Allergy Immunotherapy Video Series

Slide 1

Welcome to Allergy & Asthma Network’s Patient Learning Pathway programs.  Today’s program takes a look at allergy shots as a part of allergen immunotherapy.

Slide 2

What is Immunotherapy? 

• Allergy Immunotherapy or AIT helps build a patient’s tolerance to allergens – which can reduce or eliminate symptoms.
  • There are two kinds of allergy immunotherapy – shots or SCIT which stands for subcutaneous immunotherapy and
  • Allergy tablets or SLIT-t, an abbreviation for sublingual immunotherapy tablets.
• Here’s how it works: the patient is given a gradually increasing amount of the allergen on a regular schedule, until a maintenance level is reached and symptoms are relieved.
• Tolerance for the allergen typically continues after AIT ends, but the long-term success varies from person to person.

Slide 3

We talk about allergy tablets in another Patient Learning Pathways program.  To have the full picture of immunotherapy options, be sure to learn about allergy tablets or SLIT-t.

The first dose of immunotherapy is given in the doctor’s office to watch for signs of a life-threatening allergic reaction, or anaphylaxis. While there is a slight risk of experiencing an allergic reaction, the patient should have access to epinephrine, the life-saving medication for anaphylaxis and seek emergency treatment if necessary.

The second dose for tablets are administered at home but all allergy shots are given in the doctor’s office.

Slide 4

Allergy shots or subcutaneous immunotherapy (known as SCIT) are the most familiar form of immunotherapy.  Often several different allergens can be combined into one injection – helping to build tolerance to more than one allergen at once.

Slide 5

SCIT has been proven to be effective for pollens, mold, animal dander, house dust mites, cockroach allergens and insect venom.  The allergy shots may help prevent new allergies and stop the progression of allergic disease.  They can also help control allergic asthma by interrupting the allergic response that sets off symptoms.

Age is not a barrier to starting allergy shots.

Slide 6

How does SCIT work?  Shots are given at a board-certified allergist’s office once or twice monthly for about 6 – 12 months.  The allergist increases the level of allergen extract given in the shots until the maintenance dose is reached.  The doctor will decide with the patient how often shots will continue after that time.  Often people will be able to stop the AIT and still have some protection after 3 – 5 years.

Slide 7

SCIT is given in the doctor’s office in order to be able to watch for signs of a life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.  While this is rare, the patient needs to have access to epinephrine, a life-saving medication.  Anaphylaxis requires emergency treatment.

Slide 8

Many people have a long-lasting reduction of symptoms when receiving SCIT.  It’s important to realize that allergies can change over time, especially if the patient moves to a new environment – a new home or a new work place.  If the patient has completed their course of SCIT and symptoms return, it’s important to talk to the doctor – it might not be old allergies returning – it may be new allergies that have developed.

Slide 9

Thank you for joining us for this Allergy and Asthma Network Patient Learning Pathways presentation. Allergy & Asthma Network is working every day to end the needless death and suffering due to asthma, allergies and related conditions through outreach, education, advocacy and research. 

Please join us for another Patient Learning Pathway presentation as we partner with you to breathe better together.

Slide 1

Welcome to Allergy & Asthma Network’s Patient Learning Pathway programs.  Today’s program takes a look at allergen immunotherapy and allergy tablets.

Slide 2

First, let’s take a look at what immunotherapy is: 

• Allergy Immunotherapy is also called AIT
• There are 2 forms of AIT –
  • There are allergy shots which are called SCIT or subcutaneous immunotherapy
  • And there are tablets that we refer to as SLIT-t or sublingual immunotherapy
• AIT helps build a patient’s tolerance to allergens – which can reduce or eliminate symptoms. Here’s how it works:  the patient is given a gradually increasing amount of the allergen on a regular schedule, until a maintenance level is reached.
• Tolerance for the allergen typically continues after AIT ends, but the long-term success varies from person to person.

Slide 3

We talk about allergy shots in another Patient Learning Pathways program – be sure to become familiar with allergy shots or SCIT.

It’s important to know that the first dose of immunotherapy is given in the doctor’s office to watch for signs of a rare life-threatening allergic reaction, or anaphylaxis.  Epinephrine, the life-saving medication for anaphylaxis, should be available – just in case – and emergency treatment can be started if necessary.

The second dose of tablets are self-administered at home – all shots are given in the doctor’s office.

Slide 4

The type of Immunotherapy that we’re discussing today is under-the-tongue allergy tablets. 

