Unrestricted Grant Provided by 
Allergy Shots | Allergy Tablets |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| How is it administered? | Injected in the arm. Afterwards, you’ll wait 30 minutes in your doctor’s office. | Tablet is placed under the tongue. The first dose is given in your doctor’s office. | ||
| When and how long do I take it? | All tree pollens, grass pollens, weed pollens (including ragweed), mold spores, animal dander (cat, dog, etc.), and house dust mites are available for treatment. | After the first dose in the doctor’s office, the tablet is given at home daily. | ||
| Which allergens are covered? | All grass pollens, tree pollens, weed pollens, mold spores, animal dander (cat, dog, etc.), and house dust mites are available for treatment. | GRASTEK® and ORALAIR® for grass pollens, such as Timothy; taken before and during grass pollen season. GRASTEK® can also be taken year-round for 3 years. RAGWITEK® for ragweed; taken before and during plant-growing season. ACARIZAX™ for house dust mite allergy is given year-round. |
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| When will I experience improvement? | Most patients see significant benefit within 1 to 3 years. | For GRASTEK®, ORALAIR® and RAGWITEK® onset of improvement occurs during the first pollen season. For ACARIZAX™ onset of improvement is 8 to 14 weeks. |
Benefit | Allergy Shots | Allergy Tablets |
|---|---|---|
| Reduces allergy symptoms | ✔︎ | ✔︎ |
| Reduces need for allergy medications | ✔︎ | ✔︎ |
| Improves quality of life | ✔︎ | ✔︎ |
| Decrease the chance or worsening of asthma | ✔︎ | ✔︎ |
| Decreases the chance of new allergies | ✔︎ | ✔︎ |
| Doctor’s office administration of medication | ✔︎ | |
| At home medication administration | ✔︎ | |
| Ongoing clinical benefit after treatment | At least 3 years after treatment | 2 years after treatment |
Side Effect | Allergy Shots | Allergy Tablets |
|---|---|---|
| Site reactions (red, raised, swollen, itchy) | ✔︎ | ✔︎ |
| Severe allergic reactions | Very rare: 1 in 2.5 million | Extremely rare: 1 in 1 billion |