Taking care of your asthma is an important part of your life. If you have moderate to severe persistent allergic asthma, you and your doctor should create a treatment plan that you can stick to.

Stay informed

Some people might feel unsure of continuing on a certain course of therapy because of concerns about side effects, cost, or a support network. But if you talk to your doctor about these concerns beforehand, they can be easily addressed.

  • Want to learn more about side effects? Please see
    Important Safety Information or click here
  • Need cost or insurance assistance? XOLAIR Access Solutions™ is here to help. Learn more
  • Looking to join a support network? Xpansions.com is the exclusive community created especially for people taking XOLAIR. Go now
  • Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant while taking XOLAIR? You could be eligible to enroll in EXPECT, the XOLAIR Pregnancy Registry. Find out more

Stay motivated

If you are following a treatment plan that includes XOLAIR and are still having asthma symptoms, don't give up—talk to your doctor. It can take some time for XOLAIR to work.

You may not see an immediate improvement in your asthma after XOLAIR treatment begins. But it doesn't mean XOLAIR is not working. It is important to continue your XOLAIR injections until your doctor tells you otherwise. If you stop receiving XOLAIR injections, your symptoms may return.

Remember, the success of your treatment depends on how well you stick to your treatment plan. If you find yourself straying from it, talk to your doctor about making adjustments.

On Track With Jeanette Bolden

The year 2008 is going to be an exciting one for Jeanette Bolden—on and off the track. She is currently the Head Coach for the 2008 US Olympic Women's Track and Field team. And as a former gold medal runner herself, she's excited to lead her team to victory in Beijing this summer.

Off the track, Jeanette has struggled with allergic asthma since early childhood. Growing up, she felt that the symptoms of allergic asthma disrupted her everyday life and compromised her full potential. And even though she was able to win races during her track career, she still had to keep a rescue inhaler in her sock! Finally, in 2007, Jeanette saw an asthma specialist and started experiencing relief from her symptoms by taking XOLAIR.

Looking back, she says, "I was surprised when I learned that many people with allergic asthma don't see a specialist...I hope that by sharing my story, I will encourage others who live with asthma to talk with an asthma specialist, understand their triggers, and get their asthma on track."

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.