A recent study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI) found that allergen specific immunotherapy (allergy injections) were at least as effective as medications as early as the first season of treatment. The study involved a review of meta-analyses (large scale statistical analyses) of large well controlled tirals of immunotherapy. They analyzed outcomes of the patients involved in the studies, comparing those on medication vs. those on allergen injections. Improvement on immunotherapy exceeded that of several medications, and was similar to mometasone nasal sprays, even during the first season of treatment. (JACI October 2011, pp791-799)

Dr. Kenneth Backman comments: “The effectiveness of allergy injections has been demonstrated in many well controlled trials, and we know that over time, the improvement often exceeds that seen with medications alone. We also know that the effects often persist for many years after injections are discontinued, and this long-lasting effect is a major advantage of allergen immunotherapy over other treatment options. This study demonstrates that effectiveness can be seen within the first season of treatment, which is faster than we often expect. Of course, some patients may not see improvement for over a year, but most will see marked improvement in symptoms within 1 1/2 years.” Please call Allergy & Asthma Care of Fairfield County for more information about allergy treatment options.