Suppose you have cat allergies but absolutely love adorable furry felines. Unfortunately, every time you try to spend quality time with your feline friends, your allergies get in the way. While you could take allergy meds, like antihistamines or decongestants, those only last so long, so they’re not a good fit for those with cat allergies who want to own a cat.
The solution? Allergy immunotherapy. It’s a well-documented treatment option for various types of allergies, including cat allergies. But how effective is it? Let’s find out.
Allergy Immunotherapy: Explained
Allergy immunotherapy, often called allergy shots or allergy drops, is a treatment that desensitizes the body to a particular allergen. It works by delivering a tiny dose of whatever you’re allergic to underneath your skin or tongue. This exposes your immune system to the allergen, allowing it to build an allergen-specific tolerance.
Over time and with consistency, repeated exposure and allergen-specific tolerance can allow you to be exposed to the allergen without a significant reaction. Of course, it all depends on you, though, since everybody’s immune systems can respond differently.
Some people may be able to be around an allergen without an allergic reaction, while others might have significantly reduced symptoms (but still experience symptoms). It all depends on how your immune system responds to treatment.
It’s important to note that the transformation doesn’t happen overnight since the treatment usually lasts for three to five years. For most people, it takes a few years to see the most notable improvements, which usually show up in years two and three. However, you might begin to notice changes within the first year.
Types of Allergy Immunotherapy
Allergy immunotherapy is subdivided into two groups.
The first, called sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), is the type that is administered underneath the tongue. It uses allergy drops or tablets to contain the allergen, delivering the dose quickly and conveniently underneath the tongue.
This type has little risk of an adverse reaction, allowing you to administer it from the comfort of your own home without medical supervision. This makes it ideal for people with busy schedules and kiddos (since it doesn’t involve injections).
The second, called subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT), is the type that is administered under the skin. It uses an injectable form of the allergen to deliver each dose, giving your immune system a more direct dose of the allergen.
Since this form is more direct and involves injections, it must be administered by a healthcare professional. Once your injections are complete, you’ll need to stay at the clinic for a set period for monitoring. This is a precaution designed to protect you, ensuring you have immediate access to medical attention in the rare case that you have an adverse reaction.
The Science Behind AIT and Cat Allergies
There are piles upon piles of studies and trials exploring the ins and outs of allergy immunotherapy. While you might be new to allergy immunotherapy, it’s nothing new to the allergy treatment scene. It’s been around for over a century, originally introduced in 1911, and since then, it has been studied in depth.
Many of these studies document the remarkable efficacy of AIT for different allergies, including cat allergies. Whether you opt for cat allergy shots for humans or cat allergy drops, this treatment can be highly effective, which shines through in many studies and trials.
For example, one study compared an AIT-treated group to a control group. It found that the treated group was significantly more likely to step down asthma treatment and was constantly associated with more significant reductions in allergic rhinitis and asthma prescriptions than the control group. The study evaluated both asthma controller and reliever prescriptions.
Another study on allergy immunotherapy (both sublingual and subcutaneous immunotherapy) found that it can offer clinical benefits and immunological changes that indicate an allergen-specific tolerance.
The findings of a handful of research and clinical trials further attest to the efficacy of AIT. These trials found that repeated subcutaneous injections (allergy shots) can achieve an allergen-specific tolerance that lasts for years after the treatment concludes.
These are just a few of the many studies and trials out there that prove the efficacy of allergy immunotherapy. Some focus on specific types of allergy immunotherapy or how it can improve certain allergies (like a cat allergy), so if you want more detailed information, you’ll have no shortage of information.
The Verdict: Is AIT Effective for Cat Allergies?
Allergy immunotherapy has been proven time and time again to be highly effective in treating all sorts of allergies, including cat allergies. While it’s not a cure, it can remarkably reduce symptoms, potentially even allowing you to spend time with your furry feline friends without experiencing an allergic flare-up.
Of course, results will vary based on how your immune system responds to treatment. If you’re considering AIT for your cat allergies, remember to chat with your healthcare provider first. They can help you select the best type of allergy immunotherapy for your needs and medical history.