Xolair is a brand-name prescription subcutaneous injection for asthma, hives, and nasal polyps. It contains the active ingredient omalizumab. Xolair may not be safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Keep reading for specific information about reproductive health and Xolair. For a comprehensive look at Xolair, see this article.

Boxed warning: Severe allergic reaction

Xolair has a boxed warning about a risk of severe allergic reaction. This is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A boxed warning alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.

Xolair can cause anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction) that may be life threatening. This serious side effect can occur after the first dose or later in your treatment. Symptoms can include trouble breathing, swelling of your tongue and throat, low blood pressure, and chest tightness. You may also have urticaria (hives) or feel itchy and warm.

Due to this risk, a healthcare professional will administer your first dose of Xolair. They’ll monitor you for this reaction after your dose.

After several injections, your doctor will evaluate your risk of anaphylaxis to determine whether it’s safe for you to self-administer your Xolair doses. They’ll make sure you’re able to identify and treat anaphylaxis right away.

For more information, talk with your doctor.

Show More

If you can become pregnant, it’s important to consider whether Xolair is a safe choice for you.

It’s not known for sure if Xolair is safe to use during pregnancy. However, Xolair is known to pass across the placenta during pregnancy. (The placenta is the organ that passes nutrients to a fetus.) This means that the drug passes to a fetus if a pregnant person receives the drug.

A clinical trial that included 250 pregnant people with asthma monitored the effects of Xolair during and after pregnancy. Most people in the study used Xolair at least once during all three trimesters of pregnancy. The results showed no increase in major problems with fetal development or pregnancy loss in people who took Xolair compared with those who didn’t.

However, the study noted that more infants exposed to Xolair during pregnancy had lower birth weights than infants without exposure to it. However, having untreated asthma can also increase the risk of pregnancy-related problems such as premature birth and low birth weight.

If you’re pregnant or may become pregnant, talk with your doctor about whether Xolair is safe for you to use.

If you’re breastfeeding or planning to do so, it’s important to consider how Xolair may affect you and a child who is breastfed.

It’s not known for sure if Xolair passes into breast milk or if it affects how your body makes breast milk.

In the pregnancy studies of Xolair, most of the infants included were breastfed after birth by people who were using Xolair. There was no difference in the rate of side effects or harmful outcomes in these infants compared with infants who weren’t breastfed or who were breastfed by people who didn’t take Xolair.

For more information about the risks and benefits of breastfeeding while you’re using Xolair, talk with your doctor.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.