RUSH IMMUNOTHERAPY

Allergies have been treated for more than 100 years using a process called allergy immunotherapy, often referred to as “allergy shots.”  Immunotherapy is a treatment used to lower patients’ sensitivity to the things to which they are allergic.  Using skin or blood tests, the allergist determines what substances the patient is allergic to and mixes an extract containing the most important items.  This extract is administered to patients in gradually increasing amounts in order to lower their sensitivity and improve their symptoms.

Allergy immunotherapy is very effective in reducing symptoms and the patient’s need for medications.  It also is the only allergy therapy that offers a great chance at a permanent improvement in allergy symptoms, freeing the patient from a lifelong need to take large amounts of daily allergy medications.  However, one of the biggest drawbacks has been the need to increase the patient’s injection dose a little at a time, typically taking three to six months to build up the dose to the point where symptoms begin to improve.

Rush immunotherapy is a process where the build-up process is accelerated.  Instead of a single injection given once or twice a week, the patient devotes an entire day to the clinic and multiple injections are given in one day.  Several months of injections are compressed into a single visit, and the patient will typically experience improvement much faster.

When performed with proper care and the use of a pre-medication regimen, Rush Immunotherapy is safe and effective.  Ask your allergist if you are a candidate for Rush Immunotherapy.