What is Immunotherapy?
Immunotherapy is a long-term allergy treatment for people who don’t receive enough symptom relief from medication or allergen avoidance. The therapy builds up your tolerance to specific allergens by gradually introducing the substances to your body in increasing doses.
The Two Forms of Immunotherapy
There are two different types of immunotherapy: shots and tablets. Each form treats different kinds of allergies.
What Do Allergy Shots Treat?
Allergy shots treat the widest variety of allergies:
- Tree, grass or weed pollen
- Dust mites
- Cockroaches
- Mold
- Pet dander
- Stinging insects
There are currently no forms of immunotherapy available for food allergies or long-term cases of hives.
The Allergy Shot Process
We administer allergy shots in the office. The process involves two phases:
- The build-up phase. During the build-up phase, you’ll receive shots one to three times a week for about six to 10 months.
- The maintenance phase. You’ll need to continue maintenance for three to five years to achieve the most symptom relief. During the phase, you’ll receive shots about once a month.
During the appointment, your allergist will clean your skin with an alcohol pad and then inject the shot, usually into your upper arm. You will need to stay at the office for at least 30 minutes following the shot so we can watch for any allergic reactions. If you show no sign of a serious reaction after thirty minutes, you can go home and continue with your routine.
What Do Allergy Drops Treat?
Allergy drops are a little different from shots. We use them to treat seasonal and dust mite allergies. They come in tablet or liquid drop form.
The Allergy Drop Process
You’ll take your first allergy drop dose in the office so that we can watch for serious reactions. After the initial visit, you’ll administer the drops or tablets at home every day. During the process, you’ll:
- Place the drops or tablet under your tongue
- Wait one to two minutes and then swallow
After taking the dose, wait about 15 minutes before eating or drinking.
Depending on the type of allergy, we’ll have you come into the office for each dose escalation to ensure the new dose doesn’t cause a reaction.
Choosing Shots vs. Drops
We’ll walk you through the factors involved in choosing between shots and drops to help you pick the right treatment path. A few factors include:
- Type of allergy
- Comfort with needles
- Ability to come to the office regularly
- Sensitivity to the doses
No matter which option you choose, you won’t be navigating it alone. We’ll guide you through the process step by step, explain what to expect at each stage and make adjustments as needed to help you feel comfortable and supported from the very beginning.
What Local Allergens Are Treatable With Immunotherapy?
Immunotherapy can be used to treat allergic responses to many allergens found in Ft. Wayne, including:
- Maple, hickory, oak, willow, ash, cedar, mulberry and privet tree pollen
- Bent, sweet vernal, orchard, timothy, fescue and prairie grass pollen
- Ragweed pollen
Starting treatment now will help set you up for success during Indiana’s future hay fever seasons.
Risk Factors of Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a safe treatment, but it does carry the risk of an allergic reaction. We’ll administer allergy shots in the office. You can administer allergy drops at home so long as you didn’t display any severe reactions during your office visit.
Can I Start Immunotherapy if I’m Pregnant?
If you start allergy immunotherapy before you’re pregnant and experience no serious reactions, you can generally continue the treatment during your pregnancy. We do not recommend starting immunotherapy during pregnancy because we can’t guarantee you won’t have a reaction.
When Is the Best Time To Start Immunotherapy?
Immunotherapy is a long-term commitment. It will take anywhere from six months to one year to start seeing symptom improvement. That means that there’s no better time to start immunotherapy than today!
Start the Journey to Symptom Relief
If you’re ready to start breathing easier, call Ear, Nose & Throat Associates today to schedule an immunotherapy consultation with one of our allergy specialists.