Omalizumab for Urticaria User Reviews (Page 4)

• karyn...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 23, 2013

"Chronic hideous urticaria 17 years tried 100s of antihistamine and off label doses of stage 2 treatments steroid dependent daily for 13 years. Received omalizumab within 36 hours completely hive free only downfall have to get 3 shots every 2 weeks but small price to pay. It's a miracle."

• Mimi
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 12, 2019

Xolair (omalizumab) "I have been on Xolair for the past 2 years for idiopathic urticaria (IU) and it worked great UNTIL we switched to the Prefilled vials. Now they do not work at all. I will be going back to see if the medication starts to work for me again, I do not want this drug to stop working as my IU was fairly under control . I am so miserable . I hope that I do not have to go on Steroids. Has anyone asked about using Dupixent? I think I am going to ask at my next app."

• Long...
• June 25, 2017

Xolair (omalizumab) "Chronic hives for 1 year - took all the antihistimines and prednisone. The only thing that kicked the hives was prednosolone pack that I recently took after the Xolair shot did not work. I have had 8 Xolair shots (monthly injections) and at first they were very effective. After the 6th one, I had recurring hives and angiodema return so I am back on large dose of allertec and nightly taking hydroxyzine. Xolair seems to help with the size of hives and the amount when breaking out. Weight gain is definitely noticed but due to prednisone prior to the shot, I can't be certain it is all due to Xolair. Will continue on Xolair and perhaps look at Kenalog shot."

• selena
• October 6, 2015

"I'm 22 years old. I consider myself an extremely healthy individual. I got sick w. a virus. I started to get mild hives. Eventually I felt a lot better but my hives persisted. Saw a few specialists, got tested, lots of blood drawn. My hives were caused by an autoimmune reaction. My hives continued to get worse daily, for over two months to the point where my entire face was swelling. Doctors gave me 4x the amount of antihistamines to take daily, those did well to control it, but they still lingered. After the first week of my first xolair injection my hives completely disappeared. I continued to take the injection for the next two months& still am.. but I AM HIVE FREE! not one hive!! no side effects! I couldn't be happier with the results"

• Aly
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 13, 2018

Xolair (omalizumab) "I had been getting hives head to toe for 3 years before trying Xolair... honestly it was so miserable. I had two allergist trying me on prednizone, singulair, doxepin, something like that (in short it was a crazy pill regimen) and that didn't even alleviate the hives in the slightest- just made me depressed and jittery. Until one day I went to a new doctor and he let me try xolair. Immediately after the first shot, my hives were 80% better, and by the second shot 4 weeks later, I was 100% no hives. My skin is super sensitive in general so sometimes I still get itchy or if i go past my 4 weeks some hives develop again, but it is soooooo much better than waking up red and blotchy and itchy every freaking day. Xolair has really changed my life. Although, I wish it was more definite when I can get off of it.. I think you kind of just have to wait for your body allergies to change (meanwhile xolair will still suppress the hives). All in all I would still get on it if I had to do it again."

• Jacob
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 8, 2023

Xolair (omalizumab) "I have had Chronic Hives since they randomly appeared one day when I was about 8. I have been taking Allegra and Zyrtec for years and that has helped a bunch but still got flare-ups now and then. Finally, my doctor recommended Xolair. At first, it seemed to work at least for the first two weeks. Then my hives started to flare up covering my whole body and becoming unresponsive to any medicines. MY doctor increased my dosage but that has only made them worse. I have them every day. They are more painful and itchy than before I started taking Xolair. Side Effects: for me I have noticed that I am constantly tired. I used to be a night owl and now I can barely make it past 9pm. I sleep 12 hours and wake up feeling exhausted. Have noticed some bone and muscle pains too. I feel a lot weaker overall. And I’m only 20. In conclusion, this drug might work for some, but for me it only made THINGS WORSE."

• Mlw
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 5, 2019

Xolair (omalizumab) "I had chronic hives for 2 months and zyrtec and zantac did not help. Prednisone was the only thing that stopped them. I was approved for Xolair in month 3. On the 3rd injection I no longer have hives. After 12 months developed side effects of study nose, headaches, chills, hot flushed face."

