Products
Various injectables are approved for subcutaneous immunotherapy in many countries.
Ingredients
The drugs contain allergen extracts of common allergens, such as those from pollen, insect venom, fungi, animals, and dust mites.
Effects
The allergen extracts (ATC V01AA) produce symptom relief and immune tolerance to the allergens. Medications used to treat the condition can usually be reduced. The exact mechanism of action is not known. One effect involved is the formation of IgG antibodies to the allergens, resulting in neutralization. In contrast to other antiallergic drugs, which are mainly effective symptomatically, immunotherapy intervenes causally in the disease process and can influence the course of the disease.
Indications
For the treatment of IgE-mediated allergic diseases such as hay fever, allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, hives, insect sting allergy, and allergic conjunctivitis.
Dosage
According to the professional information. The medicines are administered slowly deep subcutaneously into the upper arm one hand width above the olecranon by the doctor. They must not be injected intravascularly (into a vessel), intracutaneously (into the skin), or intramuscularly (into the muscle). The patient must be monitored for 30 minutes after treatment because severe allergic reactions are rarely possible. Emergency medication for the treatment of anaphylaxis must always be at hand. The duration of therapy is usually three years.
Contraindications
For complete precautions, see the drug label.
Adverse effects
The most common possible adverse effects include local skin reactions such as redness, swelling, and itching. Allergic reactions such as allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and asthma may occur. Rarely, life-threatening anaphylaxis is possible. Deaths are extremely rare. Some products contain aluminum, which is controversial.