Allergic Asthma Caregiver Information

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
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How to Get Involved. And Stay Involved.

As a parent, partner, or caregiver, you know how difficult allergic asthma can be on your loved one. The good news is that there is a way you can help—by getting involved. Start by finding out as much as you can about moderate to severe persistent allergic asthma and how XOLAIR may help patients 12 and older who are still uncontrolled even though they're taking inhaled steroids. Once you and your loved one learn how to better control allergic asthma, you can both think about more than just allergic asthma.

Tips to get them started

Getting a diagnosis

A doctor who is specially trained in treating asthma, such as an allergist or pulmonologist, can correctly diagnose the symptoms your loved one is having. He or she may also help identify the allergens that trigger the disease.

Visiting the doctor

It's important to be prepared with information about your loved one's condition before going to the doctor's office. Some things you should know:

What are your loved one's symptoms?
How bad are they and how often do they occur?
What triggers the symptoms?
Do the symptoms affect his or her sleep?
Do allergies run in your family?

Also, keep in mind the doctor may run some tests to diagnose your loved one's condition or perform an allergy evaluation to help identify triggers.

Have more questions? Sign up for Xpansions and get a free Doctor Discussion Guide.

Interacting with your loved one

Even if you are responsible for taking care of your loved one, it's important to give him or her a chance to take on some responsibility. This will help him or her feel in control of the situation. Some examples include:

Encourage personal growth and confidence
Remind your loved one how important it is to manage his or her disease
Stay informed of all their regularly scheduled appointments

Creating a management plan

You and your loved one can work together to develop an asthma management plan to help you stay informed and organized. This includes:

Discussing with their doctor which medications should be taken
Familiarizing yourself with the schedule for taking those medications
Being aware of any changes in their symptoms
Understanding when it's time to contact their doctor
Keeping teachers and school staff informed of your loved one's condition if he or she is between 12 and 18

Keeping an eye on IgE

Did you know that immunoglobulin E (IgE) could play a major role in your loved one's asthma? Make sure to ask your doctor for an IgE test.

Learning about different treatments

There are 2 kinds of medications used to control asthma:

Medicines that provide short-term relief of asthma symptoms
1. Also called "rescue" medications
2. Usually taken when symptoms get worse
Medicines that help with long-term control of asthma that need to be taken even when your loved one is not experiencing symptoms

XOLAIR has been proven to help reduce the number of asthma attacks in people 12 years of age or older with moderate to severe persistent allergic asthma who are not controlled with inhaled steroids. Learn as much as you can and find out if it is the right treatment for your loved one. Ask your doctor about XOLAIR today.

For more information on XOLAIR, please click here

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.

A A A For Healthcare Professionals Important Safety Information Full Prescribing Information Share Text size SEARCH You are leaving XOLAIR.com The information contained in this section of the site is intended for U.S healthcare professionals only. Are you a U.S. healthcare professional? Please note XOLAIR is not affiliated with this website and is not responsible for its content. Browser Upgrade Required To view XOLAIR.com, you'll need Internet Explorer version 8. Simply click OK to download it now.
	Print this page >> Advanced Search IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION SCROLL FOR MORE NEXT: Financial Resources for XOLAIR Patients How to Get Involved. And Stay Involved. As a parent, partner, or caregiver, you know how difficult allergic asthma can be on your loved one. The good news is that there is a way you can help—by getting involved. Start by finding out as much as you can about moderate to severe persistent allergic asthma and how XOLAIR may help patients 12 and older who are still uncontrolled even though they're taking inhaled steroids. Once you and your loved one learn how to better control allergic asthma, you can both think about more than just allergic asthma. Tips to get them started Getting a diagnosis A doctor who is specially trained in treating asthma, such as an allergist or pulmonologist, can correctly diagnose the symptoms your loved one is having. He or she may also help identify the allergens that trigger the disease. Visiting the doctor It's important to be prepared with information about your loved one's condition before going to the doctor's office. Some things you should know: What are your loved one's symptoms? How bad are they and how often do they occur? What triggers the symptoms? Do the symptoms affect his or her sleep? Do allergies run in your family? Also, keep in mind the doctor may run some tests to diagnose your loved one's condition or perform an allergy evaluation to help identify triggers. Have more questions? Sign up for Xpansions and get a free Doctor Discussion Guide. Interacting with your loved one Even if you are responsible for taking care of your loved one, it's important to give him or her a chance to take on some responsibility. This will help him or her feel in control of the situation. Some examples include: Encourage personal growth and confidence Remind your loved one how important it is to manage his or her disease Stay informed of all their regularly scheduled appointments Creating a management plan You and your loved one can work together to develop an asthma management plan to help you stay informed and organized. This includes: Discussing with their doctor which medications should be taken Familiarizing yourself with the schedule for taking those medications Being aware of any changes in their symptoms Understanding when it's time to contact their doctor Keeping teachers and school staff informed of your loved one's condition if he or she is between 12 and 18 Keeping an eye on IgE Did you know that immunoglobulin E (IgE) could play a major role in your loved one's asthma? Make sure to ask your doctor for an IgE test. Learning about different treatments There are 2 kinds of medications used to control asthma: Medicines that provide short-term relief of asthma symptoms Also called "rescue" medications Usually taken when symptoms get worse Medicines that help with long-term control of asthma that need to be taken even when your loved one is not experiencing symptoms XOLAIR has been proven to help reduce the number of asthma attacks in people 12 years of age or older with moderate to severe persistent allergic asthma who are not controlled with inhaled steroids. Learn as much as you can and find out if it is the right treatment for your loved one. Ask your doctor about XOLAIR today. For more information on XOLAIR, please click here 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. Privacy Policy Terms and Conditions Site Map Glossary Contact Us ©2011 Genentech USA, Inc. and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. All rights reserved. This website is a service of Genentech USA, Inc. and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and is intended for US residents only.