Allergies Treatments

The first major advantage allergists such as ourselves offer is that we are up on the latest medications targeted at specific conditions. We read the literature on trials, we go to the meetings where these drugs are presented, and we talk with the people... Full Answer

Allergen immunotherapy, fast or slow, always involves injecting substances to which the patient is known to be allergic. Therefore, unwanted or even dangerous reactions are always possible. These range from itchy, localized swelling to systemic and even... Full Answer

The change among teenagers with allergy offers the opportunity for a sensible re-examination of the whole course of treatment.For example, a teenager who admits to "cheating" on her food allergy regimen will claim there have been no ill effects. This may... Full Answer

Rapid immunotherapy is not for everyone. There's always a danger of a severe response from the rapid increase of dosage levels so the gradual build up over a period of months is generally more desirable. However, sometimes there's a pressing need for... Full Answer

There's nothing new about allergy shots. They have been used to treat allergies and asthma for nearly a century. The course of shots begins with small doses -- a fraction of a unit -- that are gradually increased until they reach a maximum or a... Full Answer

The effectiveness of allergy treatment, like the management of any other chronic disease, rises and falls with the patient's adherence to a routine. Immunotherapy is no different than any other kind of regimen in this respect, which is a shame since it... Full Answer

The latest wrinkle in treating allergies is called sublingual immunotherapy, which goes by the somewhat creepy acronym SLIT. Sublingual means "under the tongue." SLIT is used more often in Europe than it is in the U.S., which we suspect may be due in... Full Answer

The more that healthy tissue is subject to allergic inflammation, the more likely it is to sustain permanent damage. Therefore, we must do everything we can to avert allergic attack in the first place, and then to minimize its severity. The... Full Answer

There are so many allergy remedies out there, including antihistamines, decongestants, and expectorants. It's often tough to figure out when to take which drug. Here are the basics: Decongestants simply narrow the blood vessels in the lining of... Full Answer

Doxylamine and diphenhydramine are both H-1 antagonists, which mean they are both antihistamines in the same class of medications. Although they are slightly different chemicals, they can produce the same effect. Your body becomes reliant on one of the... Full Answer