Yes. Patients must avoid vigorous physical activity, hot showers, and hot baths for two hours after each dose, as these can increase the risk of a reaction. Your allergist will review all restrictions in detail.
FAQs
Oral Immunotherapy (OIT) is a treatment endorsed by the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) in which patients consume small, carefully escalating doses of an allergenic food under medical supervision. The goal is to raise the threshold of reactivity — so that if you accidentally eat a small amount of the allergen, your body will not trigger a severe allergic reaction.
We offer OIT for peanuts, tree nuts, milk, egg, and select other foods. Uses are off-label but supported by a strong and growing body of clinical evidence. Your allergist will review the evidence and options with you.
OIT has three phases:
- Initial Dosing Visit — You will consume four very small doses of your allergen, separated by 30-minute observation periods. This visit takes approximately 4 hours.
- Build-Up Phase — You return to the office roughly monthly for supervised dose increases (updosing visits).
- Maintenance Phase — Once you reach the highest tolerated dose, you continue taking it daily at home to keep the immune system trained.
The build-up phase typically takes 10–12 months, depending on how you respond to each dose increase. Your allergist will adjust the timeline based on your progress.
Yes, allergic reactions are possible during OIT — particularly during dose increases. All supervised dosing takes place in our office for this reason. Patients must continue to carry epinephrine at all times throughout treatment.
Yes. Patients must avoid vigorous physical activity, hot showers, and hot baths for two hours after each dose, as these can increase the risk of a reaction. Your allergist will review all restrictions in detail.
OIT is not a cure. It creates a state of desensitization — meaning you can tolerate more of the allergen than before — but this requires ongoing daily dosing at the maintenance level to sustain. Some patients may eventually be able to eat the food freely, though this outcome varies. You must continue to carry epinephrine and read food labels throughout treatment.
Missing doses can reduce your tolerance and increase the risk of a reaction when you resume. Always contact your FCAAC care team before resuming OIT if you have missed doses.