About 80 million women, men, and kids in the United States have year-round allergies. Another 40 million suffer from seasonal allergies, sometimes referred to as allergic rhinitis. About 33 million have an allergy to one or more foods.
When you have seasonal allergies or food allergies, you may find yourself avoiding things that otherwise could bring a lot of joy. A company picnic or outdoor sports on a high-pollen-count day? No, thank you. A hike through the woods filled with stinging insects? Pass. Dinner at the hot new restaurant that may have triggering ingredients? Nah. You cook at home.
Until now, you’ve treated your allergies with at-will medications, such as antihistamines and decongestants, and corticosteroids. But you’re curious about immunotherapy, which trains your body to stop overreacting to allergens. How do you know which treatment plan is best for you?
Our allergy expert, Catherine Fuller, MD, helps you decide whether medication or immunotherapy is your best bet. At our office in West Los Angeles, California, she administers allergy tests and customizes a treatment plan based on your goals.
Which is better for you — allergy medications or immunotherapy? Answer these questions to narrow it down.
If you find yourself avoiding situations that may trigger your allergies, such as outdoor gatherings or meals at parties or restaurants, you may wish to consider immunotherapy. After we determine what your allergies are, we begin to introduce small amounts of those allergens into your body.
Gradually, as we increase the dose of allergens, your body builds up a tolerance. Once your immune system has calmed down, you no longer overreact to your triggers. You can enjoy the great outdoors and a great meal without worrying about your allergies anymore.
In contrast, if your allergies aren’t enough to severely crimp your lifestyle, medications may be a better bet. You just use them when you know you could have a reaction — such as on a day when pollen counts are high. At-will medications may be best if you have mild allergies or only suffer during pollen season.
Immunotherapy is a long-term treatment that requires you to commit to the process. If you tend to give up on things you start, or if you’re hoping to see results right away, immunotherapy might not be the right choice for you.
Dr. Fuller helps you build up tolerance to allergy triggers with a series of immunotherapy treatments that take years to complete:
You get an injection every week that subjects your body to a minute dose of allergen. It’s diluted up to a million times so you won’t experience a severe reaction. Over the course of six months, we gradually strengthen the dose.
Once your body has built a tolerance to the allergen, you move into the maintenance phase. You only need injections once a month for the next 3-5 years. We monitor you carefully to ensure you don’t have an allergic reaction to the therapy itself. At this point, you may be able to take oral immunotherapy.
If you have severe allergies that put you in danger for a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis, immunotherapy can lower your risk. Dr. Fuller is trained in administering immunotherapy in doses that won’t trigger anaphylaxis, and she monitors you closely.
In addition to immunotherapy, the US Food and Drug Administration approved a medication called Xolair® (omalizumab) to treat food allergies. If you’re on Xolair, you should be able to eat without worrying about triggering an allergic response. Even after immunotherapy or with Xolair, however, you should continue to carry your EpiPen.
Not sure if you’re ready for immunotherapy, or are you chomping at the bit to get to it? Schedule an appointment for allergy testing and treatment recommendations at Catherine Fuller, MD. Call 310-909-1910 or use our online request form.
