Allergy Treatment
Dust, pet dander, and pollen are a few common substances that trigger allergic reactions. While you can try to avoid them, it’s not very easy.
An allergy test will confirm the specific allergens that bother you. An allergist can advise you on the type of treatment that can effectively control your symptoms – including medications or immunotherapy.
Allergy medicine that can help
In many cases, medicine can help reduce allergy symptoms that make you miserable.
For some people, over-the-counter decongestants and antihistamines are all that’s needed to reduce a stuffy, runny nose, sneezing and itching. Others benefit from various nasal sprays, such as Flonase, that decrease allergic symptoms and reduce inflammation in the nose.
Immunotherapy as a Treatment Option
For severe allergies to common irritants – grass, pollen, dust mites – when all else fails, immunotherapy is often the next best step. Immunotherapy entails administering serial doses of trouble-causing allergens. By administering at increased doses and concentrations, the immune system becomes more tolerant to your surroundings leading to less allergic symptoms.
Immunotherapy also reduces nasal inflammation that is common with hay fever and asthma.
Types of Immunotherapy
Today, we have several options for providing immunotherapy. Shots, tablets, and drops all aimed to curb annoying allergic reactions and symptoms.
Allergy shots are common and very effective. This is the only allergy treatment that changes the immune system and its response to environmental triggers. These shots have shown not only to prevent flare ups from existing allergies yet also new potential environmental triggers as well.
Allergy tablets are administered sublingually (under the tongue) and work like the shots to reduce symptoms by helping the body build resistance to the allergen. However, the tablets only treat one type of allergen – and they cannot prevent new allergies and asthma. If ragweed and grass pollen are your irritants, the FDA-approved tablets might help you.
Allergy drops work like the tablets and are used in many countries around the world. While the FDA has not yet approved them, off-label use is acceptable.
Why suffer?
When your allergies are predictable, they are also preventable. Talk to your allergist, and if necessary get tested. There’s no need to suffer with the advanced allergy treatments now available.
Contact our office:
To find out more about our Allergy Treatment services, visit Dr. Friedman’s office locations at 7545 E Angus Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 and 903 N. Beeline Highway, Suite A, Payson, Arizona 85541, or book an appointment by calling 480-664-0125 today.
