What is immunotherapy?
With immunotherapy at Allergy and Asthma Consultants, your provider gives you gradually increasing doses of the allergen to increase your body’s tolerance over time.
Immunotherapy is a way of desensitizing you to the allergens over time through repeated exposure to the allergens in small doses.
It can be difficult to avoid certain environmental triggers, and immunotherapy gives you relief by targeting specific allergies at the source. This makes sure that even if you’re exposed, you experience little to no symptoms.
With immunotherapy, you undergo a series of injections that contain controlled small doses of certain allergens. These small doses of allergens are carefully administered over time.
Why would I choose immunotherapy?
You might choose immunotherapy if you’re dealing with a bothersome allergy, such as allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis or hay fever, or stinging insect allergy.
Immunotherapy isn’t usually recommended for children under age 5, but most older children and adults can receive allergy shots. The providers at Allergy and Asthma Consultants always consider your overall health and any other underlying medical conditions when discussing immunotherapy.
How does allergy immunotherapy work?
Immunotherapy works similar to a vaccine in which your provider injects your body with gradually increasing doses of the particular allergen to allow your immune system to develop immunity or tolerance to the allergen over a period of time.
During the first phase, you receive injections about once or twice a week for about three to six months. During the maintenance phase, there are longer periods between treatments, ranging from two to four weeks. Your provider discusses your immunotherapy in detail during your consultation, so you feel prepared and know what to expect.
Keep in mind it can take you as long as 12 months on a maintenance dose to see any noticeable improvement with your immunotherapy. In many cases, when immunotherapy is successful, you and your provider might choose to continue the maintenance treatment for three to five years.
If you have questions about immunotherapy, and you’re interested in this revolutionary allergy treatment, call Allergy and Asthma Consultants, or schedule an appointment online.
