omalizumab

Some people using omalizumab have had a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction to this medication, either right after the injection or hours later. Allergic reaction may occur even after using the medication regularly for a year or longer.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: wheezing, tightness in your chest, trouble breathing; hives or skin rash; feeling anxious or light-headed, fainting; warmth or tingling under your skin; or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Asthma is often treated with a combination of different drugs. To best treat your condition, use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Be sure to read the medication guide or patient instructions provided with each of your medications. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without advice from your doctor.

If you also use a steroid medication, do not stop using the steroid suddenly. Talk with your doctor if any of your asthma medications do not seem to work as well in treating or preventing asthma attacks.

Your symptoms may not improve right away once you start receiving omalizumab. For best results, keep receiving the medication as directed. Talk with your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after a few weeks of treatment.

It is important to use omalizumab regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

Using this medication may increase your risk of certain types of cancers of the breast, skin, prostate, or salivary gland. Talk to your doctor about your individual risk.

Omalizumab is an antibody that helps decrease allergic responses in the body.

Omalizumab is used to treat moderate to severe asthma that is caused by allergies.

Omalizumab is usually given after other asthma medications have been tried without successful treatment of symptoms.

Omalizumab may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to omalizumab.

Before using omalizumab, tell your doctor if you have any other medical conditions or if you take other medicines.

Using this medication may increase your risk of certain types of cancers of the breast, skin, prostate, or salivary gland. Talk to your doctor about your individual risk.

FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Your name may need to be listed on a pregnancy registry if you become pregnant while you are using this medication or within 8 weeks after receiving at least one dose of omalizumab. The purpose of this registry is to track the outcome of the pregnancy and delivery to evaluate whether omalizumab had any effect on the baby.

Omalizumab may pass into breast milk and could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Use this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use the medication in larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor.

Omalizumab is given as an injection under the skin. Your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider will give you this injection. Omalizumab is usually given every 2 or 4 weeks.

You may be shown how to inject your medicine at home. Do not self-inject this medicine if you do not fully understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of used needles and syringes.

Use each disposable needle only one time. Throw away used needles in a puncture-proof container (ask your pharmacist where you can get one and how to dispose of it). Keep this container out of the reach of children and pets.

Omalizumab will not treat an asthma attack that has already begun. It does not work fast enough to reverse the symptoms of an attack of asthma or bronchospasm. Use only a fast-acting inhalation medication to treat an asthma attack.

Asthma is often treated with a combination of different drugs. To best treat your condition, use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Be sure to read the medication guide or patient instructions provided with each of your medications. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without advice from your doctor.

If you also use a steroid medication, do not stop using the steroid suddenly. Talk with your doctor if any of your asthma medications do not seem to work as well in treating or preventing asthma attacks.

Your symptoms may not improve right away once you start receiving omalizumab. For best results, keep receiving the medication as directed. Talk with your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after a few weeks of treatment.

It is important to use omalizumab regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your doctor may want you to have allergy tests and lung function tests on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

Store omalizumab in the refrigerator but do not allow it to freeze.

Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of omalizumab.

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

An overdose of omalizumab is not likely to produce life-threatening symptoms.

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity while you are using omalizumab.

Some people using omalizumab have had a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction to this medication, either right after the injection or hours later. Allergic reaction may occur even after using the medication regularly for a year or longer.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction:

• wheezing, tightness in your chest, trouble breathing;
• hives or skin rash;
• feeling anxious or light-headed, fainting;
• warmth or tingling under your skin; or
• swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Other serious side effects include easy bruising or bleeding, or unusual weakness.

Less serious side effects may be more likely to occur, such as:

• pain;
• tired feeling;
• joint or muscle pain;
• dizziness;
• ear pain;
• hair loss;
• mild itching or skin rash;
• sore throat or cold symptoms; or
• redness, bruising, warmth, burning, stinging, itching, pain, or swelling of your skin where the injection was given.

This not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

There may be other drugs that can affect omalizumab. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Your pharmacist can provide more information about omalizumab.