Allergy Treatment Options — From Allergy Shots to Biologics

Treatment starts with an accurate diagnosis

Every option below works for the right patient and does nothing for the wrong one. That is why we test, interpret and explain first: the initial evaluation visit is structured to be a productive launch into allergy action steps, and you leave it with a diagnosis and treatment steps rather than a general recommendation to try avoiding things.

We offer a range of evidence-based and FDA-approved treatments, including non-pharmacological options, so all patients receive the best possible care. Our patient care philosophy is to do the least medicine to achieve the most good.

Allergy Shots — treating the cause, not just the symptoms

Allergy shots have been the hallmark allergy treatment for a wide variety of allergies for over 100 years. They are all-natural, not medication, safe, and remarkably effective at managing or eliminating allergy symptoms in the short-term, long-term, and possibly for a lifetime.

Unlike medications that temporarily control symptoms, allergy immunotherapy gradually retrains the immune system, reducing sensitivity to allergens and potentially providing benefits that persist after treatment.

Allergy immunotherapy effectively reduces allergy symptoms in over 85% of patients and is a uniquely powerful allergy therapy: rather than masking symptoms it works gradually on the allergic and asthmatic process itself, which can mean decreased symptoms and medication needs with no long-term side effects. Allergy shots may also prevent progression to more severe allergic problems by desensitizing the immune system to a specific allergen.

At Sher Allergy Specialists, allergy shots are offered through scheduled appointments with our dedicated allergy shot nurse. Scheduled shot appointments help our patients juggle the demands of busy lives, and can easily be rescheduled for your convenience. Request an appointment by calling our office.

Oral Immunotherapy Pill (OIT)

Oral Immunotherapy is an allergy tablet generally prescribed for people with allergies to grass, ragweed and dust mites. These fast-dissolving tablets contain one type of allergen, are placed under the tongue, and gradually help the body build tolerance to that allergen.

For a Pinellas County patient, dust mite allergy is the most common allergen causing not only year-long but also seasonal symptoms in the spring and fall — a daily tablet can be a practical alternative to a weekly trip for an injection. Which patients are candidates depends on what testing shows, so the tablet follows the diagnosis, not the other way around.

Food Oral Immunotherapy

While there is no cure for food allergy, treatment is available to minimize the risk of a serious allergic reaction from accidental exposure. Oral Immunotherapy for food allergy involves feeding the patient an increasing amount of allergen to raise the threshold that triggers an allergic reaction. OIT may also provide protection against accidental exposure or ingestion of the allergen in the future.

Sher Allergy combines this treatment in its Oral Immunotherapy Clinic with patient education to manage risk, avoid accidental exposure and stay emergency-epinephrine prepared. Dr. Johana Castro Wagner leads the Sher Allergy Oral Immunotherapy Clinic for Food including Peanut Allergy.

Biologic Therapy

Biologic therapies target the underlying pathways that drive allergic and inflammatory disease, with the potential for deeper control, fewer exacerbations, and in some conditions they may actually modify the disease itself.

They are not a first step. A single biologic can be approved for several different conditions, so the question is never simply whether a drug works — it is whether it fits your diagnosis, how severe it is and what you have already tried. Most are given by injection; for chronic hives there is now one that is taken by mouth.

The conditions treated with biologics here are asthma, nasal polyps, atopic dermatitis (eczema), chronic hives and food allergies. Biologics work at the immune system level to prevent the inflammation that causes these conditions. They offer the convenience of less frequent office visits for an injectable treatment and fewer side effects than traditional medications for these conditions. Some biologics are able to be injected at home.

Asthma: Xolair, Nucala, Fasenra, Tezspire and Dupixent. Nasal polyps: Dupixent, Xolair, Nucala and Tezspire. Chronic hives: Xolair, Dupixent, and Rhapsido, which is taken by mouth rather than injected. Food allergies: Xolair. Atopic dermatitis (eczema): Dupixent, and the newer options approved for it — Ebglyss, Adbry and Nemluvio.

Lifestyle, Medical and Environmental Management

Not every answer is an injection. A cornerstone of the Sher Allergy philosophy is to maximize lifestyle and diet to treat your conditions — weight management, nutritional choices, exercise programs and behavioral techniques, alongside education and counseling about your allergic conditions. Our team will instruct you in the many aspects of asthma and allergic disease management and give you the tools and information to become an active participant in your own care.

Medical or pharmaceutical intervention can be used effectively to treat allergies and asthma, and there are new, safe and effective medications available to help alleviate and control allergic and asthmatic symptoms. The doctor will recommend the safest and best medication therapy for your specific problems.

After identifying your specific allergic and irritant triggers, our team will recommend an environmental control program to reduce exposure to them. Some simple and cost-effective changes in the home can be very helpful in controlling allergic symptoms — particularly here, where humidity keeps dust mites and indoor mold in play all year. The doctor and clinical staff will make those recommendations and explain how to get started with the measures that will benefit you most.

How treatment decisions get made here

• We listen to your allergy story and review your medical history in detail before recommending anything
• Testing and interpretation happen on the same day as your evaluation when possible
• You leave the first visit with a diagnosis and treatment steps
• Options are matched to your diagnosis, your schedule and your tolerance for daily medication
• Your allergist writes to your primary care or referring physician after the visit
• Our services are safe, evidence-based, FDA-approved and insurance-covered

Common questions about allergy treatment