Allergen immunotherapy helps build a patient’s tolerance to allergens, reducing or eliminating symptoms. It works by the patient being given a gradually increasing amount of the allergen on a regular schedule, until a maintenance level is reached.
Tolerance for the allergen typically continues after immunotherapy ends – however the long-term success rate varies from person to person.
Immunotherapy is proven to be successful for pollen, mold, animal dander, house dust mites, cockroach allergens and insect venom hypersensitivity.
In addition to reducing allergy symptoms, immunotherapy may help prevent new allergies and stop the progression of allergic diseases from rhinitis to eczema and asthma. It can also help control allergic asthma by interrupting the allergic response that sets off symptoms.
Talk with your allergist to determine if immunotherapy is right for you or your child.
Allergy shots
Allergy shots – also called subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) – are the most common form of immunotherapy. Several different allergens can be combined into one injection, helping to build tolerance to multiple allergens at once.
Under-the-tongue tablets
Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) involves taking a daily allergy tablet that dissolves under the tongue. The goal is the same as an allergy shot: to boost tolerance to allergens.
SLIT tablets approved by FDA treat grass and ragweed pollens and house dust mites. Each SLIT tablet covers one type of allergen.
Does immunotherapy work for allergies?
Environmental allergen immunotherapy
Immunotherapy for environmental allergens is proven to be successful for:
- pollen
- mold
- animal dander
- house dust mites
- cockroach allergens
- insect venom hypersensitivity.
In addition to reducing allergy symptoms, immunotherapy may help prevent new allergies. It may also stop the progression of allergic diseases, from allergic rhinitis (hay fever) to eczema and asthma. It can help control asthma by interrupting the allergic response that sets off symptoms.
Peanut allergy immunotherapy
Peanut allergy immunotherapy is also effective for building up a tolerance for peanut. There are two types of allergen immunotherapy. 1) oral immunotherapy, or a capsule with peanut powder with a dosage that is gradually increased over time until a level of tolerance is obtained; and 2) the peanut patch, which is still in clinical trials and is not yet FDA-approved.
Talk with your allergist to determine if peanut allergy immunotherapy is right for you or your child.
Is environmental allergy immunotherapy right for you?
Talk with a board-certified allergist about how your allergy symptoms affect your activities and health, then consider whether immunotherapy might help more than allergen avoidance and/or medications.
Use the following questions to help guide you with your decision:
- Have reliable allergy tests identified that you are allergic to an allergen that can be successfully treated with immunotherapy?
- Is the allergen one that is difficult to avoid exposure to in everyday life?
- Do your symptoms consistently interfere with daily activities?
- Have your symptoms been difficult to control with allergy medications?
- Do you have related conditions such as eczema, sinusitis or asthma that complicate your allergies?
- Are you able to commit to the immunotherapy schedule?
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Last updated : 12/11/2020