Immunotherapy for asthma

Allergen immunotherapy gradually exposes a person to a carefully selected trigger, usually through injections or medicine placed under the tongue. The aim is to reduce sensitivity to an allergy that contributes to breathing symptoms. It is planned by an allergy or respiratory specialist and is not a quick reliever during an asthma attack.

Cancer immunotherapy is a different group of medicines. It changes immune activity to help the body recognise cancer cells and may be used in conditions such as [lung cancer](/conditions/lung-cancer/) or [lymphoma](/conditions/lymphoma/). These medicines are not a routine asthma treatment.

Ask your clinician to name the treatment and explain its purpose before starting it. Keep using your prescribed preventer and reliever plan unless a qualified clinician changes it. Allergy treatment is considered only after reviewing asthma control, triggers, medicines, allergies, and the risk of a reaction during dosing.

Bring an updated medicine list to appointments. Tell the specialist about recent wheeze, night symptoms, emergency visits, pregnancy, heart disease, and previous reactions. Never use an allergy product as a substitute for urgent asthma treatment.

Use your written asthma action plan for worsening wheeze, cough, chest tightness, or breathlessness. Seek urgent medical care if the reliever is not helping as expected, speaking is difficult, breathing is rapidly worsening, or you feel drowsy, faint, or confused.

After an allergy-immunotherapy dose, get urgent help for swelling of the lips or tongue, throat tightness, widespread hives, vomiting with breathing symptoms, or faintness. Stay for the observation period advised by the treatment team.

Ask which type of immunotherapy is being discussed, which trigger it targets, how asthma control will be checked, what to do after a missed dose, and which symptoms require emergency care. If cancer treatment is the context, ask for a separate explanation of the medicine and its immune-related effects.