omalizumab

(oh mah LIZ uh mab)
Xolair

What is the most important information I should know about omalizumab?

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Continue to take other asthma medications exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not stop taking or reduce the dosage of other asthma medications without first talking to your doctor. Improvement in asthma symptoms may not occur immediately after starting treatment with omalizumab.

What is omalizumab?

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Omalizumab is a medication that binds to a substance in the body called immunoglobulin E (IgE). When IgE binds to receptors on certain cells, an allergic respnose may occur. Omalizumab prevents IgE from binding to these cells, and therefore decreases allergic response.

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Omalizumab is used in the treatment of asthma caused by allergies.

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

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking omalizumab?

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Before taking omalizumab, tell your doctor if you have any other medical conditions or if you take other medicines. You may not be able to take omalizumab or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

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Omalizumab is in the FDA pregnancy category B. This means that it is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take omalizumab without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

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It is not known whether omalizumab passes into breast milk. Do not take omalizumab without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take omalizumab?

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Take omalizumab exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist to explain them to you.

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Omalizumab is administered as a subcutaneous (under the skin) injection. Omalizumab is usually given by a healthcare provider. If you are injecting omalizumab at home, follow the directions given by your healthcare provider to mix and administer the injection.

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Omalizumab is usually injected every 2 or 4 weeks. Follow your doctor's directions.

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It is important to use omalizumab regularly to get the most benefit.

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Your doctor may want you to have allergy tests, lung function tests, or other medical evaluations during treatment with omalizumab to monitor progress and side effects.

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If you are storing omalizumab at home, keep it in the refrigerator between 36 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit (2 and 8 degrees Celsius), protected from light.

What happens if I miss a dose?

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Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of omalizumab.

What happens if I overdose?

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An overdose of omalizumab is unlikely to threaten life. No symptoms associated with an overdose of omalizumab have been reported. Contact your healthcare provider, an emergency room, or a poison control center if an overdose of omalizumab is suspected.

What should I avoid while taking omalizumab?

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There are no restrictions on food, beverages, or activity during treatment with omalizumab unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

What are the possible side effects of omalizumab?

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Stop using omalizumab and seek emergency medical attention if you experience a serious allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives) to the medication.

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Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take omalizumab and talk to your doctor if you experience

headache;

redness, bruising, warmth, burning, stinging, itching, pain, or inflammation at the injection site; or

sore throat or cold symptoms.

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Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect omalizumab?

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No other drugs are known to interact with omalizumab. Do not take any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products without first talking to your doctor during treatment with omalizumab.

Where can I get more information?

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Your pharmacist has additional information about omalizumab written for health professionals that you may read.

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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.