A nurse’s experience with allergy desensitization
In the case of a severe reaction, how do I treat it?
Which patients are good candidates to receive allergy testing and treatments?
What kinds of reactions to the injected area are commonly seen?
Which patients should avoid allergy desensitization therapy?
How and when do I alter my patient’s dosing schedule?
How do I minimize chances for a severe reaction to desensitization?
What treatment protocol do I follow for maintenance?
What is the recommended maintenance dose?
Why should I add allergy testing and treatment to my practice?
Is there a relationship between local and systemic reactions to allergy treatments?
How do I administer allergy desensitization therapy?
Does insurance typically cover allergy treatments?
Message for Patients: “What happens now that your allergy test results are in?”
For a person suffering with allergies, does this really work?
How do I order allergy treatments?
Additional Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What Is A Treatment Set?
A: A treatment set is a custom compounded set of vials prepared specifically for one patient. They are filled with the proportions of allergens as prescribed by the physician. Typically they consist of 4 color coded vials of increasing concentrations and are subcutaneously injected over a 25 week period.
Q: What Is The Dosage Schedule?
A: The physician will specify the schedule. We have a suggested dosage schedule in our package insert which outlines a typical injection schedule.
Q: What Is The Maximum Number Of Allergens That Can Be Mixed Into One Treatment Set?
A: The maximum is 12 per set. It is not uncommon for very allergic patients to have two treatment sets.
Q: What Is The Average Expiration Date For A Treatment Set?
A: The expiration date is no more than one year.
Q: How Soon Can I Expect Delivery After Submitting The Prescription?
A: Each patient’s treatment set will require 21-28 days. This includes the FDA mandated 14 day sterility testing period.
Q: Are There Any Special Storage Conditions?
A: Although the extracts and treatment sets we produce are very stable, it is recommended that they be stored in a refrigerator.
Q: Which Allergy Testing Method Corresponds With Allergy Laboratories’ Treatment Sets?
A: Physicians use a number of diagnostic methods to determine if a patients’ symptoms are caused by allergy. Common methods are
patient history and skin testing or In-Vitro testing (usually a RAST test). Patient prescriptions can be formulated from any of these
allergy testing methods.
Q. How Long Do Patients Stay On Injections And How Do I Handle Refills?
A. The physician will specify the duration. History has shown that 3 years is average. However, each patient is different and no definitive period has been established. Refills may be requested by phone or fax.