Allergic Asthma and IgE | XOLAIR® (Omalizumab)

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
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Is Your Asthma Controlled?

First, What is IgE?

IgE (immunoglobulin E) is a natural substance found in your body that may play a central role in your allergic asthma. IgE works by binding to allergens and then triggering the release of chemicals that can cause inflammation.

Second, how does IgE affect you?

You still might be experiencing symptoms like wheezing and chest tightness—even if you're taking your medicines, including inhaled steroids, the way you should. With allergic asthma, when you are exposed to allergens, such as dust or pet dander, this may cause 2 things to happen:

Constriction of the airways
Tightening of the muscles that surround the airways of the lungs, making it hard to breathe.

Inflammation of the airways
Swelling of the tissue in the airways of the lungs. This process narrows the airways, also making it hard to breathe.

Together, the constriction and inflammation of the airways can lead to an asthma attack.

IgE and your allergic asthma

In some patients, reducing IgE has been shown to be helpful as part of their asthma treatment plan, so it may be important to learn everything you can about IgE, including the level of IgE in your body.

Knowing your IgE level can help you and your doctor decide the most appropriate way to treat your asthma. If you don't know your IgE level, just ask your doctor about a skin or blood test to check your specific IgE level to help determine if your asthma is caused by year-round allergens in the air.

If you have two or more attacks a year that require oral steroids, your asthma is not considered well-controlled. So, to see if your asthma is allergic asthma, make sure you ask your doctor about an IgE test.

Your healthcare provider is your primary source of care and information, and should always be contacted for medical advice and treatment.

Who is XOLAIR for?

XOLAIR^® (omalizumab) for subcutaneous use is an injectable, prescription medicine for patients 12 years of age 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, so get emergency medical treatment right away if signs or symptoms of anaphylaxis occur after receiving XOLAIR.

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

Anaphylaxis from XOLAIR can happen:

right after receiving a XOLAIR injection or hours later
after any XOLAIR injection. Anaphylaxis has occurred after the first XOLAIR injection or after many XOLAIR injections.

Your healthcare provider should watch you for some time in the office for signs or symptoms of anaphylaxis after injecting XOLAIR. If you have signs or symptoms of anaphylaxis, tell your healthcare provider right away.

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, a variety of cancer types, including breast, skin, prostate, and parotid (a type of salivary gland), were reported in more patients who received XOLAIR than in patients who did not receive XOLAIR.

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.

Some patients on XOLAIR may have an abnormal increase in eosinophils (a type of white blood cell) in the blood or tissues, sometimes causing an inflammation of blood vessels, which can lead to rash, worsening of respiratory symptoms, heart trouble, and/or nerve pain and weakness.

Joint inflammation or pain, rash, fever, and swollen lymph nodes have been seen in some patients taking XOLAIR, after the first or subsequent injections. Talk to your doctor if you've experienced any of these signs and symptoms.

The most commonly seen side effects occurring more frequently in patients receiving XOLAIR than in patients who received placebo (an injection with no active medicine) were joint pain, pain (general), leg pain, tiredness (fatigue), dizziness, fracture, arm pain, itching, inflammation of the skin, and earache.

In asthma studies, the most common side effects in patients, who either needed to stop XOLAIR or needed medical attention, were injection site reaction, viral infections, upper respiratory tract infection, sinusitis, headache, and sore throat. These side effects were seen at similar rates in XOLAIR-treated patients as in patients that did not receive XOLAIR.

There are other possible side effects with XOLAIR. Talk to your doctor for more information and if you have any questions about your treatment.

XOLAIR has not been studied in pregnant women. Pregnant women exposed to XOLAIR are encouraged to enroll in the XOLAIR Pregnancy Exposure Registry. You can get more information by calling 1-866-4XOLAIR (1-866-496-5247) or by speaking with your doctor.

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide for additional important safety information.

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	Print this page >> Advanced Search IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION SCROLL FOR MORE NEXT: Is Your Asthma Controlled? First, What is IgE? IgE (immunoglobulin E) is a natural substance found in your body that may play a central role in your allergic asthma. IgE works by binding to allergens and then triggering the release of chemicals that can cause inflammation. Second, how does IgE affect you? You still might be experiencing symptoms like wheezing and chest tightness—even if you're taking your medicines, including inhaled steroids, the way you should. With allergic asthma, when you are exposed to allergens, such as dust or pet dander, this may cause 2 things to happen: Constriction of the airways Tightening of the muscles that surround the airways of the lungs, making it hard to breathe. Inflammation of the airways Swelling of the tissue in the airways of the lungs. This process narrows the airways, also making it hard to breathe. Together, the constriction and inflammation of the airways can lead to an asthma attack. IgE and your allergic asthma In some patients, reducing IgE has been shown to be helpful as part of their asthma treatment plan, so it may be important to learn everything you can about IgE, including the level of IgE in your body. Knowing your IgE level can help you and your doctor decide the most appropriate way to treat your asthma. If you don't know your IgE level, just ask your doctor about a skin or blood test to check your specific IgE level to help determine if your asthma is caused by year-round allergens in the air. If you have two or more attacks a year that require oral steroids, your asthma is not considered well-controlled. So, to see if your asthma is allergic asthma, make sure you ask your doctor about an IgE test. Your healthcare provider is your primary source of care and information, and should always be contacted for medical advice and treatment. Who is XOLAIR for? XOLAIR^® (omalizumab) for subcutaneous use is an injectable, prescription medicine for patients 12 years of age 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, so get emergency medical treatment right away if signs or symptoms of anaphylaxis occur after receiving XOLAIR. 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 Anaphylaxis from XOLAIR can happen: right after receiving a XOLAIR injection or hours later after any XOLAIR injection. Anaphylaxis has occurred after the first XOLAIR injection or after many XOLAIR injections. Your healthcare provider should watch you for some time in the office for signs or symptoms of anaphylaxis after injecting XOLAIR. If you have signs or symptoms of anaphylaxis, tell your healthcare provider right away. 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, a variety of cancer types, including breast, skin, prostate, and parotid (a type of salivary gland), were reported in more patients who received XOLAIR than in patients who did not receive XOLAIR. 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. Some patients on XOLAIR may have an abnormal increase in eosinophils (a type of white blood cell) in the blood or tissues, sometimes causing an inflammation of blood vessels, which can lead to rash, worsening of respiratory symptoms, heart trouble, and/or nerve pain and weakness. Joint inflammation or pain, rash, fever, and swollen lymph nodes have been seen in some patients taking XOLAIR, after the first or subsequent injections. Talk to your doctor if you've experienced any of these signs and symptoms. The most commonly seen side effects occurring more frequently in patients receiving XOLAIR than in patients who received placebo (an injection with no active medicine) were joint pain, pain (general), leg pain, tiredness (fatigue), dizziness, fracture, arm pain, itching, inflammation of the skin, and earache. In asthma studies, the most common side effects in patients, who either needed to stop XOLAIR or needed medical attention, were injection site reaction, viral infections, upper respiratory tract infection, sinusitis, headache, and sore throat. These side effects were seen at similar rates in XOLAIR-treated patients as in patients that did not receive XOLAIR. There are other possible side effects with XOLAIR. Talk to your doctor for more information and if you have any questions about your treatment. XOLAIR has not been studied in pregnant women. Pregnant women exposed to XOLAIR are encouraged to enroll in the XOLAIR Pregnancy Exposure Registry. You can get more information by calling 1-866-4XOLAIR (1-866-496-5247) or by speaking with your doctor. Please see full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide for additional important safety information. 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