SPECIAL INFORMATION
REGARDING IMMUNOTHERAPY

1. Your treatment vial(s) are made up of various concentrations of the offending airborne allergens in a glycerine base. They are not drugs or medications. Each patient's treatment vial(s) is individually formulated and mixed in ,accordance with test results. Once allergy injections are started, every effort is made to increase the dose at your own rate to a maximum tolerated dose. When the maximum tolerated dose is reached, the body produces blocking antibodies, which in effect immunizes the body against the offending allergens.
2. Open lines of communication are most important during your allergy treatment. Please always keep us informed of your symptom progress. It is only with your regular reports that we will know if the injections are helping you and, if not, we will be anxious to make some further adjustment to give you the best symptom relief possible. After the allergy injection, you may note some redness and itching at the injection site. You should never see a local arm reaction that is greater than a 50 cent piece size, lasting longer than 24 hours. You should never feel "worse" after an injection. Please report any reaction to the nurse before receiving the next treatment dose.
3. Rarely there is a more systemic reaction that may include facial swelling, hives, wheezing, etc. Since this type of reaction usually begins within minutes of receiving injections, you should wait in the allergy office 20-30 minutes after the injection is given. If these symptoms occur after leaving the office, return to our office or go to the nearest Emergency Room if you feel you are in real trouble.