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 National Institutes of Health 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 a prescription medicine given by injection for people who are 12 years of age and above who have moderate to severe persistent asthma that is triggered by year-round allergens in the air. A simple skin or blood test will confirm that you have this kind of asthma. This is known as allergic asthma. 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. XOLAIR has not been proven to work in other allergic conditions.

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. 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 injections.

In clinical studies, the most common side effects in patients receiving XOLAIR included injection-site reactions (45%), viral infections (23%), upper respiratory tract infection (20%), sinusitis (16%), headache (15%), and sore throat (11%).

Do not change or stop taking any of your other asthma medicines unless your healthcare provider tells you to do so. You may not see an immediate improvement in your asthma when beginning XOLAIR therapy.

Talk to your doctor for more information and if you have any questions about your treatment.

Please see full Prescribing Information and the Medication Guide for additional important information.