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 What
can I expect at my visit to the Vireo Allergy Center?
Your evaluation at the Vireo Allergy Center is intended to
determine if you are an appropriate candidate for sublingual
immunotherapy for the treatment of your allergies and/or
asthma. You will undergo an examination on by a board certified allergist, allergy skin testing, and if necessary pulmonary function testing.
To make certain that you can be allergy skin tested at your
visit to the Vireo Allergy Center, do not take any
antihistamines ten (10) days prior to your appointment.
Antihistamines block the skin testing results and the physician
will not be able to determine how best to treat you.
Antihistamine medications include Allegra, Claritin, Clarinex,
Zyrtec, Alavert, Loratadine, Phenergan, Atarax and Astelin (a
nose spray). Some over-the-counter medications such as Benadryl
and allergy/cold/sinus medications can be taken up to 3 days
before your allergy testing. At your visit, the physician will
assess if any of the above medications, if taken, will interfere
with skin testing. If it is determined that skin testing
results will not be accurate, you will need to reschedule your
appointment.
You do not need to be experiencing any allergy symptoms at the
time of the visit to be evaluated for sublingual immunotherapy.
Allergy skin testing will provide accurate results, even if your
nose has stopped running and your eyes have stopped itching. |
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What
medications are antihistamines and why must I stop taking
antihistamines
ten (10) days prior to my appointment?
To make certain that you can be allergy skin tested at your
visit to the Vireo Allergy Center, do not take any
antihistamines ten (10) days prior to your appointment.
Antihistamines block the skin testing results and the physician
will not be able to determine how best to treat you.
Antihistamine medications include Allegra, Claritin, Clarinex,
Zyrtec, Alavert, Loratadine, Phenergan, Atarax and Astelin (a
nose spray). Some over-the-counter medications such as Benadryl
and allergy/cold/sinus medications can be taken up to 3 days
before your allergy testing. At your visit, the physician will
assess if any of the above medications, if taken, will interfere
with skin testing. If it is determined that skin testing
results will not be accurate, you will need to reschedule your
appointment. |
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Do
I need to be experiencing full-blown allergy symptoms at the
time of the visit
to the Vireo Allergy Center to be accurately tested for
allergies.
No, you do not need to be experiencing any allergy symptoms at
the time of your visit to be evaluated for allergies. Our skin
testing methods will accurately determine what allergens cause
your allergy symptoms even if you are not experiencing the
symptoms.
In fact, if you are a seasonal allergy sufferer, it is wise to
get your immunotherapy treatment started 3 to 6 months before
your difficult time of year. This way, the immunotherapy will
have started to protect you when the allergy season begins. |
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What
are the advantages of Sublingual Immunotherapy compared to
traditional Allergy treatments?
There are numerous advantages to sublingual immunotherapy. Medically, the patient
does not have to endure an injection or arm soreness at the
injection site. Also, there are no reported cases of
anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction. From the
convenience standpoint, the patient administers the procedure in the privacy of their home. There is no need to
schedule an appointment for an allergy injection, drive to the
office for the injection and then wait in the doctors office
for 30 minutes after the injection to make certain there is no
reaction to the injection. |
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How
does the process work?
If an individual is interested in sublingual immunotherapy,
they would just make an appointment to see the allergist by calling 1-800-86COUGH, option 2. Offices are located in Blue Bell,
Pottstown, Lansdale, Doylestown, Jenkintown, Collegeville, King of Prussia and
Center City Philadelphia. The initial office visit will take about
60 minutes. At this visit, a board certified allergist
will review your allergy symptoms, medical history and perform a
relevant medical exam. You will be tested for allergies to over
40 allergens. The testing results will be available at this
visit. The allergist will evaluate these results and determine
the best allergy prescription to treat your allergies. If you and the allergist
decide that sublingual immunotherapy is the best way to treat your allergies, the
procedure kit is available to you in 5 to 10 business days after payment is received.
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Are
there any side effects to the procedure?
