Allergen Immunotherapy

Allergen immunotherapy is most commonly used to treat allergies to pollen, dust mites, and animal dander, but it can also be used to treat allergies to other environmental allergens. It is usually recommended for patients who have not responded well to other allergy treatments, such as antihistamines or nasal sprays, or who experience severe allergic symptoms that significantly impact their quality of life.

If you have allergies that significantly impact your quality of life, and other treatments such as antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal sprays have not been effective, then you may be a good candidate for allergen immunotherapy.

Here are some signs that may indicate that you could benefit from allergen immunotherapy:

1. You have allergy symptoms that are not well-controlled with medication.

2. Your allergy symptoms are interfering with your daily activities or quality of life.

3. You have allergic asthma or allergic rhinitis (hay fever).

4. You have severe or life-threatening allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis.

5. You want to reduce your dependence on allergy medications.

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, you should talk to your healthcare provider about whether allergen immunotherapy is right for you. They can refer you to the AIIM Centre which will perform allergy testing and help determine whether allergen immunotherapy is an appropriate treatment option for you.

PATIENT CONTACT INFO

Please feel free to contact us to learn more about how we can help you with your Allergen Immunotherapy journey or have your family doctor send in a referral.

What is Allergen Immunotherapy?

It involves injecting small amounts of the allergen that triggers an allergic reaction into the body over a period of time, with the goal of gradually reducing the body's sensitivity to the allergen and decreasing the severity of allergic symptoms.

The process begins with an allergy test to identify the specific allergens that trigger the patient's symptoms. Once identified, the allergen extract is prepared and injected into the patient's body in gradually increasing doses, usually once or twice a week over several months, with the goal of reaching a maintenance dose.

The maintenance dose is usually given once every two to four weeks for several years, depending on the patient's response to the treatment. Over time, the body becomes less sensitive to the allergen, and the patient experiences fewer and less severe allergic symptoms.

most common questions pertaining to Allergen ImMUNOTHERAPY

1. How does allergen immunotherapy work?

2. What types of allergies can be treated with allergen immunotherapy?

3. What are the risks and side effects of allergen immunotherapy?

4. How long does it take to see results from allergen immunotherapy?

5. How long does the treatment last?

6. Is allergen immunotherapy covered by insurance?

7. How often do I need to receive the injections?

8. Can I continue taking allergy medications while receiving allergen immunotherapy?

9. Can children receive allergen immunotherapy?

10. Are there any lifestyle changes I need to make while receiving allergen immunotherapy?

These along with many other questions you may have can be answered during your consultation Dr. Nikhil Joshi M.D., FRCPC Clinical Immunologist and Allergist is an internist, clinical immunologist, and cancer survivor and will be by your side to discuss any questions and concerns you have regarding your healthcare and to ensure that you fully understand your treatment options and make an informed decision about your care.

We Understand

At the AIIM Centre in Calgary, AB, we have one of the very best specialists in the field of allergy immunotherapy. All you need is a referral from your family doctor then we can schedule an appointment for you.

Dr. Nikhil Joshi M.D., FRCPC is a Clinical Immunologist and Allergist cancer survivor, award-winning writer, and former national radio host.

His experience as a patient led to his latest venture, a mobile app called ‘Clinical Trial Hero’. This free multiplatform app helps patients find clinical trials of interest near them. It was recently awarded the Big Future Innovation Grant from Alberta Central.

Dr. Joshi is passionate about helping patients with a wide variety of allergic and immunological diseases

What is Allergen Immunotherapy?

PATIENT CONTACT INFO

What is Allergen Immunotherapy?

most common questions pertaining to Allergen ImMUNOTHERAPY

Allergen immunotherapy empowers you to take control of your allergies and live life to the fullest.

We Understand

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