Omalizumab Injection

Omalizumab injection is used to decrease the number of asthma attacks (sudden episodes of wheezing, shortness of breath, and trouble breathing) in people with allergic asthma (asthma caused by inhaling substances such as dander, pollen, and dust mites) whose symptoms are not controlled with inhaled steroids. Omalizumab is in a class of medications called monoclonal antibodies.It works by blocking the action of IgE, a natural substance in the body that causes the symptoms of allergic asthma.

Omalizumab injection comes as a solution (liquid) to inject subcutaneously (under the skin). It is usually injected in a doctor's office once every 2 weeks or every 4 weeks. You may receive one or more injections at each visit, depending on the dose prescribed by your doctor. It may take some time before you feel the full benefit of omalizumab. Call your doctor if your asthma symptoms worsen. Talk to your doctor so that you know what to do if you have an asthma attack or breathing problems while using omalizumab. Omalizumab will not relieve the symptoms of a sudden asthma attack. Omalizumab injection may be used along with other medications for asthma. Do not decrease your dose of any other asthma medication or stop taking any other asthma medication that has been prescribed by your doctor, unless your doctor tells you to do so. Your doctor may want to decrease your dose of some other asthma medications gradually.

<p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Omalizumab injection may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

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pain, redness, swelling, warmth, burning, stinging, bruising, hardness (bump), or itching in the place omalizumab was injected</li>
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pain, especially in the joints, arms, or legs</li>
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tiredness</li>
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ear pain</li></ul></p> <p></p> <p>Omalizumab may increase the risk of developing cancer, including breast, skin, parotid (salivary gland, located near the mouth), and prostate cancer. Talk to your doctor about the risks of using this medication.Omalizumab may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication.If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at <a href='http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch'>http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch</a>] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].</p>

Before using omalizumab injection, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any medications. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. tell your doctor if you have any other medical conditions and if you are being treated with allergy immunotherapy (allergy shots; a series of injections given regularly to prevent the body from developing allergic reactions to specific substances). talk to your doctor about whether there is a risk that you will develop a hookworm, roundworm, whipworm, or threadworm infection (infection with worms that live inside the body). If you are at high risk of developing this type of infection, using omalizumab may increase the chance that you will actually become infected. Most of these infections are rare in the United States, but if you are at risk of developing an infection, your doctor can suggest ways to prevent infection and will monitor you carefully during your treatment.

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.