Justines Asthma pages

A revolutionary new asthma treatment could prove a breath of fresh air for tens of thousands of sufferers and hundreds of lives could be saved. Miracle drug Xolair is due to be licensed shortly and could be prescribed for patients early next year. This is good news for Britains 5.2 million asthma sufferers, especially the 2.6 million with severe asthma. Their condition is not just extremely unpleasant, it's deadly-killing more than 1,200 people a year. Asthma symptoms can be very terrifying, with victims gasping for breath as their airways narrow because of an allergic reaction. Attacks can come on slowly or so rapidly that sufferers may need hospitalisation. It can be very scary, not only for the patient but for family and friends too, as victims desperately struggle to breathe. Xolair which is given by injection, works by interrupting the chain of events leading to the attack. Attacks happen when the body detects the presence of an allergen-such as cat fur or dust and overreacts by pumping out huge quantities of an antibody called IgE.

The huge quantities of IGE release a histamine into the blood-stream causing the airways to become narrow. Xolair stops this happening by latching on tightly to the IgE molecules and blocking their action. Sadly, Xolair won't be suitable for everyone at the moment. It's being aimed at people with very severe and persistent allergic asthma. (Me hopefully). It should greatly improve their lives and, according to trials, cut hospital admissions by nearly half. Xolair will be added with excisting treatments, which patients will still need to take, and it will generally be given by hospital based asthma specialists through an injection given into the arm every few weeks. Each jab will cost around £250, but it's probably excellant value given the excisting cost of looking after someone severely affected. I got this information from a newspaper and Dr Hilary Jones wrote it (I hope he does not mind me using it) and he also says: Having seen the consequences of severe asthma in my own family I look forward to the day Xolair is made available...and many thousands of people can breath easier.

A fellow who was seriously handicaped by asthma-until he agreed to be a human guinea pig in the clinical trials of Xolair tells his story. He says that he suffered several attacks every year, with his symptoms coming on so rapidly at times that he could not not even speak. He even had to invent a special signal to tell his wife to call an ambulance. His life has been virtually asthma free since beginning Xolair jabs in 2002. He said "it's like being born again." "this drugs saved my life. He also said that he wishes it had of been available sooner because he had lost friends to asthma. One of his friends died shortly after giving birth to her daughter. If this jab had of been available sooner that little girl would still have a mum today.

As much as I am excited about the news of this drug for allergic asthma, I worry about other things that cause my asthma instead of allergies. Will it stop colds, chest infections, stress etc, etc too. I don't think it will but if it helps something that triggers it then I suppose this must be good. One thing is better than nothing Oh I just wish they could do more as I myself had a school friend die at 13yrs old when we were doing sports at school. It's a real pity that in all these years of research nothing really different has been found. I hope this new drug really lives up to it's name. I'll beleive it when I try It.Well I will keep you updated if I hear anymore about this drug. 

Can not believe what I have just read. The National institute for health and clinical excellence has just approved the drug Omalizumab (Xolair) for use. WOO HOOOH. This is great news. Xolair is given as add on theraphy in fortnightly injections for peoples who have severe, persistant allergic asthma. (Me) The drug is said to transform lives, by allowing severe asthmatics to do everyday activities that have been a stuggle (like walking up the stairs (oh my) I'm excited. I might even be able to go back to work. Another benefit Xolair will have is a great reduction in the cost on the NHS as severe asthmatics take up 80% of money given for asthma. Around 6,000 asthmatics are going to benefit from this new drug. Xolair was made available to people in Scotland last year and will become available to severe asthmatics in England and Whales in three months time and Northern Ireland waiting for confirmation in December (It better) though looking good. Asthma UK are thrilled with the decision, and say it is a victory for severe allergic asthmatics who have fought for this life changing dug. A huge thanks to asthma UK who have worked really hard for people like me with severe allergic asthma. Well done everyone this is the best news I have heard in years. Fingers crossed for Northern Ireland for December. They better get approval too. Keep you updated.

Extreme concern has been expressed from Asthma UK Northern Ireland that funding is being routinely turned down for Omalizumab (xolair). Asthma Uk has campaigned none stop for this severe allergic asthma drug to help asthmatics who struggle to do simple tasks like housework or climbing stairs. The drug would change the lives of at least 200 severe allergic asthma sufferers and would of been denied to others who would have also benefited but did not meet the criteria for this drug. This news is extremely disapointing to me. I was told I would be recieving this drug if funding was approved and have been sitting waiting for news for at least two years. God I cannot believe it. Another kick in the teeth. Life is so hard as a severe asthmatic, just struggling to fight to stay alive every day, to breath. With all the continuous attacks over and over many times a day. I seem to be allergic to everything I go near and knowing a drug is out there to help me live maybe a near to normal life gives me hope, but being denied this makes me cry, yes cry. God why? Money. Lifes more important than money. People are dying from asthma and if one persons life can be saved from this drug surely it must be given. Well Ill just sit and wait again, struggle to breath and hope one of my severe attacks dont finish me off. Please leave a comment on the guest book or email me on any views regarding xolair please. Keep you updated and please leave your comments.