Oral Immunotherapy in San Diego: The Future of Food Allergy Treatment

Food allergies are hitting Americans hard, and their numbers are on the rise – especially among kids. For years, the only way people with allergies were told they could stay safe was to avoid the offending foods at all costs. But now, thanks to some cutting-edge science, things have changed.

At Empower Allergy Treatment, we're proud to be leading the charge in changing the way food allergies are treated, and we're doing it here in San Diego via oral immunotherapy - a pretty cool way to help people build up a tolerance to the foods that give them trouble without all the fuss. No more stressing out about accidental exposure - our patients get a whole lot more freedom, confidence, and peace of mind.

As one of the top food allergy clinics in San Diego, our mission is to get families back in control of their lives, free from the grip of food allergies using care that's tailored to their needs and evidence-based.

What On Earth Is Oral Immunotherapy?

Oral immunotherapy (OIT) is this amazing new treatment that's designed to help your body become less allergic to certain foods. It's totally different from the old way of just trying to avoid the foods you're allergic to. Instead, OIT gently introduces tiny doses of the food into your system, allowing your body to build up a tolerance over time. That's right, your body gets to learn, slowly but surely, to live with the food that was causing all the trouble.

The good news is that OIT is carefully supervised by an allergy specialist in San Diego, who makes sure you're safe every step of the way. Over several months - or sometimes longer - your body starts to respond less and less to the food, so even if you accidentally eat some, you're much less likely to have a bad reaction.

Through our comprehensive Oral Immunotherapy program, Empower helps families - and that means both kids and adults - live their lives without all the worry and restriction that comes with food allergies.

How Does Oral Immunotherapy Work, Anyway?

The science behind OIT is pretty simple, yet really powerful: the body learns through gradual exposure. The process usually breaks down into four main phases - all monitored very closely by our experienced team of clinicians.

1. Getting Started: Allergy Testing & Evaluation -Before we even start the treatment, we need to know exactly which foods you're allergic to, and whether OIT is the right plan for you. That means getting some Blood Tests and a Skin Prick Test, and talking about your medical history in some detail.
2. Getting Ready: The Desensitization Phase - We start with tiny amounts of the food in a controlled setting here at our San Diego clinic, and then gradually build up the dose under close medical supervision.
3. Time to Maintain: The Maintenance Phase - Once you've reached the right level of maintenance dose, you'll be taking the food at home every day. This keeps your body desensitized and helps you build a long-term tolerance.
4. Checking In: Long-Term Management - We keep in touch with you regularly to make sure you're still doing well, and that your allergy isn't getting worse. Some of our patients even choose to have Lung Function Tests to keep an eye on things. This helps us ensure that you're getting the best possible results.

Our four-phase approach is designed to be flexible, so we can adjust the plan to fit your needs and comfort level.

What's So Great About Oral Immunotherapy?

OIT has really changed the game in food allergy treatment here in San Diego. It offers real hope and real results to people who've been living with this stuff for far too long.

So, why are more and more families coming to us for oral desensitization therapy?

• Improved Quality of Life: No more constantly having to check food labels or fussing about accidental exposure.
• Reduced Anxiety: OIT helps make it much less likely you'll have a bad reaction to a food you didn't mean to eat.
• Long-Term Tolerance: a lot of our patients are able to safely eat small or moderate amounts of the foods that used to cause them trouble.
• Evidence-Based Success: The science shows that OIT can work for up to 85% of people with common food allergies.
• Empowered Families: And for parents, the big win is peace of mind, knowing their child is safe to eat almost anything - and for kids, it's the confidence to live life on their own terms.

At Empower, our food allergy specialists in San Diego use personalized dosing and constant monitoring to help get the best possible results.

What Types of Allergies Does Empower Treat with OIT?

At Empower Allergy Treatment, we treat all sorts of food allergies using our OIT program - and each treatment plan is carefully customized to fit the specific needs of the patient. We treat everything from peanut allergy treatment to milk allergy treatment and beyond.

Some of the most common food allergy treatments in San Diego that we offer include:

• Peanut Allergy Treatment: One of our most popular and successful options, it's helped a lot of our patients safely introduce peanut products into their diets.
• Milk Allergy Treatment: Helping kids and adults reintroduce dairy into their diets under close medical supervision.
• Egg Allergy Desensitization: A gradual and carefully monitored approach to helping people build a tolerance to one of the most common childhood allergens.
• Tree Nut and Sesame Allergy Treatment: For our patients with more complex allergies, we've got carefully monitored protocols to help you overcome these issues.

