What
is Immunotherapy?
How does Immunotherapy
(Allergy Shots) work?
Immunotherapy is a process
in which an allergic patient can become desensitized
to allergens that trigger rhinitis (congestion,
sneezing and itching), asthma and insect allergy.
It is to decrease sensitivity to allergy-causing
substances, so that exposure to the offending
allergen (pollen, mold, dust mites, animal dander,
stinging insect, etc) will result in fewer and
less severe symptoms.
Allergy injections have
been shown to lead to the formation of “blocking”
or protective antibodies and a gradual decrease
in allergic antibody levels. People, in effect,
become “immune” to the allergen.
Improvement in symptoms
is gradual. It usually requires 1-3 months before
significant relief of allergy symptoms in noted,
and it may take more than 12 months for full benefits
to be evident. More than 95% of allergic patients
on immunotherapy obtain significant improvements
of their symptoms.
Allergy injections are
begun at a very low dose. This dosage is gradually
increased on a regular basis (usually 1-2 times
per week) until a therapeutic dose (often called
the “maintenance dose”) is reached.
After the maintenance dose is reached, the injections
can usually be given every one to three weeks.
Most immunotherapy patients continue the treatment
for 3 years, after which the need for continuation
is reassessed. Many of the patients, after being
on immunotherapy for 3 years, achieve permanent
immunization and can maintain their allergy-free
state even after the therapy is stopped.
What is RUSH Immunotherapy?
RUSH Immunotherapy is
an alternative form of allergy immunotherapy.
RUSH allows a
patient to achieve his/her maintenance dose more
rapidly. This allows the patient to begin experiencing
the benefits of allergy immunotherapy sooner.
Time commitment is also decreased, as RUSH requires
fewer visits to our office. This makes immunotherapy
more convenient and more affordable.
Both forms of immunotherapy
are highly successful in treating the symptoms
of allergies.
Instructions
Prior to Rush Immunotherapy (20K)
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