While Xolair (omalizumab) is generally well tolerated, there are a number of Xolair side effects you should consider, monitor for, and talk about with your doctor if you experience them.
Xolair Side Effects - What Should I Be Concerned With About Xolair?
The most common Xolair side effects, and the percent of people who experienced them in clinical studies, are:
- Injection site reactions (45%)
- Viral infections (23%)
- Upper respiratory tract infections (20%)
- Sinusitis (16%)
- Headache (15%)
- Pharyngitis (11%)
These Xolair side effects, however, were not seen more frequently than in those patients receiving a placebo injection.
There are a number of serious, potential Xolair side effects you should be aware of, though they only occur in less than 1% of patients taking Xolair. Xolair has been associated with:
Safety of Xolair
A study was started to examine the long-term safety of Xolair. While the study is not yet complete, the FDA issued a statement suggesting a potential risk of heart attack and stroke in patients taking Xolair. This has never been seen in prior studies, and the FDA did not make any changes based on the study's preliminary results. The FDA stated that the "FDA is not recommending any changes to the prescribing information for Xolair and is not advising patients to stop taking Xolair at this time. However, healthcare providers and patients should be aware of these potential new risks and report any adverse events as appropriate to the FDA."
Learn More About Xolair Side Effects And Warnings
Sources:
Xolair Web Site. Accessed June 3, 2010. Xolair Prescribing Information
Lanier B. Unanswered clinical questions and speculation about the role of anti–immunoglobulin E in atopic and nonatopic disease. Allergy Asthma Proc 27:S37–S42, 2006)
Approval History, Letters, Reviews, and Related Documents. XOLAIR (OMALIZUMAB) Accessed Jume 5, 2010. Review Document