• Itchy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 24, 2019

Xolair (omalizumab) "I have had Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria for 9 months. After going through all the otc drugs and prescription drugs, I was started on Xolair injections 6 weeks ago and have had 2 shots. I have experienced no change in the severity of the hives nor the itching since starting the injections. I've been told Xolair can take 12 to 16 weeks to fully take effect so I'm still hoping it will work. In the meantime, I'm losing sleep, tearing at my skin, and have become a recluse as I don't want people to see me scratching all the time. I started having Acupuncture, cupping and herbal treatment 2 weeks ago and that helps for a day or two. However, the cost of 3 - 4 acupuncture treatments a week has resulted in my savings all gone just to get some relief from this infernal itching. I have been to the ER and they can't give me Prednisone or other steroids as I'm on Warfarin."

• MLW
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 7, 2019

Xolair (omalizumab) "I had hives starting July 2018 and zyrtec & zantac did not help but prednisone did. After 2 months insurance approved xolair. I was told up front it would take 3 xolair injections to feel relief and it did. After 8 months of xolair I began having side effects of chills, cold/painful hands and feet. After 11 months had nasal congestion, sore throat, headaches and cough that have lasted 4 months with no relief. They start to get a little better then get worse after injection but provider refuses to admit is xolair causing it. I am considering dropping xolair to see if hives are gone and unfortunately the only guidance on discontinuing is from John Hopkins in that it wears off in 6 to 12 months and has not cured hives. Hopefully my body has when I stopped. I believe this is a big money maker for my provider who charges me $250 just to give an injection. Thankfully I have the Genentech/Novartis $5 copay for injection cost and xolair cost."

• Abbas...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 7, 2015

Xolair (omalizumab) "Urticaria:- I m 34 yrs old Indian male and working in UAE for past 3 yrs. Suddenly one day I developed hives and swelling on my lip then consulted a dermatologist and started to live with antihistamine tablet called Lezine. All three reports blood, urine and stool were normal But these hives used to come in my body almost once in a month but they were not severe once. It used to be on thighs,legs and shoulders sometime in lip. I was not able to traces the reasons. I did a Ige component test it was expensive however this was also normal. Today I finally planned to go on Xolair injection took 2 shots same time I.e 300 ml thank god my insurance approved this expensive injection. I will update you guys accordingly the effect."

• Steinfa
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 3, 2015

"I developed CIU approximately 4 months ago, and have never gone a day without extensive hives except when on prednisone, and the first 3 weeks after my first Xolair shots. Since then, I have had two more rounds of Xolair, but the hives are not going away, and I'm terribly disappointed. Have not given up the other antihistamines prescribed by my allergist. Does anyone know how long Xolair takes before it starts knocking out the hives?"

• daryian
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 22, 2024

Xolair (omalizumab) "This medication is a miracle for MCAS. How much I itched even while taking 6 Allegra-D, 2 Singulair, and 2 Pepcid was making me miserable. 10 pills every day and still I was covered in hives and rashes daily. It took 2 rounds to fully work, but I would say Xolair fixes 95% of the issue. 5% left is starting reactions to my major triggers which is better than I ever expected. I have zero side effects except minor soreness at injection site for up to 24 hours."

• LBano
• March 19, 2021

Xolair (omalizumab) "I had severe hives, all over my body for 4 months, before starting Xolair treatments. The hives started clearing up within a week of receiving my first dose. I have a few days of headache, fatigue, feeling feverish- after the injections. It's 100% worth it, though."

• Despoir
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 31, 2018

Xolair (omalizumab) "I have had another appointment but with no effect on histamine intolerance. I am on my second dose BUT things still are getting worse . Why should I need to still take my previous preventive pills if xolair is suppose to work. It is not working, sorry!"

• Obi
• January 12, 2020

Xolair (omalizumab) "I took Xolair for over 1 year; at times I would get hives. My issue : I still had to take Zyrtec. Allegra, singular Zantac benadryl at least 2 some time 3 . I use to have lip swelling and that definitely improved: However my last shot was Dec 6 . Our insurance change so I have not had a Jan shot and this morning I have broken out again. My problem with the shot if 3 or pills work why pay so much for. I have had hives 29 years ."

• Julie...
• May 20, 2015

"Yeah well.. we ended up at the end of the road with the Xolair for my daughter's treatment for her chronic hives. Every day of being miserable, covered in hives that itched, burned and were severely painful along with swelling of many parts of her body to excruciating levels. She started the Xolair injections in January 2015. For the first three months, they worked wonderfully. She only had minimal hives. After the April injections, she flared up that same night, and has every day since.. I thought at first they gave her the wrong shot in April, and then for the May shot, we'd be able to know for sure if they gave her the wrong thing. Well, we had the May injections last week, and the same thing. She's covered in hives.."

