Immunotherapy can provide lasting relief
Immunotherapy treatment (allergy shots) is based on a century-old concept that the immune system can be desensitized to specific allergens that trigger allergy symptoms. These symptoms may be caused by allergic respiratory conditions such as allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and asthma.
While common allergy medications often control symptoms (but not always); if you stop taking the medication(s), your allergy symptoms return shortly afterward.
Allergy shots can potentially lead to lasting remission of allergy symptoms, and it may play a preventive role in terms of development of asthma and new allergies.
The Process
Treatment involves injecting the allergen(s), causing the allergy symptoms. These allergens are identified by a combination of a medical evaluation performed by a board-certified allergist/immunologist and allergy skin or allergy blood tests.
The treatment begins with a build-up phase. Injections containing increasing amounts of the allergens are given 1 to 2 times a week until the target dose is reached. This target dose varies from person to person. The target dose may be reached in 3 to 6 months with a conventional schedule (one dose increase per visit) but may be achieved in shorter period of time with less visits with accelerated schedules such as rush immunotherapy.
The maintenance phase begins when the target dose is reached. Once the maintenance dose is reached, the time between the allergy injections can be increased and generally ranges from every three to four weeks. Maintenance immunotherapy treatment is generally continued for three to five years.
Some people have lasting remission of their allergy symptoms but others may relapse after discontinuing immunotherapy, so the duration of allergen immunotherapy varies from person to person.
Risks involved with the immunotherapy approach are rare, but may include serious life-threatening anaphylaxis. For that reason, immunotherapy should only be given under the supervision of a physician or qualified physician extender (nurse practitioner or physician assistant) in a facility equipped with proper staff and equipment to identify and treat allergic reactions.
The decision to begin immunotherapy will be based on several factors:
- Length of allergy season and severity of symptoms
- How well medications and avoiding allergens control allergy symptoms
- Desire to avoid long-term medication use
- Time. Immunotherapy will require a significant time commitment during the build-up phase, and a less frequent commitment during the maintenance phase
Out-of-pocket costs vary depending on insurance coverage. Yet, allergy shots can be a cost-effective approach to managing allergy symptoms and save patients money in the long run. Click here for more information on this.
Rush Immunotherapy
By performing rush immunotherapy, a patient can reach maintenance dosing much quicker. The process is accomplished over one day. The patient takes medications to help prevent allergic reactions for the three days prior to the procedure. At the end of the day, the patient is where they would be if they had received 15 injections in the conventional build-up schedule (about halfway to maintenance). The patient will still need to complete the last half of the build-up conventionally. Allergic reactions are more common in rush patients, and it is not for everyone, but many patients appreciate the ability to reach maintenance more quickly because that is typically when allergic symptoms begin to improve.
Sublingual Immunotherapy
Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is placing the allergen under the tongue everyday in order to build immune tolerance. There are currently sublingual immunotherapy tablets approved by the FDA and available by prescription. They are approved for use in patients with ragweed allergy and grass allergy. Allergy shots are probably more effective, but because of the time commitment involved with the injections some people prefer a sublingual alternative that can be done at home.