725 Reservoir Ave # 303, Suite 301
Cranston, RI 02910
Allergy Suite Hours
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Thursday: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday: Closed
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
Allergy Department
In the Allergy Department there are 3 trained RN's along with Dr. Barone. We pride ourselves on taking the time to get to know our patients, working with them to understand their lifestyles and the environments in which they live and work. This enables us to provide the most effective treatment and management plans. In the allergy Department we conduct allergy testing, allergy desensitization injections and pulmonary function tests.
Allergy tests provide concrete, specific information about what you are and are not allergic to. Once we have identified the specific allergens causing your symptoms, we can develop a treatment plan aimed at controlling or eliminating your allergy symptoms.
The type of allergy testing that we do here is called intradermal skin testing. This involves injecting a small amount of allergen under the skin. This form of testing is the most sensitive and precise and allows us to formulate your individual treatment serum for allergy injections resulting in optimum relief of allergic symptoms quickly.
Allergies begin when your immune system overreacts to a specific substance - called an allergen. Every time you're exposed to the allergen, the immune system releases histamines, which cause symptoms like sneezing, a stuffy or runny nose, red eyes, itching, and swelling. Allergy shots are called immunotherapy because they treat allergies by stopping this automatic immune response. To determine which specific substances are triggering your allergies we will safely and effectively test your skin using tiny amounts of commonly troublesome allergens.
What is the Length of Treatment?
Once the maintenance dose is reached, allergy shots are generally continued for three to five years. Some people may experience a permanent reduction of allergy symptoms. Others may relapse and a longer course of allergy shots can be considered.
How Do Allergy Shots Work?
Allergy shots introduce a small amount of allergen into your bloodstream, then the amount of allergen injected is gradually increased with each subsequent shot. Over time, the immune system learns to tolerate the allergen so you have a decrease in symptoms or no longer have an allergic reaction.
At first you'll get injections weekly for about 3-6 months. Then you will be placed on a maintenance dose. Your symptoms may decrease during the first few months, but it typically takes up to 12 months to see a big improvement. Maintenance shots typically continue for years, but the amount of time varies for each person.
There are generally two phases: build up phase and maintenance phase.
Build-up often ranges from two to six months and involves receiving injections with increasing amounts of the allergens. The shots are typically given once a week during this phase.
The maintenance phase begins when the most effective dose is reached. This dose is different for each person, depending on how allergic you are and your response to the build-up injections. Once the maintenance dose is reached, there are longer periods between injections, typically two to four weeks.
What allergies are treated with allergy shots?
No matter what type of allergy you have, the first step is to figure out the specific allergens that trigger your reaction, then diligently avoid them. Allergy shots are the next line of treatment for patients who have severe reactions or symptoms that aren't well controlled. Shots can eliminate or significantly reduce allergies to grass, trees, weeds, mold, dust, and pet dander.
Allergy shots can be very effective. They even have the potential to completely eliminate allergy symptoms and to prevent new allergies from developing, but everyone has different degrees of success. Some people will get long-lasting relief, while others may relapse after stopping allergy shots. The overall effectiveness may be related to the dose of allergen and length of immunotherapy, which is why it's so important to continue getting allergy shots until your doctor determines it's time to stop.
What Are the Possible Reactions?
The two types of adverse reactions that can occur with allergy shots are local and systemic. Common local reactions include very mild redness and swelling at the injection site, which can happen immediately or several hours after.
Rarely, a serious systematic reaction called anaphalaxis can develop. Symptoms include swelling in the throat, wheezing, a feeling of tightness in the chest, nausea or dizziness. Most serious systemic reactions develop within 20 minutes of allergy shots. This is why it is strongly recommended you wait in your doctor's office for 20 minutes after your injections. Your allergist is trained to watch for reactions, and his or her staff is trained and equipped with the proper medications to identify and treat them.
Allergy Testing Forms
Please print these form so we can expedite your first allergy test.