Xolair
Xolair is a medication for moderate to severe allergic asthma patients. It works by blocking IgE in the patient's system which is what causes allergic asthma.
Patients whose asthma is not controlled well, is caused by year-round allergens and have high IgE levels are good candidates for Xolair. The doctor will have you take a blood test to determine the IgE levels, as well as perform skin tests to determin your allergies.
Once it's determined you are a good candidate for Xolair, our office will work with you on obtaining insurance prior authorizations for the drug, and set up a schedule of injections either every 2 weeks or every 4 weeks. The amount of medicine and the number of injections are determined by your IgE levels and weight.
Your first visit to get Xolair injections will require about 2 hours of time. We will give you the injections and have you wait at the office for 2 hours to make sure you will not have any allergic reactions to the medication. After that initial visit, your injections will simply be a quick office visit to receive the injection(s) and speak with the doctor about your progress on the drug.
Xolair is given subcutaneously (under the skin) usually in the fatty part of the arms. The medication is thick, and the injection can be a bit uncomfortable. Almost all of our patients report, however, that the medicine is worth it in terms of the relief they get from their asthma.