You’ve probably seen or heard the medical news about cancer treatments called immunotherapy. This breakthrough approach is a way to change your immune system to fight cancer without toxic drugs. But for over 100 years another type of immunotherapy has been available for modifying your immune system to “turn off” allergies. It’s called allergy immunotherapy, but sometimes you hear it referred to as “allergy desensitization.” According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, immunotherapy also reduces the inflammation that characterizes hay fever and asthma.
[See: 8 Surprising Facts About Asthma and Seasonal Allergies.]
It’s possible allergy immunotherapy could be the answer to your sneezing, nasal itching and congestion, eye itching and watering, and wheezing. You may have used antihistamines and steroid nasal sprays for your allergies, which are available over the counter and by prescription. These medicines help relieve your symptoms, but as you may have found out, once you stop using them, your allergy miseries return. The basic approach behind allergy immunotherapy is giving small doses of whatever you’re allergic to over time to build up a tolerance to that allergen. This treatment “switches off” the immune cells in your body that lead to allergy. Instead of just treating your symptoms with medicines, you can do something naturally to help try to cure your allergies. For many patients, it can be a lifelong solution.
Allergy shots are the most commonly known immunotherapy. Virtually all the things in the air that you can be allergic to — such as trees, grasses, weeds, pets, molds and dust — can be treated with allergy shots. Most allergy shot treatments last three to five years. Typically, the injections are given weekly for the first year and then spread out to monthly until the treatment is completed. Because it takes time to change your allergy immune system, you’ll probably also need to use some medications during that time.
[See: Is it Healthy to Sleep With Your Pets?]
Shots are given in your allergist’s office, and afterwards, you wait 30 minutes to be monitored for any reactions. Side effects are rare, with the most common being swelling and itching in the area where you got the injection. In very rare cases, an allergic reaction called anaphylaxis can occur, which can be life-threatening. Since you’re in the allergists office, you can get immediate emergency care if this should happen.
Allergy tablets are another option. Tablets contain small amounts of your allergen and dissolve under your tongue. The tablets that are currently approved in the United States are for ragweed, dust mite and northern pasture grasses like timothy. For ragweed and grass allergies, you typically take tablets before and during the allergy season. For dust mite, you take the tablets year-round. After the first dose, tablets can be taken at home. Side effects are rare, and the most common is an itchy mouth. This nuisance usually quickly goes away in the first month. Everyone taking allergy tablets needs an epinephrine auto injector available in case of the very small chance of a severe allergic reaction.
You may also have heard of allergy drops, which are placed under the tongue. Drops are offered by some physicians as an alternative to shots and under the tongue tablets. Presently, drops are not Food and Drug Administration-approved.
[See: 7 Lifestyle Tips to Manage Your Asthma.]
Are you a candidate for allergy immunotherapy? If you frequently take allergy medicines, have side effects from these medicines or just want to try to get rid of those pesky symptoms, a natural treatment like allergy immunotherapy may be right for you. You can discuss this with your allergist. With allergy immunotherapy, relief without medicines is a real possibility for you.
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What to Know About Allergy Immunotherapy originally appeared on usnews.com
