Allergies: Rush Immunotherapy

Accelerated, or rush, immunotherapy is done very quickly to increase your tolerance to an allergen. There are different schedules for the shots that try to achieve a maintenance dose more quickly than standard immunotherapy. For example, a rush immunotherapy schedule might include: Shots given every few hours instead of…

Allergies: Rush Immunotherapy

Topic Overview

Accelerated, or rush, immunotherapy is done very quickly to increase your tolerance to an allergen. There are different schedules for the shots that try to achieve a maintenance dose more quickly than standard immunotherapy. For example, a rush immunotherapy schedule might include:

  • Shots given every few hours instead of every few days or weeks.
  • Maintenance dose reached in 1 to 8 days.

Rush immunotherapy is usually done by a specialist. Having a severe reaction to this treatment is more likely than with standard allergy shots. All immunotherapy should be done in a doctor’s office or clinic so that emergency care is available.

Rush immunotherapy may be done if:

  • You have a life-threatening allergy to insect venom, and the insect season is about to start.
  • Shots are only available in a clinic that is far away from your home, and you cannot come in once a week for months.
  • You are about to travel.

Credits

Current as ofApril 7, 2019

Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review: E. Gregory Thompson MD – Internal Medicine
Adam Husney MD – Family Medicine
Martin J. Gabica MD – Family Medicine
Kathleen Romito MD – Family Medicine
Martin J. Gabica MD – Family Medicine

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