•  
  •  

Allergies: Rush Immunotherapy

Topic Overview

Accelerated, or rush, immunotherapy is done very quickly to increase your tolerance to an allergen. There are different schedules for the shots that try to achieve a maintenance dose more quickly than standard immunotherapy. For example, a rush immunotherapy schedule might include:

  • Shots given every few hours instead of every few days or weeks.
  • Maintenance dose reached in 1 to 8 days.

All immunotherapy should be done in a doctor's office or clinic so that emergency care is available.

Rush immunotherapy may be done if:

  • You have a life-threatening allergy to insect venom, and the insect season is about to start.
  • Shots are only available in a clinic that is far away from your home, and you cannot come in once a week for months.
  • You have severe allergic asthma.
  • You are about to travel.

Credits

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Rohit K Katial, MD - Allergy and Immunology
Last Revised January 5, 2012

Last Revised: January 5, 2012

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & Rohit K Katial, MD - Allergy and Immunology

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

To learn more visit Healthwise.org

© 1995-2012 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.