1. Community
  2. Skin and nails
  3. Urticarial Rash

Xolair works wonders for CHRONIC HIVES! I saw results immediately

Posted , 47 users are following.

jill43168
jill43168

Please try Xolair shots, I had horribly hives for months and months that wouldn't go away with diet or anything. It is a fairly new medicine, but I saw results right away. I have gotten the shot 4 times now, (4 months) and I haven't had a hive in weeks!

4 likes, 142 replies

142 Replies

Prev Next
  • January20
    January20 jill43168

    Posted

    Hey jill43168,

    After 3 months on prednisone b/c I cannot be weaned off without the rash coming back full force. I'm on all types of 1st and 2nd gen AH, plaquanil, montelukast and doxepin. I never skimp on AH- I usually take the max dose or more, which I found only work in conjunction with the steroid. Tried living with the hives for 2 days by weaning the steroid to 10 mg daily but the rebound hives increasingly worsened despite taking huge doses of AH q3h (OTC/Rx), and I cracked. My skin was both itchy abd burning on both arms and legs equally. The look of the hives changed from classic individual hives to large coalesced patches of red swollen skin. The swelling got to where it was painful to bend at the knees and elbows. After screamin out in a rage, I swalled 40 mg of prednisone and 6 tab of AH (not recommended) and hopped into bed. I woke up 4 hrs later and the itching was gone and the rash fading.

    Called and left a msg with my Allergist, who called back and said she'll get the paper work started on Xolair at my next visit. Gaining wt from both over eating and water retention is not fun, especially when I had just lost 15 lbs by changing my diet x 1 year. The steroids have changed my appetite- I crave food whether hungry or not.

    Anyway, that's my story and I hope to get good results on Xolair. 

  • cindy09985
    cindy09985 jill43168

    Posted

    was given ibuprofen to relieve me of cramps after child birth and other post natal drug. I was given a month supply with I used judiciously for up to a month. One day I woke up to see some redness on my skin and it was itching. It later spread to other part of my body my ankles and arms. It continued for up to a month before I realized it was hives. On that faithful day I was about using the ibuprofen and the other drugs. I took my instructions book and read and I discovered that I have overused the drugs and I might be suffering of hives. I immediately called Called my health care provider and she has me to stop using the drugs, that the hives will go. I waited for the hives to go buy to no avail. I Google about hives and the cure for it. I realized there was no real cure. It was a 50/50 chances even with drugs. I tried benadryl which help a bit but the hives persisted. I also used piriton which help dry up the hives but it kept coming back.

    One day, I sat down to think about my life and was scared it could be life threatening for me. And then I remembered the creator of the universe. The one who create the blood and water, the one who formed us in his own image, the king of all kings, the alpha and omega, the one that knows the beginning from the end. And so the spoke with my creator to take away this hives and asked for forgiveness of sin. I prayed into water that he should turn the water to the blood of Jesus and I drank it with faith. I did that for two to three days and so my healing began. Like joke the itching reduced, redness and swollen reduced gradually and here I got healed permanently.

    I got healed I thank God. For you to enjoy the benefits of healing. You have got to re- trace your step to the maker. Jesus Christ. He alone can heal completely because he is the creator. I beg you that is reading my story. Kindly accept Jesus as your lord and Savour. This are end times. All sought of things are happening everywhere. Making heaven is imperative so as not to go to hell. Everything the Bible talked about the end time are happening.

    Jesus loves you and came to die just that you and I may be saved and inherent eternal life. A simple prayer as lord Jesus I know I am a sinner, by your mercy kindly forgive me, I accept you as my lord and Savour with my heart and my mouth I confess you are lord over my life.

    It that simple. God bless you as you make the right decision today.

  • Lou_and_Clint
    Lou_and_Clint jill43168

    Posted

    Hello to all on this thread smile

    I live in Australia with my husband Clint and he has suffered from chronic urticaria for the past 15 years to about 20% to 60% of his body on a daily basis.

    Over the years he tried many things: diet, creams, tablets, sensitive chemicals you name it he did it as I recall and nothing would rid him of these nasty things. I have had hives once in my life and it literally drove me insane, and I drove everyone else insane from my whinging and whining lol.

    I am in awe of my husband, over those 15 years, he never moaned or groaned and never complained about these nasty evil welts!! Even though i know it must of been intolerable. After about year 5, we had come to the conclusion that this was to be a life long issue.

