Is Oral Immunotherapy a Good Treatment Option for My Allergies?

Allergies occur when the immune system reacts to an innocuous foreign substance (called an allergen) as though it were an invading pathogen. Some common allergies are to pollen, shellfish, pet dander, and mold.

Instead of ignoring the substance, your immune system produces protective proteins known as antibodies that attack it and trigger an allergic reaction. Reactions may be mild, like a rash, diarrhea, or a runny nose; or severe enough to cause anaphylaxis, a life-threatening emergency that renders you unable to breathe.

Most allergies can't be cured, but the good news is there are treatments that can help relieve your allergy symptoms.

Dr Arbi Ayvazian, and the skilled team at Rapid Response Urgent Care in Granada Hills, California, treat allergies of all kinds, often with immunotherapy.

Is oral immunotherapy a good option for you? Keep reading to find out.

How do you diagnose allergies?

It’s important to know what you’re allergic to, so you can get appropriate treatment. In addition to a medical history, symptom review, and a physical exam, we may perform one or both of the following tests.

Skin test

Your provider draws a grid on your back, and in each of the squares uses a tiny needle to prick or scratch your skin, exposing you to a small amount of a given protein found in a potential allergen. If you're allergic to that substance you’ll develop a raised bump called a hive in that square.

If the result suggests you don't have an allergy but your provider believes you still might, they may perform an intradermal skin test, where they inject a small amount of allergen into the outer layer of the skin.

Blood test

This test measures the level of antibodies that the immune system makes to destroy specific allergens. These antibodies are called immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies, and the test is called specific IgE (sIgE) blood testing. The sample is sent to a lab to determine if you're sensitive to suspected allergens.

What is immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy is a way to prevent allergic reactions to specific allergens. It involves giving gradually increasing doses of the allergen to the person with the allergy, which causes the immune system to become less sensitive to the substance.

It most likely works by creating a “blocking” antibody, which reduces symptoms when the substance is encountered in the future.

Immunotherapy comes in two forms: allergy shots and allergy tablets.

Allergy shots

Allergy shots, called subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT), are the most commonly used and most effective form of immunotherapy. They’re the only treatment available that actually changes the immune system, preventing the development of new allergies and asthma.

Allergy tablets

Sublingual (under the tongue, or SLIT) immunotherapy was approved by the FDA in 2014 as an alternative way to treat allergies for people who can’t or won’t take the injections. The only FDA-approved sublingual therapy in the United States is tablets. Allergy drops are used off-label.

SLIT treats seasonal allergies like ragweed and pollen, but it doesn’t make any long-term or permanent changes to the immune system and doesn’t include any other allergens that may be contributing to seasonal allergy symptoms.

If you’re looking for lasting relief from your allergies, especially allergies that aren’t seasonal, you need to go with injectable immunotherapy.

Our team at Rapid Response Urgent Care can help if you’re struggling with allergy symptoms. Walk in, call us at 818-923-5216, or book an appointment online today.