And for some patients, we also offer Sublingual Immunotherapy, a non-oral option that introduces the allergen under the tongue - making it a great fit for people who might not yet be ready for OIT.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Oral Immunotherapy?

OIT is a great option for a lot of people who live with persistent food allergies - but it's not right for everyone. At Empower, we make sure to do a thorough evaluation and a comprehensive set of tests to determine whether OIT is the way to go for you.

The ones who usually do best on OIT are:

• Kids and teens with confirmed food allergies who want to reduce their risk of bad reactions.
• Adults who just want to free themselves from the strict diet that comes with living with food allergies.
• People with stable asthma but no recent severe reactions.

People who can't commit to daily dosing or have certain health problems might be more suited to other treatments like Avoidance Planning or Sublingual Immunotherapy.

During your consultation our team of San Diego food allergy doctors will pick the safest and most effective treatment to suit your unique needs.

What sets Empower Allergy Treatment Apart

At Empower Allergy Treatment we're not just here to manage symptoms. Our approach focuses on giving you the tools and education you need to take control of your own health.

Our team of San Diego allergy specialists combines science, compassion and a personalized approach to give you the best chance of long-term results. Every treatment begins with advanced testing in San Diego, then we work with you to create a tailored plan that might include OIT, Xolair (omalizumab) support or combination therapy for higher-risk patients.

We're proud to offer a full range of evidence-based allergy care through our Services and Programs, including testing, education and ongoing support. At the heart of our practice is a simple goal: to help you live safely and with confidence, no matter how severe your allergies used to be. Want to know more about our team and values? head over to our About Us page.

What to Expect from Our Treatment Programme

Starting oral immunotherapy in San Diego can be a big deal – but our process is designed to keep you feeling informed, supported and safe every step of the way.

When you come in for your first visit you'll meet with an allergy specialist who will go over your medical history with you and do some Skin Prick Testing, Blood Testing or an Oral Food Challenge depending on your allergies.

Once you've been cleared for treatment, your journey will begin with supervised up-dosing sessions at our clinic. We'll monitor your progress closely and adjust the dosing as needed.

After you reach your maintenance phase, you'll continue treatment at home with regular check-ins and progress tracking, and we might ask you to come back in for some Lung Function Testing to keep an eye on your overall respiratory health.

We absolutely want to hear your questions and we'll be there to provide education and reassurance every step of the way.

OIT at Empower Allergy Treatment – Our Commitment to Safety

At Empower Allergy Treatment safety is everything. OIT is a treatment that's supported by decades of medical research and thousands of successful patient outcomes.

We follow standardized protocols that have been reviewed by our peers to make sure every part of food desensitization in San Diego meets the highest possible medical standards. We also have emergency readiness equipment and skilled staff on hand during up-dosing sessions to give you extra peace of mind.

Recent clinical studies have shown some really high success rates for oral immunotherapy, with lots of patients reaching a point where they can eat the allergen safely even when they take a break from treatment.

In some cases we might prescribe additional treatments like Xolair (omalizumab) to help keep you safe and reduce side effects during the early stages of OIT – especially if you have multiple allergies or are particularly sensitive.

Empower Allergy Treatment – We're Here to Support You

Living with food allergies can be really tough – not just for patients, but for their families and caregivers too. That's why we do more than just treat your allergies – we offer education, emotional support and ongoing communication.

Our care model includes keeping in touch as much as you need us to, working with you to develop a personalized dosing plan that fits your lifestyle and providing ongoing support and guidance after treatment to help you keep your tolerance. We also teach avoidance planning for non-treated foods and emergency preparedness training to help you stay safe.

Our team is dedicated to helping you through every step – from food allergy testing in San Diego right through to long-term maintenance and lifestyle adjustments. We're proud to have a team that genuinely cares about your safety, your success and your peace of mind.

Taking Back Control of Your Food Allergies

The future of allergy care is here – in San Diego. With oral immunotherapy, you can move beyond the limits of strict avoidance and start living life without fear.

At Empower Allergy Treatment, we're proud to be helping patients just like you take control of their allergies using safe, proven and compassionate care. Our team combines medical expertise, cutting edge technology and unwavering support to help you get lasting results.

Ready to start your oral immunotherapy in San Diego journey? Contact us today to book a consultation and find out how we can help you or your child live a full and unrestricted life.