    He was taking a mixture of Histamine blockers and Anti- Histamines as well as varying doeses of Prednisone for sometimes months on end to get some kind of releif.

    Then, just this year we were introduced to an amazing immunologist who said I am sure i can help cure you!

    Well seemingly, alike to many of those of you who have commented on this thread, he too tried alot of these pills in many combinations and they have considerably lowered the severity of the outbreaks.  However, as soon as he lowers his dosage the itching comes back.

    We were told about Xolair injections at the begining of the year, However, were also told that they currently were not on the Pharmaceutical discount list and that although the immunologist expected the injection to all but cure him, it would also see us out of pocket to the tune of $900 AU per month/per injection. 

    At our last visit the Specialist informed us that the injections would soon be coming on the discount list and should only set us back about $60AU per month.

    We are due to head back to the specialist this coming Friday, and we are praying that he gives us good news about the injections.

    I will endeavour to keep you all informed about how we progress.

    Just wondering though, does anyone else apart of this thread live in Australia??

    • January20
      January20 Lou_and_Clint

      Posted

      Hi Lou and Clint,

      I wish Clint the best with Xolair; I've had 5 injections but still have the hives and pray my hives don't hang around for  even 1 year.

    • Lou_and_Clint
      Lou_and_Clint January20

      Posted

      Hey January20

      Thanks for replying 😀

      Yes I hope they work for him also. After I posted this i saw that the Xolair injections have been approved on Australian Pharmacy Scheme, so hopefully he can start on them soon.

      Did you have to take any other medication with the Xolair injections or did you stop everything else?

    • January20
      January20 Lou_and_Clint

      Posted

      Oh, you don't stop anything unless and until the Xolair is effective. My Allergist says it usually takes up to 6 injections for most patients to clear. I'm hopeful but definitely not holding my breath. If it works great, if not I gotta keep living w/chronic hives. Main thing for me is avoiding becoming diabetic with taking prednisone- it's a common side effect. I check my blood sugars daily at home and so far, I am pre-diabetic to normal. My goal is to just wean off prednisone completely or get down to only 5- 10 mg daily, which causes less side effects. Again, best wishes for Clint, who is proving that you can have a relatively normal life despite the hives.

    • Lou_and_Clint
      Lou_and_Clint January20

      Posted

      Thank you for the information.

      I was hopeful that he would only have to have the injection with no other pills. Well hopefully both yourself and Clint can be cured of chronic gives for good.

      Prednisone is definitely not a good idea long term.

      However, over the last 15 years he was on and off it from time to time in varying dosages.

      The longest period he was on it without a break was nearly 1 year.

      I actually don't know how he gets through each day.

      I know the hives give him more grief with heat and contact.

      It doesn't help that he drives machinery for 13 hours everyday for work and when he is not doing that he is always outdoors.

      So he is always hot and the contact rub spots on his back, bum, back of legs & hands well up like crazy.

      I tell him we should move to Alaska so he is in the cold weather lol.

      Anyway, thanks for your input and encouragement.

      I will endeavour to keep you posted how Xolair works for him (If & when he starts it).

    • January20
      January20 Lou_and_Clint

      Posted

      Hello,

      It is unfortunate that the hives worsen when Clint is in the heat. I find the hives do gravitate toward warmer areas of my body or areas that I am lying on while in bed.

    • Meemaw29
      Meemaw29 January20

      Posted

      Thank you for sharing.  I was hopeful that the Xolair worked the first time...but that hasn't been the cause with me either!  Next two injections will be given the end of the month!  Still hoping for a cure!  

       

  • January20
    January20 jill43168

    Posted

    Hi Lou and Clint,

    I wish Clint the best with Xolair; I've had 5 injections but still have the hives and pray my hives don't hang around for  even 1 year.

  • meg62971
    meg62971 jill43168

    Posted

    Just some hope- my Xolair didn't work until my 6th shot, I'm going on my 8th.  

    I was able to come off prednisone fully which I have not been able to ever stop before.  That is a miracle in itself.  

    I'm still on my other antihistamines, we are going to start to very slowly ween down.  Xolair is a whole new life you can't even imagine.

    Stay positive, think positive,  and have faith!

    • Lou_and_Clint
      Lou_and_Clint meg62971

      Posted

      Thanks Meg

      That does sound promising..

