You may experience a side effect known as an injection site reaction following a Xolair (omalizumab) injection. An injection site reaction refers to swelling, redness or soreness that occurs in the area where your doctor or nurse gave you the Xolair injection.
Additional symptoms of an injection site reaction include:
- Bruising
- Burning
- Hive formation
- Inflammation
- Itching
- Pain
- Stinging
The injection site reaction most commonly occurs within an hour of the Xolair injection, but may occur up to a day or so later. Additionally, an injection site reaction is less likely to occur with each subsequent Xolair injection. Finally, an injection site reaction following your Xolair injection is usually not serious and can be handled with simple, local treatments, such as:
- Placing a cold compress over the red swollen area.
- Taking over-the-counter medications, such as antihistamines to decrease itching, and analgesic medications to reduce pain and swelling.
Before leaving your doctor's office, make sure you know how to care for your injection site and what to do for expected problems.
Preventing an Injection Site Reaction
An injection site reaction following a Xolair injection occurred in 45% of patients involved in clinical trials. Consider these measures that may help prevent an injection site reaction:
- Make sure the person giving you the shot washes their hands and uses an alcohol swab to clean your skin before giving you the Xolair injection. If they do not, you should ask them to do so before getting the shot.
- Ask your asthma care provider to rotate the part of your body where you receive the Xolair injection.
- Do not rub the Xolair injection site after getting your shot.
- Wear loose-fitting clothing to your appointment, as the fabric can irritate the Xolair injection site.
When To Call Your Doctor for an Injection Site Reaction
If pain, swelling, and redness continue, or if you are concerned that there may be an infection, you should call your doctor immediately. If you experience any symptoms of anaphylaxis, go to the nearest emergency room.
Source:
FDA Post-market Drug Safety Information for Patients and Providers. Omalizumab (marketed as Xolair). Accessed June 5, 2010. Prescribing information
