she's

taking

> any more. The symptoms would be present when she woke up and would

> gradually subside over the next few hours.

>

> Now, however, the numbness and pain are worse and persist all day.

One of

> her doctors says they're due to her diabetes, which she's had for

20 years

> (Type 1). She's worried that they're due to the Xolair, which seems

to

> have stopped her coughing already and greatly reduced her need for

her

> rescue inhaler (Combivent or Albuterol).

>

> Can anyone tell us anything, please, about numbness and pain in

hands and

> arms?

>

> Best wishes to everybody!

>

> Gordon

>

>

> >

Gordon,

I am NOT a doctor but I read up, talk to a lot of people, and try to

keep myself informed about Xolair and side effects.

Also, I have just been diagnosed as type II diabetic and have been on

Xolair for over a year now. I have been having the symptoms of

diabetes for quite a while sometime without knowing I had it until

lately.

Personally, I have not read about, seen or ever heard of anything

about reactions like numbness and pain in the arms from xolair. It is

one medication that seems to have very few if any side effects.

As an asthmatic, I'm sure her doctor has had her on Prednisone at one

time or another. Prednisone can be a horrible drug for a diabetic's

up's and down's of blood sugar. I sure am glad that I no longer have

to take it very often anymore due to xolair

My advice is for your friend Kathy to get another appointment with

her doctor ASAP and ask about these things just to make sure. Xolair

IS a new medication and Prednisone can wreak havoc in diabetics.

Doug

Group Founder

[Guest guest]

It is not likely that the numbness and pain are due to Xolair -

while Xolair is still new enough that there are probably unknown

side effects, the mechanism of action does not indicate that these

would be likely. Diabetes, however, can cause issues with

ciruculation, resulting in numbness and pain in extremities. I

would certainly consult with both the prescribing doctor for the

Xolair as well as the doctor managing my diabetes if it were me and

have the issue addressed immediately.

A couple of things to keep in mind:

If your friend has been on pred for her asthma, it can cause a

number of side effects. Since I no longer take it, I do experience

numbness and pain in my right hand, which is already showing signs

of arthritis, which runs in my family. Because the pred is an anti-

inflammatory that wasn't present while I was taking all the pred.

The other thing is that there is some possibility that arthritis is

associated with immune disfunction, which all of us allergic people

have. Asthma is in part an inflammatory disease. So between immune

issues, inflammation issues and the diabetes, I'm betting it is not

the Xolair causing your friend's discomfort.

Please post and let us know what she finds out.

Addy