      I'll have all of me crossed in the hope for success😀

      I just can't wait for him to get on the approval list & get started.

      It is hard to watch the one you love suffer in anyway and it is especially hard when you know that you cant do anything to help them.

  • mimoza35751
    mimoza35751 jill43168

    Posted

    I am so bad suffering from hives,and every day the same story,the hives are destroying my life,I can't live like this i am not able to function,as a mother a wife,.the hives start I take cetirizine and then I have to sleep,it make me very drowsy I am not able to do chores,just sleep,and next day the same story,it has to end ,or I am going to not except anymore this suffering ,I will try xolair,but I am not sure to believe it works,some people say no,

    • rose00110
      rose00110 mimoza35751

      Posted

      Yes don't give up please tey zolair it changed my life I suffered for 3 yrs and now I am so much better just have to watch not to eat to much sugar and chocolate.  I'm sure it will work for you have faith.  I pray that it will be a success for you as it was for me. 

    • meg62971
      meg62971 mimoza35751

      Posted

      Absolutely try the Xolair, it has also changed my life.  It took me 6 full treatments until it worked for me so I recommend staying with the treatment even if you do not see immediate results.  I also have to watch my food with sugar, chocolate, flour, and processed foods, basically junk food. There is hope. I have been exactly where you are, just hang in there.  YOU are bigger than it, it is not bigger than you. 
    • January20
      January20 mimoza35751

      Posted

      Hey Mimoza,

      Hang in there! The condition is insidious. When I'm in the thick of it, I scream, yell and scratch. Prednisone at high doses is usually prescribed for initial relief plus antihistamines. I started on 40 mg 4x daily (tot=160 mg/day) x 1 wk then 3x daily x 1 wk then 2x daily for what ended up being about 6 weeks to my allergists consternation. However, every time I went to 40 mg once daily, the hives returned hard. Eventually I got down to just 40 mg daily, but the hives returned after about 12 hrs so what I did was start over at 40 mg twice daily, which kept the hives controlled.

      Each week, I would go down by 5 mg on my night time dose only of prednisone. Fyi: night time prednisone is considered dangerous to the adrenal gland, which may atrophy and stop making its own am cortisol. So eventually, I got back to 40 mg daily, but the hives kept returning. Like a broken record the hives repeatedly and repeatedly returned. This IS the trials and tribulation that occurs with chronic urticaria. I ended up splitting the 40 mg dose into 20 mg twice daily much to my doctor's chagrin; but I couldn't tolerate the hives returning. So the weaning process is ongoing and seemingly never ending. I'm down 15 mg qd and alternate days I may take 20 mg upon my allergist's advice.

      Make no mistake, I've HAD HIVES ALMOST EVERY SINGLE DAY for the last 2 months. I'm having them now as I'm typing this- very mild. I take extremely high doses of Atarax (hydroxyzine) 100 mg q6 hr prn, plus levocetirizine qd, cetirizine 2x/d, famotidine qd, ranitidine qd, montelukast qHS, and doxepin qHS; I just resumed taking Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquinine) 2x/d since I've have no success with Xolair after 5 doses. I take Benadryl and Allegra prn.

      So  Xolair is for anyone with antihistamine failure. I've been trying to come off prednisone for 8 months. I take hoards of antihistamine both sedating and non-sedating. I have hives nearly everyday- not as bad as the initial outbreak but annoying just the same. For me, ice and cold packs work best for itching. I TOLERATE the hives. I still have hope, but I kinda except that this could be a life-long condition. I work at adjusting my attitude with each outbreak. My soul will not be destroyed through my body.

      I discovered the hard way that Country time lemonade mix, lime juice and concentrated lemon juice all cause hives within 5 minutes of ingestion. The only problem is that I wasn't using these products when the hives began in January. I don't know what brought on the hives. 

