Premedication reduces the incidence of systemic reactions during inhalant rush immunotherapy with mixtures of allergenic extracts

Background: Rush immunotherapy, while having many potential benefits, is associated with an increased incidence of systemic reactions. Objective: To determine whether pretreatment with medications reduces the rate of systemic reactions during rush immunotherapy and to identify predictors of such reactions if possible. Methods: We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 22 allergic children ages 6 to 18 years who received rush immunotherapy. Active treatment consisted of a combination of H 1 and H 2 histamine antagonistsand a corticosteroid in gelatin capsules given prior to administration of rush immunotherapy whereas placebo patients received lactose