Safe allergen immunotherapy. The correct allergen, the appropriate patient, the adequate dose

Effective immunotherapy has been shown to be allergen-specific, dose-dependent, and duration-dependent. Patients must receive adequate doses of the relevant allergen to obtain benefit, and most require 3 to 5 years of injections to maintain prolonged benefit after injections are stopped. Concurrently, patients must cooperate by modifying their environment and using some medications during difficult seasons. Although serious reactions to immunotherapy are relatively rare, a physician must be readily available whenever injections are administered, and office staff need to recognize and be ready to respond to systemic reactions.