Sublingual immunotherapy or SLIT-t, involves taking a daily allergy tablet that dissolves under the tongue. The goal is the same as the allergy shot:  to boost tolerance to allergens.

SLIT-t is approved by the FDA treat grass and ragweed pollens as well as house dust mite induced allergic rhinitis.  Each SLIT tablet treats one type of allergen.

Slide 5

As mentioned earlier, the first dose is administered in the doctor’s office, but then the tablets can be taken at home – the patient still must have access to epinephrine in the rare case of an allergic reaction.

SLIT-t for grass & ragweed pollen should start 3 – 4 months prior to the start of the pollen season and continue through the pollen season for best results. Tablets for certain grass pollens are available for children as young as 5 years old, ragweed tablets are for patients ages 18 to 65.

Watch for more information on SLIT-t for children as it becomes available.

Slide 6

SLIT-t can be taken for house dust mite allergy. For this, allergy tablets should be taken year-round.  It can take 8-14 weeks of daily dosing to feel a difference.  Tablets are indicated for patients 18 – 65 years of age.

Slide 7

Some SLIT can be given as drops of liquid allergen extract held under the tongue but at this time, this is still considered experimental and is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Slide 8

How are SLIT-t tablets administered?  The tablet is placed under the patient’s tongue

and held there for at least a minute without swallowing.  After taking it, the patient shouldn’t eat or drink for at least 5 minutes.

The tablet is highly allergenic, so it’s important to wash your hands after taking it.  If you rub your eyes immediately after handling a tablet, you could risk an allergic reaction.

Parents who are giving SLIT-t to their child at home should be sure to monitor their child for 30 minutes after giving them the tablet to be sure there is no allergic reaction.  And again, while it’s very rare, it’s best to have an epinephrine auto-injector available if needed.

Slide 9

Thank you for joining us for this Allergy and Asthma Network Patient Learning Pathways presentation. Allergy & Asthma Network is working every day to end the needless death and suffering due to asthma, allergies and related conditions through outreach, education, advocacy and research. 

Please join us for another Patient Learning Pathway presentation as we partner with you to breathe better together.

Slide 1

Welcome to Allergy & Asthma Network’s Patient Learning Pathway programs.  This program will share some ideas on making a shared decision with your doctor about allergy immunotherapy.

Slide 2

Why should patients make a decision WITH the doctor?  Better care happens when a patient takes a more central and active role in their care by working closely with the doctors to select tests and treatments.

What are the benefits of shared decision-making? It improves patient outcomes and satisfaction and also increases patient knowledge.

Patients who share decisions with their doctor have improved self-management skills and are less anxious about their treatments. A decision that is shared can also consider a patient’s preferences and cultural values.

It also builds a more trusting relationship between the patient and doctor.

Slide 3

When making choices about which type of immunotherapy is best for the patient, some of the questions they may want to explore with the doctor include, “Which type of immunotherapy is best for me?”

The patient may want consider allergy shots if they have one or more allergies to treat and they do not fear needles.  With allergy shots the patient may prefer the close observation by an allergist in the case of a rare severe allergic reaction.

The patient may be more interested in allergy tablets if they have one main allergy they want to treat such as grass pollen, ragweed pollen or dust mites. Tablets are a good choice if the patient fears needles and cannot commit to a frequent doctor office visits.

Slide 4

Another consideration to discuss with the doctor is the side effects of immunotherapy.  With the allergy shots you may see red itchy hives at the site of the injection.  With allergy tablets there may be itching and swelling in the mouth and occasionally cramps, nausea and diarrhea.

With either type of immunotherapy there is always the small risk of a life-threatening allergic reaction.  It’s important that an epinephrine autoinjector is always available and the patient knows how to call 911.

Slide 5

Another important aspect of care is “How much does the treatment cost?”  This of course will depend on the patient’s insurance plan and it will be important to check with the insurance company and what the cost will be to the patient.

Slide 6

You can talk to your doctor about share decision-making and consider using the allergen immunotherapy shared decision-making tool found at allergyrelief.acaai.org.

Slide 7

Thank you for joining us for this Allergy and Asthma Network Patient Learning Pathways presentation. Allergy & Asthma Network is working every day to end the needless death and suffering due to asthma, allergies and related conditions through outreach, education, advocacy and research.  

Please join us for another Patient Learning Pathway presentation as we partner with you to breathe better together.