How Does Allergen Immunotherapy Work?

Allergen immunotherapy is a medical therapy for preventing or alleviating allergic reactions to a particular allergen. In this type of therapy, the allergen causing an allergic reaction is given to the person to reduce the allergic reaction.

The allergen is injected in a gradually increasing dose, which triggers the immune system to develop immunity or tolerance to the allergen.

There are two phases of the immune response:

Build-up phase: In this phase, the allergen is injected in increasing amounts, about once to twice per week. The length of this phase may range from three to six months.

Maintenance phase: The maintenance phase is started once an effective dose is reached. Depending on the person’s response to therapy, the maintenance dose is usually injected once every two or three weeks for three to five years.

Allergen immunotherapy is mainly used for the treatment of allergic rhinitis.

Some of the common side effects of allergen immunotherapy include:

• Throat irritation
• Itching in the ear or mouth
• Swelling of the mouth, lips, or tongue
• Nausea
• Tongue pain
• Mouth ulcers
• Throat swelling
• Taste alteration
• Wheezing
• Cough
• Abdominal pain
• Indigestion
• Rash
• Flushing
• Diarrhea
• Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
• Oral allergy syndrome

The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible side effects, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure these drugs do not cause any harm when you take them along with other medicines. Never stop taking your medication and never change your dose or frequency without consulting your doctor.

Generic and brand names of allergen immunotherapy include:

• Ambrosia artemisiifolia
• Grass pollens allergen extract
• Grastek
• House dust mite immunotherapy
• Odactra
• Oralair
• Palforzia
• Peanut arachis hypogaea allergen powder-dnfp
• Peanut immunotherapy epicutaneous (pending FDA approval)
• Peanut oral allergen powder
• Ragweed allergen extract
• Ragwitek
• Timothy grass pollen allergen extract
• Viaskin Peanut