Q & A : Can allergies come back after immunotherapy?

 

Q: After completing immunotherapy, can allergies come back?

A: Well, that’s a actually a pretty complicated question.  First, we gotta define a few things.  What is immunotherapy? When is it “completed”? 

So let’s talk a little about allergies.  Immunotherapy usually means allergy shots, although immunotherapy can also mean allergy drops that are placed under the tongue.  There are even allergy tablets, also placed under the tongue.  OK, so usually they are “completed” when you’ve been doing them for anywhere from 3-5 years.  Sometimes they are taken for longer periods, but 3-5 years is the usual period.  

Researchers have looked at allergy immunotherapy and have found it to very effective at decreasing allergy symptoms, but it is very difficult to perform research  studies over a period of decades.  It is also impractical to perform immunotherapy for 20 or 30 years.  Over a long period of time, after stopped, the effects of the immunotherapy can fade.  

So the answer is yes, allergies can “come back” but it usually will take a very long time for this to happen.

 
 
 

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Nose, Daily LifeErin Shellenbergerallergies, allergy shots