Immunotherapy Treatments

ELLICOTT CITY | GLEN BURNIE | LUTHERVILLE

Don’t Just Treat Your Allergies, Cure Them

Are you looking for an alternative to allergy medicines and inhalers? Do you want to rid yourself of allergy symptoms for good? At Mardiney® Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology Centers in Maryland, we can provide you with preventative treatment that reduces your allergy symptoms and helps you take your life back.

Treating your allergies has never been easier. Our convenient office hours allow you to schedule your treatments without missing work. With hours as late as 7pm, you can easily stop by on your way home from the office or job site.

If you’re interested in allergy immunotherapy to treat your allergy symptoms, please call us today at +1 (877) 878-9314 or fill out our online form to request an appointment at any of our 4 convenient Maryland locations.

What is Immunotherapy?

Allergy Immunotherapy, commonly referred to as allergy shots, is a long-term treatment that reduces allergy symptoms. It desensitizes your body to allergens and produces lasting relief of symptoms, even after treatment has stopped.

Immunotherapy works like a vaccine. Each shot contains a small amount of the allergens that trigger your allergic reactions. This process consists of two phases:

• Build-Up Phase: This usually involves receiving two allergy shots per week. The dose gradually increases until your body responds to an effective dose of the allergen. It usually takes around 4 to 6 months before you move on to the maintenance phase.
• Maintenance Phase: Once the effective dose is reached, you’ll receive a shot weekly for the next 4 or 5 months. After about a full year, your doctor will decrease the frequency of the shots to every other week. We recommend maintaining your shots for between three and five years to ensure a durable remission of your allergies once treatment is stopped.

As time progresses, your body will start to respond to the allergy vaccine by developing a tolerance to the allergens in the serum. Usually symptoms are significantly improved by the time the maintenance dose is reached, but it may take a full year for the maximum effect to occur. If your symptoms haven’t improved at that time, you should talk with your immunologist about other treatment options.

Benefits of Immunotherapy Injections

Most adults and children with severe allergies can benefit from allergy shots. People whose medications fail to control their symptoms, or cause irritating side effects, often chose immunotherapy injections for relief. It reduces the long-term reliance on medications for people suffering from:

• Allergic rhinitis, or hay fever
• Allergic asthma
• Conjunctivitis, or an eye allergy
• Indoor allergens such as mold, dust mites or pet dander
• Allergic reactions to bee stings and fire ant bites

Allergen immunotherapy is not used for the treatment of food allergies. Once a food allergy is diagnosed, we recommend complete avoidance of the food(s) going forward.

Effectiveness of Immunotherapy

Allergy shots effectively reduce the symptoms of many allergies. Studies have shown many long-term benefits of immunotherapy. It can help prevent the onset of allergic sensitivities in children as well as the development of asthma.

In order to ensure that your treatment is effective, it is important to maintain a consistent shot schedule. Inconsistency will lead to a significant delay in reaching the maintenance phase of treatment and may increase the risk for allergic reactions.

Potential Immunotherapy Risks

While most people don’t experience trouble with immunotherapy, there are a few risks involved. Since allergy shots contain the substance you are allergic to, reactions are possible. Most side effects involve redness or swelling at the injection site. However, there is the small chance a more severe reaction could occur.

Please speak with your immunologist to find out more about the possible side effects of immunotherapy.

Contact Mardiney® Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology Centers today to find an Immunologist near you

If you are suffering from seasonal allergies, allergic rhinitis or allergic asthma, take action today. Our immunology centers can get you the treatment you need to reduce your symptoms and start enjoying life.

If you have any questions regarding allergen immunotherapy or would like to request an appointment at any of our 4 convenient Maryland locations, give us a call at +1 (877) 878-9314 or fill out the form to the right of the page.