What is Rush Immunotherapy?

Filed in archive Allergy Basics , Allergy Medications , Allergy: Diagnostics and Treatment on November 23, 2006

Have you ever heard of "rush immunotherapy"? Under normal conditions, immunotherapy involves receving shots containing small amounts of an allergen with the aim of gradually increasing your tolerance to the said allergen, which may then leave you symptom-free for a longer period of time. The disadvantage, as you may already have deduced, is that you have to make the trip to the doc's several times over a period of 3-6 months, and complete desensitization may be expected in about 3-5 years.

Enters rush immunotherapy: building up the dosage in a span of a couple of weeks instead of months.

Is it safe? Does it work for all types of allergies? What is Xolair (omalizumab) and how does it work? Where can you get such treatment? Will your health insurance pay for it?

Allergy expert Dr. Mark Moss from the University of Wisconsin answers all these, and more concerns in this interview.