Just wanted to share that I am having pretty good results with Xolair so far. I've been on it since late October. I have now gone 30 days without any prednisone or antibiotics and I only need an oral antihistamine about once a week. I am still taking Rhinocort and Advair 100 daily.

Just wanted to share that I am having pretty good results with Xolair so far. I've been on it since late October. I have now gone 30 days without any prednisone or antibiotics and I only need an oral antihistamine about once a week. I am still taking Rhinocort and Advair 100 daily.

how did u get involved in this..just wondering!
I myself am hoping to start on Xolair..i've had all kinds of severe allergy problems all my life & I'm really hoping for something closer to a cure than daily antihistamines and 4 diff. kinds of steroids(creams, pills, sprays, inhalers)..I'm allergic to EVERYTHING it seems, haven't been tested but everything from bandaids to dry air gives me reactions in all forms(rashes, asthma, hay fever).
does your insurance cover it?? i heard it's in trials for hay fever..& in the future it will be for skin allergies..maybe i can be part of the trials..i dunno but this sounds like exactly the kinda thing i need!
i'm glad to hear its working so well for you!!=)

What's your FEV1 normally? Your peak flow? Just wondering...Also, have you always been on the Advair 100?

how did u get involved in this..just wondering!
I myself am hoping to start on Xolair..i've had all kinds of severe allergy problems all my life & I'm really hoping for something closer to a cure than daily antihistamines and 4 diff. kinds of steroids(creams, pills, sprays, inhalers)..I'm allergic to EVERYTHING it seems, haven't been tested but everything from bandaids to dry air gives me reactions in all forms(rashes, asthma, hay fever).
does your insurance cover it?? i heard it's in trials for hay fever..& in the future it will be for skin allergies..maybe i can be part of the trials..i dunno but this sounds like exactly the kinda thing i need!
i'm glad to hear its working so well for you!!=)


I've been waiting for Xolair for almost two years. I found out about it as the clinical trials for asthma were just wrapping up, so I couldn't get in to those and had to wait for FDA approval. I understand it is in clinical trials for peanut allergy and allergic rhinitis. Insurance covers most of it.

What's your FEV1 normally? Your peak flow? Just wondering...Also, have you always been on the Advair 100?


My green zone on peak flow is 325+. I go up to Advair 250 or 500 if I have an episode or if I am going on a trip, as changing environments often triggers my asthma. (250 to hotels, 500 to friends' homes when they have animals.)

How often were you on the oral steroids last year?

Last year was a terrible year. I was on Advair 500 frequently and was on 9 oral pred tapers.

See, this is where I wish that I had an abnormally high IgE so I could try the Xolair. My lungs seem to function at around 40-50% of what everyone else does. They are extremely twitchy (PC20 of .31). My peak flow on a good day is 240. I've been on continuous oral steroids for a whole year.

Sorry, I'm just down on myself today...

I think it's great that you are trying the Xolair. Keep us updated, 'kay?

I would be down too if I'd been on steroids that long. I think you only have to have an IgE score of 100 (or maybe 101) to qualify for Xolair. Talk to your pulmo about it. It's true, though, that if allergy is not a component of your asthma it won't help.

Hang in there. Have you been to National Jewish or any of the big research hospitals?


See, this is where I wish that I had an abnormally high IgE so I could try the Xolair. My lungs seem to function at around 40-50% of what everyone else does. They are extremely twitchy (PC20 of .31). My peak flow on a good day is 240. I've been on continuous oral steroids for a whole year.

Sorry, I'm just down on myself today...

I think it's great that you are trying the Xolair. Keep us updated, 'kay?

I've been seen at National Jewish for nine-ten months now. They're still working on trying to figure me out. While allergies are definitely a trigger for me, I am not an allergic asthmatic. Meaning, take away the allergies, and I'm still a very severe asthmatic. Intrinsic, is what they call me. I'm just weird that way. Since I've lived in Denver for ten months, I have been allergy-free (according to my skin tests, which could be altered because of the prednisone). At least there aren't so many allergens here, yet I have been hospitalized 11+ times. I will ask my pulmos (I see three) about what my IgE levels are. We have discussed Xolair, but we felt that I should try IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulin) first to try and lower my prednisone. It's usually used for immunodeficient people, but they've found that it works to sensitize some people to pred. We're trying this till April. Then, we will look at cyclosporin (which is to suppress my immune system), methotrexate (a chemo agent), and Xolair. But, if we do decide to go with Xolair then I'll have to retest for my sking testing and RAST.

I've been seen at National Jewish for nine-ten months now. They're still working on trying to figure me out. While allergies are definitely a trigger for me, I am not an allergic asthmatic. Meaning, take away the allergies, and I'm still a very severe asthmatic. Intrinsic, is what they call me. I'm just weird that way. Since I've lived in Denver for ten months, I have been allergy-free (according to my skin tests, which could be altered because of the prednisone). At least there aren't so many allergens here, yet I have been hospitalized 11+ times. I will ask my pulmos (I see three) about what my IgE levels are. We have discussed Xolair, but we felt that I should try IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulin) first to try and lower my prednisone. It's usually used for immunodeficient people, but they've found that it works to sensitize some people to pred. We're trying this till April. Then, we will look at cyclosporin (which is to suppress my immune system), methotrexate (a chemo agent), and Xolair. But, if we do decide to go with Xolair then I'll have to retest for my sking testing and RAST.


I know some people who take methotrexate for arthritis. I guess it is a different form of anti-inflammatory. It certainly might be worth a try. I am so glad you are at National Jewish and you are in such good hands.

I'm glad I go to National Jewish too. The only thing with the methotrexate is that it would drop my immune system too and I didn't want that at the time. Right now, the IVIG is at least boosting my immune system becuase it's everyone else's antibodies and immunities.