      Best,

      Chimene

       

    • Meemaw29
      Meemaw29 meg62971

      Posted

      Meg; I have had hives for 4 months and had my first two Xolair injections a few weeks ago but have not noticed any change.  While on at least 20 mgs of prednisone daily, I am hive free, but as my doctor continued to decrease my dosage, by the time I was down to 10 mgs, the hives began to return.  By 5 mgs, they are getting worse.  I still take 3 zyrtec or claritin along with my prednisone by 6 am daily.  Throughout the day I take some additional antihistamines as boosters and by bed time xanax to sleep.  I am just starting the difficult task of removing all dairy, gluten, peanuts, tomatoes, sweeteners and wine from my diet...oh, yes, and CHOCOLATE.  I'm not sure what's really left to eat if I have to take all of that and if it is truly "idiopathic" then why does it matter what I eat?  Yet, I have noticed that it does now....especially white wine...which I love.  Ugh.  Discouraging day today....some of the antihistamines seem to not be working as well as before. Hoping the next two injections of Xolair will show improvement.  Has anybody else had the injections and NOT seen immediate

      results?  

    • lizzy76180
      lizzy76180 January20

      Posted

      Hi January, reading what you said about the fruit juice bringing on your hives, I wonder if you've altered your diet at all? A few years ago I was told to try avoiding foods and products with a high salicylate content, and I found out through trial and error that my urticaria improved when I avoided them - it may be worth having a look at if you haven't already, as fruit juice is something that reliably brings out my hives. has useful lists

      Moderator comment: I have removed the link(s) directing to site(s) unsuitable for inclusion in the forums. If users want this information please use the Private Message service to request the details.

      http://patient.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/398316-adding-links-to-posts

      http://patient.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/398331-private-messages

    • January20
      January20 lizzy76180

      Posted

      Hi Lizzy,

      Thanks for your concern. I immediately stopped all salicylate products since I was on daily-ECASA 81 mg (to prevent stroke or MI) and Back & Body ASA 1000 mg q6h prn for HA or pain for 2 years. The hives have continued so it's unlikely a salicylate rxn. Initially, my allergist gave me several lists of products to consider and to avoid; the list contains foods from every group and many preservatives known to cause hives like citrus fruit, Tomatoes, nitrates/trites, sulfates/fites, salicylic/ASA products, and other food preservatives.

      Current research on CIU states that most ppl will not find out what triggers the hives and that they can drive themselves crazy changing their diet or avoiding chemicals. Since, I continue to have hives 8+ months later despite Xolair injections x 5, I'm going to eliminate the following groups of food one at a time for 4-6 wks: dairy, gluten and tomato products. I basically stopped common allergens like peanuts and tree nuts, chocolate, certain antiperspirants/deodorants, scented soaps, shampoos and/or detergents. My hives did not improve. I noted that my menstrual cycle plays a role- the hives get worse 1-2 days before, during, and after my period.

      I keep a log of the chemicals that have caused hives. So far it's Dots candy, blue berries, and citrus fruit that cause immediate hives. I broke out in localized hives after contact with a new soap to my face and neck; it took 48 hr for me to figure it out b/c the hives didn't appear until 10-12 hr after exposure for 2 days. As soon as I stopped using that soap, the localized hives were no more. Those damn rouge IgE-antibodies are now reacting to a broader range of chemicals (foods, body products) making it that much harder to avoid triggers.

        

    • jana94738
      jana94738 Meemaw29

      Posted

      I did not see much improvement until my  4th shot .. the day after i got the hives all over my legs and arms.. then the following days they got less and less and now i may have one a day but i do itch at times and it seems like I will break out in hives but i dont.. The first three shots helped a little but i still had daily hives.. My allergist told me it takes at least 6 shots for it to begin to work really well.. I had the hives very badly when i was pregnant my kids are 30"s, and never had them again until we moved out of state four years ago and i did have a partial knee implant but the hives did not show up for two years.. They went away with antihistamines and i went gluten free.. Then I started eating gluten again and back came the hives with a vengence and do not want to leave.. I am not celiac but gluten sensitive but i dont believe that is all of what is causing these.. i had them for 4 months badly until i started the xolair..i have hair loss and a bit of weight gain but it could be from the prednisone and hydrozine i was taking as well.. Good Luck and dont be discouraged the shots will kick in .. oh and yes my antihistamines now do not work as well as they did

    • gingie7
      gingie7 krisha

      Posted

      Hi Krisha, I’ve been hive free for 5 months since the Xolair injections. I started every 2 weeks, then 4 weeks and finally every 2 months. I did resign from a very stressful job that I believe brought on the problem.   I sincerely Believe the Xolair injections were a the difference. I highly recommend Xolair as a treatment. Saved my life. ❤️ 
Back to top
Prev Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.