I have been lurking in the shadows for a couple of months. I am a chronic
pain sufferer as well as an asthma sufferer, so I have many late nights ...
Has anyone in this group have any experience with the new drug called
Xolair?  The reason I ask is because while I was getting the Xolair
injections I was almost episode free. All 5 medications that I was taking on
a daily basis were reduced to just one; Advair along with the Xolair
injections. I even forgot where my rescue inhaler was on several if not many
occasions. The Xolair injections proved to be too expensive and my insurance
company stop paying.  I started getting the injections Oct 2003. Two
injections, one in each arm every two weeks.  By Jan 2004 I was almost
episode free, so my doctor started weening me off my daily meds. By Mar 2004
I was only taking Advair twice a day, Xolair every two weeks and my
very-lonely-almost-forgotten rescue inhaler.  Then at the end of that month
(march 2004)  my insurance company pulled the plug. It took about a month
for my asthma symptoms to return full blown and within so much time I was
back on all (5) the meds again.  My rescue inhalers all have a place; one in
the car; one in the wife's purse; one in my pocket. Ask you doctor about
Xolair, if your insurance company will pay it's well worth it.