The team of board certified allergists at North Texas Allergy & Asthma Associates want to help patients get the highest quality care, including managing their sensitivity to inhalant allergens with techniques like rush immunotherapy (RIT). The staff serve patients at three premier locations in North Texas: Texas Health Resources of Dallas Hospital, Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano, and Baylor University Medical Center – Downtown Dallas.
When you get standard allergy shots, also called immunotherapy, the treatment proceeds slowly to gradually build up your resistance to the allergens that trigger your symptoms. Rush immunotherapy, or RIT, accelerates the process. The goal is to increase your tolerance and reach a maintenance dose quickly, so more allergy shots are given in a shorter amount of time.
Like standard therapy, RIT involves getting multiple shots, with each one containing a higher dose of the allergen. During rush therapy, a shot is administered every 15-60 minutes for 1-3 days, until you reach a maintenance dose. Even though you’ll follow a maintenance schedule, you’ll need shots less frequently than standard allergy immunotherapy.
Rush immunotherapy may be recommended for patients who are sensitive to inhalant allergens, which includes anything you breathe in that causes an allergic reaction. Some of the most common inhaled allergens are dust (dust mites), mold, pet dander, and pollens from grasses, trees, and weeds. Allergic asthma is also triggered by inhaling the same allergens.
You may be a good candidate for RIT if you have a severe allergy to insect venom and need rapid protection from future insect stings, whether from bees, wasps, ants, or another type of insect. While the doctors at North Texas Allergy & Asthma Associates may consider rush immunotherapy for other types of allergies, some patients can’t have this type of treatment due to interactions with medications or health concerns, so the doctors will carefully screen your medical history.
RIT has been performed many times, so it has an established reputation for being safe and effective. Since you get large doses of allergen in a short period of time, there’s a risk of having an allergic reaction, but the doctors and staff take every precaution to ensure your wellbeing. In the days right before rush immunotherapy begins, you’ll receive medications such as antihistamines that prevent or minimize allergic reactions.
You’ll stay in the office throughout treatment so we can closely monitor your health and take immediate action if you have an allergic response. That means you’ll need to be prepared to spend the day in our office, but that’s a trade-off many patients are willing to make in return for needing fewer allergy shots in the future.
Premedication 2 days prior, 1 day prior and the morning of the procedure (provided in our office):
• Prednisone: 50mg once a day ( One 50mg tablet)
• Histamine (H1) Blocker: Claritin 10mg, Zyrtec 10mg, or Allegra 10mg once a day
• Histamine (H2) Blocker: Ranitidine (Zantac) 300mg once a day
• Montelukast (Singulair) 10 mg once a day
• Take all (6) pills at the same time each day if possible
Time recommended | Day 1 2 days before Premedication Time | Day 2 1day before Premedication Time | Day 3 Day of RIT Premedication Time |
8:00 AM |
• The RIT protocol takes 3 hours and then you must be observed for 2 more hours.
• Expect to be in the office for 5-6 hours.
•Books, activities, light blanket
•Wear a half sleeve or sleeveless shirt
•Have a light breakfast the morning of the procedure
•We will provide snacks during RIT but you are welcome to bring food with you.
•Make sure your asthma, if present, is under good control.
•Obtain baseline spirometry - FEV1 above 70%.
•No B-blockers, ACEI, or evidence of cardiovascular disease.
•Ensure we have Informed consent in chart.
•For most patients, the final dose received during RIT will be repeated for the first post-RIT injection the week after.
•For patients who experienced a systemic reaction during RIT, the first post-RIT dose will be lowered.
•Following RIT, the regular IT schedule will be followed going forward.
•Generally if you tolerate the whole protocol you will continue on weekly injections for another 6-8 weeks, then we can proceed to every other week shots for 6 weeks, followed by every 3 week shots for 6 weeks then monthly
View list of insurances, Please call the office if you have any questions.