• Kris...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 4, 2018

Xolair (omalizumab) "I had chronic hives for almost 5 years and nothing worked. I was ready to totally break down and knew xolair was my last hope! Had my first shot a month ago and have had no hives no edema no itching and lots of smiles and am feeling like me again!! Do whatever it takes to get this med if you are at the end of your rope. Only side effect has been dental pain which has been way more manageable! Forever grateful for xolair!!"

• Mary
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 4, 2020

Xolair (omalizumab) "Helps a great deal when pharmacy will ship it on time. However, for those who have a problem with hives, look into mast cell activation disorder. Particularly if there are other symptoms that may seem unrelated."

• Amanda
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 25, 2018

Xolair (omalizumab) "Was diagnosed with chronic urticaria 4 months ago with no signs of relief. Once the shot kicked in after a few days the breakout periods extended. I haven't had the hives which is great as they covered from head to toe but I still suffer from lips and face swelling up like balloons every week or so. Hopefully my next shot will fix that! Experienced NO side effects at all."

• Jeanne
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 24, 2015

"I've had CIU for 15 years, have been to docs from Boston to Colorado, and more cocktails of different medications on and off label. The hives took away lots of my life! Welts and angioedema....started xolair ten months ago.... Very few hives for several months then they were all gone.... After 5 months I came off all other antihistamines. Now hive free! Still get one shot once a month"

• Ms Pa...
• December 21, 2016

Xolair (omalizumab) "I'm getting my first Xolair shot today. Currently I am covered in hives from head to toe, itching severely. My last hive out break was in June 2016 and they went away after 6 weeks on their own. I'm unresponsive to all the medication, prednisone, zyrtec, ranitidine, singular, gabapentin (for itching) hydroxyzine, Benadryl. I take them all when I have a flare up. I'm absolutely miserable and call my allergy specialist daily. This current flare up has been going for a few days and I had some xolair waiting for me in the office since June. I'm excited that this may be the cure that I need to prevent this misery. Will keep you posted."

• hives...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 17, 2015

"Broke out with hives probably like 5 or 6 months ago then had them everyday. Tested for allergies, didnt change diet nothing new, and didnt change detergrnts. Nothing seemes to be the root cause. Was put on various medcines such as predisone and allergy meds and doxepin. Finally got xolair shots. Got two shots at once and have to get them once a month but it worked!! Honestly hives all over your body everyday really brings you down. This brought down my hives a lot in a few days then after A few days i was hive free.going from everyday for months to nothing for the past week have really improved My self esteem. Its looking really good so far. Reccomend it if youve tried everything else"

• Asia
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 22, 2023

Xolair (omalizumab) "in 2022 summer my hives started popping up every other week or so and I would only get hives where my clothing was pressing the most on my skin, like the knot that you tie behind your next from a halter top. After three months of what were hives every other two weeks or so in isolated areas, they grew to palm sized hives randomly throughout the day, all day, from my scalp down to my feet. I couldn't leave my house, I could not put clothing on, sleep comfortably, cuddle my animals or even move without extreme itching and pain. I was eventually diagnosed with chronic urticaria and prescribed Xolair in Dec 2022. It is now Nov 2023 and I am taking the shot every 6-8 weeks and my life has drastically changed. I am thankful for this drug and the Genetech foundation who aids in making this drug accessible to me ever since I was laid off."

• yovasr
• April 4, 2015

"I have had pretty severe CIU for a couple of years now. Before the Xolair, I was taking cyclosporine BID, plaquenil BID, allegra BID, ranitidine BID (and other various doses and combinations of antihistamines to no avail), prednisone PRN (whenever I developed angioedema, which was a few times/month), and I was about 50% controlled (once or twice daily, mild to moderate outbreaks with severe outbreaks about 1x/week). I was able to add Xolair last June. It took a few months and I have not been able to get off any of my other medications, but I am at >90% control. I feel like I have my life back. =) I am still hoping I will be able to get off some of this other stuff, but at least I feel normal again."

• dinler
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 5, 2021

Xolair (omalizumab) "Works very well for chronic hives. As a treatment I rate it a "9". With the first two injections I saw immediate improvement. For cost I rate it a "1". The monthly co-pay for the prescription with Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO is $2273.54 thru the Walgreens Alliance RX pharmacy the BCBS policy requires us to use. The co-pay does not apply to my annual total out of pocket limit. Physician's service for administering the injections is not included in the co-pay billing for the prescription. $27,282.48 annually as a co-pay for Xolair is out of reach of the majority of Americans, including me. While it has significantly improved my health, I have to discontinue using Xolair due to cost. Blue Cross Blue Shield does not cover Xolair. Check with your insurance company before considering using"