Allergen immunotherapy

Allergen immunotherapy, also called allergy vaccine therapy, is a treatment for allergies recommended by the World Health Organization. Known allergies should be treated promptly, as they can become worse over time.

One effective way to fight allergies is to avoid known allergens; of course, this is not always possible. An individually tailored treatment with medications such as antihistamines is the basis of most allergy therapy.

Allergen immunotherapy goes beyond treatment of symptoms to target the source of the allergy. The goal is to lessen the immune system’s overreaction to the allergen.

The therapy has two phases.

During the first treatment phase, the patient receives a weekly dose of the allergen. The strength of the dose increases weekly until an individually determined maximum dosage is reached.

During the next treatment phase, the patient receives a dose of the allergen every 4-8 weeks, so that the immune system becomes used to the substances and stops treating it as a threat to the body.

A long-term successful therapy is the goal; the treatment therefore lasts between 3 and 5 years.

There are two forms of allergen immunotherapy

An injection under the skin (subcutaneous)
As tablets or drops dissolved under the tongue (sublingual)

Not every allergen responds to both forms of therapy. Most therapies involve subcutaneous injections.

After the injection/dissolving of the tablets or drops, some patients experience side effects. For instance, some people develop redness and swelling in the area of the injection; others experience a burning feeling on the tongue or in the throat. These side effects should be reported to your doctor: they can be a sign of a life-threatening reaction to the allergen. To minimise risk, patients should remain under observation by a doctor or nurse for at least 30 minutes after treatment.

Allergen immunotherapy is not suitable for all patients. For instance, patients who take certain medications, such as beta blockers, cannot undergo allergen immunotherapy. Certain illnesses may also prohibit the treatment. If you are considering allergen immunotherapy, tell your doctor your complete health history, and tell him or her each and every medication you take.

The success of allergen immunotherapy depends on you: missed appointments can mean serious health problems, so always attend each and every therapy appointment. Even if you notice your allergy problems disappearing halfway through the therapy, it is crucial to continue the therapy for the 3-5 years prescribed by your doctor.

Allergen Immunotherapy: Tips for Patients

Your active participation is required
The success of this therapy depends on your personal engagement.

Communicate with your doctor
It is especially important that you share the following information with your doctor before your treatment begins:

Any medications you take on a regular basis
Your current state of health as well as any past or recurring illnesses or infections
Any planned holiday or other reasons why you might miss a treatment
Pregnancy
Upcoming vaccinations

If you experience allergy symptoms during the treatment – such as watering or itchy eyes, runny nose, itching of the nose, coughing, asthmatic symptoms or skin rash – inform your doctor immediately, even if the symptoms appear several hours or even days after the treatment.

On the day of your treatment:

Do not eat a heavy meal or drink alcohol before your treatment.
After the treatment you must, for your own safety, stay under observation for another 30 minutes.
Try to avoid heavy physical activity
Hot showers or saunas can affect your tolerance for the treatment