Omalizumab and Fatigue: What Users Say

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 27, 2020

Omalizumab for Urticaria "I've been suffering from chronic urticaria for half a year with daily breakouts. Different parts of my body were always covered with lesions. I was on 3 different antihistamines and tried steroid therapy for a couple of months with no success. I was on the edge of depression because of constant pain and itch. I had my first 300 mg shots a week ago, and now my urticaria just disappeared. Had headache and fatigue the day after the shot, but that was it. This drug was a miracle for me, changed my quality of life, and, for the time being, no major side effects. I will have a better overall idea after six months, I guess, and I will be back with more comments."

• Hei...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 22, 2013

Omalizumab for Asthma, Maintenance "This is only my first shot. I was very symptomatic the morning of the shot - phlegm, restricted breathing, swelling of appendages, face, neck & throat, redness, burning (had idiopathic anaphylaxis/asthma). Twenty minutes after the shot I suddenly felt an unusual open feeling in my sinuses, and my phlegm was gone. I could take an unrestricted breath for the first time in years. I noticed my sore throat, the burning, much of my swelling, and redness was gone. My eyes were wide and white and I guess weren't swollen because I could focus. I left feeling elated. But driving I began to feel fatigued coupled with bursts of energy, some dizziness and strange mental activity. I didn't feel safe driving and canceled work."

• Jco...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 7, 2016

Omalizumab for Asthma, Maintenance "I've been in this injection since August 2014. It really has improved my quality of life. Before it, I was in and out of the doctor's office or ER every week. But now I rarely need to go because of this medication. I have tried so many different medicines, and this is the only one that worked for me. It's scary when you see your lung function decreasing over time, but Xolair has given me hope. I get the shot every 2 weeks. Sometimes the side effects suck: muscle weakness and extreme fatigue, but it's better than not breathing."

• Gra...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 24, 2025

Omalizumab for Food Allergies "I have been taking Xolair now for 7 months. I have begun to be less reactive to cooking fumes from the foods I am allergic to and have noticed when I do have reactions, they have become milder. I have not had anaphylaxis since taking the injection. I have had some fatigue and bone pain after injection that lasts for a day or two. Overall, I would say this has been a positive experience for me."

• Bro...
• June 1, 2022

Omalizumab for Urticaria "I don't recommend. I developed severe side effects after the third month of injections, 300 mg, when changed to the abdomen. Side effects too severe to continue treatment. Limited space, so will list all symptoms, but some were severe skeletal, muscle and joint pain, severe muscle tightness, intense fatigue, severe insomnia, rapid weight gain, debilitating GI distress, tightness of bilateral Achilles tendons, dry and prickly skin, dry eyes, hair loss, toothache, earache, hot flashes, and stopped menses."

• itc...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 26, 2017

Omalizumab for Urticaria "I have been receiving Xolair injections for about a year and a half for chronic hives. It has gotten rid of it about 90 percent. Once in a while, I still need one or two 25 mg Benadryl tabs, but overall it seems to be working. I get 150 mg injections every 2 weeks. The only side effect is every time I get an injection, within a few days I get 1 hive about 5 inches below the injection site. It itches and resembles a bug bite. I know it's from Xolair because I switch arms, and it always happens on whichever arm. I have noticed fatigue and exhaustion, but not sure that is Xolair related. Sometimes still get pressure hives from underwear where elastic hits, but overall much better. Had an insurance problem, missed a month, hives returned, but okay now."

• Mr ...
• May 19, 2020

Omalizumab for Asthma, Maintenance "Severe asthma, was previously on Nucala. It didn't help that much. Regular bouts of bronchitis and other chest infections. Ok, 8 days ago I received 300 mg of Xolair. Shortly after the injections, I could feel my chest starting to loosen up. The next 7 days I could breathe pretty easily, only using my nebulizer every other day. Now for the side effects I have experienced so far... (Drum roll) nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, leg cramps, sore muscles, and extreme fatigue. The fatigue is fading, but everything else is still here. I added Alka-Seltzer chewables to my daily regime and I do not eat that much now (not a bad thing for me). I'm 39 years old. I'm trying to get my quality of life back. While I can breathe now and breathe well, now I must figure out a plan to deal with the side effects. Does it work for my asthma? Yes! Do the side effects negate the ease of being able to breathe? That is TBD."

• Arl...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 29, 2019

Omalizumab for Asthma, Maintenance "I was at a point where I had to use Prednisone for approximately 20 days out of every month. I had now developed asthma on top of the COPD. My lung doctor decided on the Xolair for the immunotherapy. I had 1 injection - for 3 months total. It worked miracles for my breathing!! My side effects were headaches and fatigue for the 1st week after the shot. After the 2nd month, I developed bone and joint aches and pain in my legs and plantar fasciitis! My toes and fingers feel swollen (but they're not) when I bend them. I would feel like I'm 100 years old. I was so stiff. I've been taking Motrin on a daily basis for the past 2 months for the pain and stiffness. Some of the aches, pains, and stiffness have decreased - because of the prednisone I'm taking. After I'm off this round of prednisone, we're giving the side effects a few more weeks before contacting the pharmaceutical company for some answers. I hope the side effects aren't permanent."

• J J...
• August 4, 2017

Omalizumab for Urticaria "I had 1 injection less than a month ago and recently started having the following symptoms: intense fatigue, herpes outbreak, painful joints in hands and knees, neck pain, cough, sore throat, depression."

• LBa...
• March 19, 2021

Omalizumab for Urticaria "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."

• Ste...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 24, 2021

Omalizumab for Urticaria "Xolair is a miracle worker for me. Was dealing with hives for 2 years, and after seeing several doctors (at the ER) and trying about 12 different meds, nothing worked. I couldn't be active at home because I was in so much burning and itching pain, and the same goes for me at work. Because of the hives, I was tired all the time and being lazy. Finally, I had enough and went to see my family doctor before I decided to do something much worse to myself, and he told me what it was and he directed me to a skin specialist. She gave me an injection of Xolair and in 3 days, hives were gone completely, I was no longer tired and lazy. I was supposed to go for my 2nd dose 6 weeks ago, but something got messed up with the paperwork and all the hives, tiredness, and laziness came back. I contacted the skin specialist and she is going to give me another dose tomorrow. Xolair saved my life."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 17, 2022

Omalizumab for Asthma, Maintenance "Xolair has changed my life, but not for the better! I have asthma and was put on Xolair 6 months ago with mild improvement. But now my life is just sitting, my feet hurt, trouble walking, extreme fatigue. I used to walk 3 to 4 miles a day. I’ve stopped this drug and hope my symptoms improve. Please think about how you were before you started taking Xolair!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 13, 2023

Omalizumab "I am taking this for angioedema. I have been experiencing fatigue, nausea, headache, joint pain, sore throat, and viral symptoms. The discomfort at the injection site was minimal. All experienced within the first week, but it’s only been a week, and so far I am not very happy."

• Jew...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 1, 2017

For Urticaria "I have had one shot and the hives went away. However, one month after my first shot, I have felt like I have had a chronic cold with extreme fatigue and joint ache. Now I have to figure out if I want to deal with the hives every day or these side effects."