Congratulations on finishing your allergy immunotherapy treatment! It’s a huge accomplishment to finish, and you should have lasting remission of all allergy symptoms. And while immunotherapy is highly effective once the full course is completed, we do have a few recommendations to help you stay symptom-free after treatment.
Finish the Whole Treatment
We know that the three- to five-year maintenance phase is a big commitment and takes a long time. If you’re in the home stretch and are considering quitting, we strongly advise you to stay the course. Quitting early significantly increases your chances of your symptoms returning in full force. Also, if you quit, you’ll have to start all over again from the build-up phase if you want to resume treatment.
Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
Immunotherapy works by retraining your immune system, rather than just masking symptoms. For the treatment to continue working, you’ll want to keep your immune system functioning at its best level. You can support your immune system by making healthy choices in your daily life, such as:
- Staying hydrated
- Eating a balanced diet
- Getting enough Vitamin C (citrus fruits, berries, tomatoes, leafy greens, root vegetables and cruciferous vegetables)
- Exercising regularly
- Getting enough sleep
- Reducing stress
- Practicing good hygiene habits to protect yourself from germs and infections
Continue Avoiding Triggers
Immunotherapy significantly raises your body’s tolerance to its allergens, but that doesn’t mean you’re invincible. You should be mostly asymptomatic on low-allergen days, but major exposure, such as going outside on a high-pollen day or cleaning an excessively dusty or moldy area, may still cause a runny nose or a rash. You should still stick to the prevention strategies you’ve used before, such as keeping windows closed, wearing a mask and using hypoallergenic options for bedding.
Monitor Breakthrough Symptoms
If your symptoms on bad allergy days are more severe than a simple sneeze or sniffle, or if you’ve developed new symptoms to new triggers, that might be cause to contact your allergist. Your allergist may recommend you come back in for a “booster” dose or take a new allergy test to update your known allergens and tolerances.
We at ENT & Allergy Specialists – Ear Nose and Throat Physicians and Surgeons want you to enjoy a life free of allergy symptoms, and we’re proud to be a part of your allergy treatment journey. Don’t hesitate to call us if you have any concerns about allergy symptoms, even after completing your immunotherapy course.