If you have ever had a serious reaction to an insect sting, you may have an increased risk of experiencing another serious reaction. Sometimes the reactions can be life threatening. Appropriate evaluation is required. Skin testing and blood testing are needed to accurately evaluate a patient’s risk. Treatment options include venom desensitization. This treatment reduces the patient’s risk of life threatening reaction to that of the general population.

Starting with a very small dose, insect venom injections are given weekly (or twice a week if you want to shorten the time to reach maintenance), in gradually increasing doses. A maintenance dose of 100 micrograms is required, which is equal to approximately two real insect stings. The build up phase prior to reaching the maintenance dose takes about 5 – 10 weeks. Thereafter, 100 mcg is given every 5 – 6 weeks for about 3 – 5 years, depending upon the severity of your allergy.

During the build up phase, we give you up to three step up doses. After injection, you will be required to remain in the office for 3 – 4 hours during the build up phase and 1 hour after maintenance has been reached. This is important because after every dose, we must ensure that you do not develop an allergic reaction to the injection. We advise you to bring an Epipen to all visits.Once you reach full dose, your risk of reaction to a sting is the same as that of any non-allergic person. Most patients continue to carry an Epipen “just in case”.