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 of: June 29, 2020
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
Current as of: June 29, 2020
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