Shortness of breath, wheezing, tightness in the chest, coughing—these are all symptoms that not only sound miserable, but are probably all too familiar if you suffer from asthma.

Asthma is a disease that affects your respiratory system (the airways, lungs, and muscles used to move air in and out of the body). The symptoms of asthma not only affect how you breathe, but can also affect your lifestyle or the simple tasks you do on a daily basis.

Allergic asthma is a type of asthma that is triggered by allergens in the air. Allergens like:

• Cockroaches
• Dust mites
• Mold
• Pet Dander

To learn more about the common triggers and tips on how to avoid them, click here.

Allergic asthma is the most common type of asthma. In fact, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology (AAAAI) estimates that 60% of people in the United States with asthma have allergic asthma.

Asthma and Allergic Asthma: what really makes them different?

The difference between the 2 types of asthma lies in the cause. The triggers for allergic asthma cause a series of events to occur in your body. This is more often called an allergic reaction. This reaction makes the airway passages of your lungs become inflamed and swollen. In turn, you experience all the annoying and painful symptoms of asthma, like coughing and wheezing.

One reason you can’t control this allergic reaction is, in part, due to a small molecule produced in your body called Immunoglobulin E (pronounced im"u-no-glob'u-lin E), or IgE. People who produce IgE in response to allergic triggers may have allergic asthma.

Explore this section to learn more about:

The Role of IgE in Allergic Asthma
What Kind of Asthma You Have
Answers to Common Questions

	WHO is XOLAIR for?
	XOLAIR® (omalizumab) for subcutaneous use is an injectable, prescription medicine for patients ages 12 and older. It is for patients with moderate to severe persistent allergic asthma caused by year-round allergens in the air. A skin or blood test is done to see if you have allergic asthma. XOLAIR is for patients who are not controlled by asthma medicines called inhaled steroids.
	XOLAIR helps reduce the number of asthma attacks in people with allergic asthma who still have asthma symptoms even though they are taking inhaled steroids.
	Important Limitations of Use
	XOLAIR has not been proven to work in other allergic conditions. XOLAIR is not a rescue medicine and should not be used to treat sudden asthma attacks. XOLAIR should not be used in children under 12 years of age.
	IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
	XOLAIR should always be injected in a doctor's office. You should read the Medication Guide before starting XOLAIR treatment and before each and every treatment.
	A severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis has happened in some patients after they received XOLAIR. Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening condition and can lead to death. Seek emergency medical treatment right away if symptoms occur. Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis include:
	wheezing, shortness of breath, cough, chest tightness, or trouble breathing low blood pressure, dizziness, fainting, rapid or weak heartbeat, anxiety, or feeling of "impending doom" flushing, itching, hives, or feeling warm swelling of the throat or tongue, throat tightness, hoarse voice, or trouble swallowing
	You should not receive XOLAIR if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a XOLAIR injection. Do not use XOLAIR if you are allergic to any of its ingredients.
	In clinical studies 0.5% of patients receiving XOLAIR developed cancer, compared to 0.2% of patients receiving placebo (an injection with no active medicine).
	Joint inflammation or pain, rash, fever, and swollen lymph nodes have been seen in patients taking XOLAIR. Talk to your doctor if you’ve experienced any of these signs and symptoms.
	In patients >12 years of age, the most commonly observed side effects in asthma studies that had a >1% difference between XOLAIR and placebo were joint pain (8%), pain (general) ( 7%), leg pain (4%), tiredness (fatigue) (3%), dizziness (3%), fracture (2%), arm pain (2%), itching (2%), inflammation of the skin (2%), and earache (2%).
	In asthma studies, the most common side effects in patients, who either needed to stop XOLAIR or needed medical attention, were injection site reaction (45%), viral infections (23%), upper respiratory tract infection (20%), sinusitis (16%), headache (15%), and sore throat (11%). These side effects were seen at the same rates in XOLAIR-treated patients as in patients in the control group who received placebo.
	XOLAIR is not a rescue medicine and should not be used to treat sudden asthma attacks.
	XOLAIR is not a substitute for the medicines you are already taking. Do not change or stop taking any of your other asthma medicines unless your doctor tells you to do so. You may not see an immediate improvement in your asthma when beginning XOLAIR therapy.
	You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch, or by calling 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report any side effects at 1-866-4XOLAIR (1-866-496-5247).
	Talk to your doctor for more information and if you have any questions about your treatment.
	Please see full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for additional important safety information.