[gnicholas]

> It's a 16 to 20 week course of treatment

The study refers to checking patients after this many weeks, but my understanding is that you're supposed to keep taking it forever. From NPR:

> The medication is not intended for use during an allergic reaction. Instead, it is designed to be taken repeatedly every few weeks to help reduce the risk of reactions over time.

1: https://www.npr.org/2024/02/18/1232304606/fda-approval-food-...

[b112]

The medication is not intended for use during an allergic reaction. Instead, it is designed to be taken repeatedly every few weeks to help reduce the risk of reactions

Deep in the bowels of corporate HQ, at a board meeting:

"And the best part is, if people ever stop using it, their allergic reactions become more severe than before they started!"

[DoreenMichele]

9

Duration of Therapy

The appropriate duration of therapy for IgE-mediated food allergy has not been evaluated.

Periodically reassess the need for continued therapy.

https://www.gene.com/download/pdf/xolair_prescribing.pdf

[kelnos]

So that's still not terrible, really.

I've been getting allergy immunotherapy for the past 3.5 years (not for food allergies, for stuff like cat, dog, grass, dust mites, etc.), and I have to go for the shots once a month. It's honestly not that big a deal. I only have another 1.5 years until my treatment is over, but if I had to do it for the rest of my life, it wouldn't be the worst thing, given the benefits.

This is of course assuming there aren't any bad reactions to this medicine... didn't read enough of the article or beyond to get that info.

[thatguy27]

Hi,

Would you mind telling me what immunotherapy you get, specifically for cats? I'm currently on Grazax for grasses etc. I would love to be able to get a cat, but I am quite allergic and get flu-like symptoms after a while. (Also, my blood tests don't show that I'm allergic to cats, so that complicates things).

[amluto]

In the US, most clinics don’t make a point of showing the patient what the product is. They screen the patient (usually a skin test), prescribe either a single antigen formulation, a combination of antigens in different vials, or they mix up a custom vial for the patient, and they keep it in a fridge in the clinic. The antigens come from whatever provider the clinic buys them from.

[hhjinks]

Hypo-sensitization treatments for pollen last for ~3 years and have effects lasting years.