What is Immunotherapy?
There are a variety of different uses and treatments using immunotherapy, but at Central Texas Allergy & Asthma, we focus primarily on two routes of immunotherapy that include Sublingual Immunotherapy and Immunotherapy Injections, which are commonly referred to as “allergy shots”.
By giving you a minuscule amount of what you are allergic to, the therapy increases ‘immunity’ of tolerance to the allergen. This is done by infection-fighting antibodies that attack the allergen directly, resulting in fewer antibodies when the allergen is naturally triggered. This process reduces the severity of allergic symptoms and in some cases can eliminate the symptoms of an allergen altogether.
Immunotherapy can provide relief from the following conditions:
Environmental allergies: Tired of dealing with pollen sensitivity? Our treatments can help reduce your symptoms and help you breathe easier, regardless of the season!
Pet allergies: If you or your family is allergic to dogs, cats, or any other pet within your home, our Immunotherapy treatment options can help alleviate your symptoms!
Allergic reactions: If you are allergic to fire ants, bees, or wasps, our Immunotherapy treatments can prevent hives and other negative reactions caused by insect stings and bites.
Don’t Wait to Feel You’re Best
When medication fails to control allergy symptoms Dr. Gupta may recommend the use of immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is a long-term solution to consistent allergens that consists of a series of shots or tongue droplets over the period of three to five years.
Central Texas Allergy and Asthma offers three different ways to get started with Immunotherapy:
Traditional: Traditional Immunotherapy is the most commonly practiced startup. Patients begin their injections at a rate of twice a week for about two months. Once this is done the injections then drop to once a week for 6 months, then every two weeks for 6 months, then every three weeks for 6 months, then monthly for the remainder of the treatment.
Cluster: Cluster Immunotherapy allows the patient to be given small groups of injections over the course of three weeks. The patient is then able to space shots to once a week directly and continue injections per the traditional timeline.
Rush: Rush Immunotherapy is a one-time rapid desensitization. In one visit the patient is given two months’ worth of traditional therapy. After the initial appointment, the patient starts at once a week injections and proceeds per the traditional timeline.
To see if immunotherapy is right for you, contact one of our locations:
New Braunfels office (830) 625-7612
Schertz office (210) 654-0944
San Antonio (210) 908-9230