Skin testing for allergies is done on the patient's forearms or back. Using
a multitest applicator, allergy extracts for more than 40
allergens are placed on the arms or back. If the patient is allergic,
reactions in the form of hives (redness and swelling) begin immediately. These hives
can cause temporary itching which typically resolves in a short
period of time.
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Are
there any side effects to the treatment?
In patients using
sublingual immunotherapy, a small number have reported
tingling or itching sensations in their mouths. |
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What
about taste?
Due to the glycerin additive to the extract there is a slight
sweet taste. However, since there are no taste buds under the tongue, most patients
don't experience any significant taste sensation. |
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How
soon after a treatment can I eat or drink?
You must hold the treatment under your tongue for two
minutes before you swallow. After that, there are no
restrictions for eating or drinking. Also, there are no
restrictions of eating or drinking before taking the treatment. |
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How
often do I have to administer the procedure?
Once a day,
every day for three to five years. Treatment time varies
from patient to patient. |
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How
long will the delivered procedure kit last?
The
procedure kit is provided in six month supplies. |
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What
happens when I'm close to running out of my procedure kit?
If it has been less than a year since the patient's last
appointment, the patient simply
contacts Allergy & Asthma Specialists at 1-800-86COUGH, option 6
to reorder another six month supply.
If it has been a year or more since the patient's last visit,
the patient must make a follow
up appointment to see the allergist. At this appointment, the
allergist will evaluate the effectiveness of the patient's
current prescription and determine if any changes
are needed before the next year's kit is made. Patient's can
make a follow-up appointment by calling
1-800-86COUGH, option 2.
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How
long does it take to get the results from the testing?
Skin testing for allergies is done on the patient's forearms or back during
the initial evaluation visit. Using a multitest applicator,
allergy extracts for more than 40 allergies are placed on the
arms or back. If the patient is allergic, reactions in the form of hives
begin immediately. After 20 minutes, the size of all the
reactions are measured and recorded. The results are evaluated
by the allergist to determine which allergens the patient is
allergic to and prescribe the most effective procedure kit. |
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Once
I get my evaluation testing done, how long does it take to
obtain my
sublingual immunotherapy kit?
The procedure kit will be available to you in five to ten
business days after payment is received. |
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How
do I handle/store the sublingual immunotherapy kit?
During transport between our office and your home,
the procedure kit can be left in ambient air for several hours.
The procedure kit should be refrigerated immediately upon
arrival at your home. |
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What happens if the sublingual immunotherapy bottle(s) are not refrigerated for an extended period of time?
The SLIT bottle(s) can be left out of the refrigerator for several hours. If the SLIT bottle(s) are left out of the refrigerator for an extended period of time in extreme temperatures, please call the extract nurse at 610-825-5800, extension 4. If it is determined that the SLIT needs to be remade, there will be a replacement fee. |
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How
long will I have to receive sublingual immunotherapy?
The average
patient has to receive sublingual immunotherapy anywhere from three to five years. |
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What
type of allergies can be treated?
Sublingual immunotherapy is
used to treat allergies to grasses, weeds, trees, mold, dust
mites, dogs and cats. |
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What
types of allergies cannot be treated?
Sublingual Immunotherapy cannot be used to treat allergies associated with foods,
stinging insects such as honey bees, yellow jackets, white-faced
hornets and wasps. |
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Are
there any drugs that could prohibit me from receiving sublingual
immunotherapy?
Yes. If you are being treated with
beta-blockers, you cannot receive sublingual immunotherapy. |
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Can
I pick up my sublingual immunotherapy kit?
Yes, at any
of our Vireo Allergy Center or Allergy & Asthma Specialists locations.
Click here to find the location
closest to you. |
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How
do I pay for the procedure?
Patients
can pay using cash, credit card, debit card. |
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What
credit cards does Vireo Allergy Center except?
Mastercard
and Visa. |
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Is
there a minimum age for treatment?
It would be
very unusual to treat anyone under the age of two. |
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allergy therapy
