Cluster Immunotherapy: Allergy Shots For Faster Relief

Chicago allergist, Brian Rotskoff, MD, offers cluster immunotherapy for accelerated allergy treatment.

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www.clarityallergycenter.com

Dec 18, 2012, 03:25 ET

CHICAGO, Dec. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Allergy shots deliver proven, long-term relief from allergy symptoms. Though effective in treating allergies, an allergy shot regimen requires time commitment from the patient over a series of months and years. Chicago allergy doctor, Brian Rotskoff, MD of Clarity Allergy Center, is pleased to offer an accelerated alternative to traditional allergy shots. Cluster immunotherapy (CIT), a concentrated grouping of allergy shots, is a faster route to immunity from allergic rhinitis (hay fever), allergic asthma, childhood nasal allergies, environmental allergies, and pet allergies.

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What Is Immunotherapy?

A traditional allergy shot (subcutaneous immunotherapy) treatment plan requires a series of injections over many months. Patients are gradually exposed to increasing doses of a custom antigen in order to decrease sensitivity and build immunity to allergy triggers. In the form of allergy drops/allergy shots, immunotherapy can be administered daily under the tongue or weekly through in-office injections.

A Faster Cure For Allergies

With cluster immunotherapy, patients go through an accelerated ramp-up phase of allergy shots and achieve the maintenance level in about a month. "Cluster immunotherapy is very appealing to busy adults who are ready to tackle their allergies and move beyond them. With a minimal up-front time investment, around 2-4 hours per week, immunity can be achieved three times faster than with regular allergy shot spacing," explains Dr. Rotskoff.

Patients who elect cluster immunotherapy are initially scheduled for one to two appointments each week. Each session is approximately 2 hours and involves three injections spaced about 30 minutes apart. In as little as 6-8 weeks, patients reach the maintenance phase and need only return once a month for a maintenance injection. Immunotherapy maintenance typically takes three to five years, depending on the individual, and for most patients results in a permanent allergy "cure."

Dr. Rotskoff may recommend taking an anti-histamine during the clustering phase to minimize the potential for increased sensitivity to the frequent allergen doses.

Stop Allergies At The Source

Immunotherapy, whether clustered or not, effectively treats allergies at the source. "Over-the-counter allergy medication reduces allergy symptoms, but patients often complain that they take too long to work and cause tiredness or grogginess," says Dr. Rotskoff. "Allergy medication is only partially effective for most people because they're constantly playing catch-up with triggers and symptoms. Immunotherapy stops allergies before symptoms start. In the long run, patients feel much better."

Before starting an immunotherapy program, Dr. Rotskoff conducts thorough, in-office allergy testing to identify each patient's exact allergen triggers. Long-term subcutaneous immunotherapy (allergy shots) and sublingual immunotherapy (allergy drops) reduce the need for allergy medications and can even improve asthma control or prevent asthma from developing.

Dr. Brian Rotskoff offers cluster allergy therapy at three convenient offices throughout Chicago and Arlington Heights. Learn more at www.clarityallergycenter.com or call 773-877-3500. Offices are just a short distance from Lincolnwood, IL, Skokie, IL, Park Ridge, IL, Morton Grove, IL, and Niles, IL, Mount Prospect, IL, Palatine, IL, Elk Grove, IL, Buffalo Grove, IL, Bartlett, IL, Lake Zurich, IL, Schaumburg, IL, and Elgin, IL, convenient to zip codes 60618, 60657, and 60613.