FAAN Medical Advisory Board Responds to Over the Counter Allergy Treatment
A recent nationwide press release promotes an over-the-counter homeopathic allergy treatment called Allertherapy™ that is touted without evidence as a way to build immunity to food allergens.
Clinical trial results for Allertherapy™ are not apparent. It is an over-the-counter unsubstantiated homeopathic remedy. Unlike conventional prescription drugs, homeopathic remedies and over-the-counter drugs are not required to undergo thorough testing and review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for safety and effectiveness before they can be sold. The Allertherapy™ website does not present clinical trial data.
There is no link between Allertherapy™ and a study recently presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. The company’s attempt to connect its treatment to a recently publicized peanut immunotherapy study at Duke University Medical Center and Arkansas Children’s Hospital that was conducted under strict medical supervision is of great concern due to the potential harm that the unknown effects of Allertherapy™ may inflict. Moreover, referring to this study in materials to promote an unrelated homeopathic product is misleading and, as noted above, potentially dangerous.
The recently-reported Duke and Arkansas peanut immunotherapy findings need to be confirmed in larger studies with more patients before such a therapy is used clinically.
Food allergy treatment should be medically supervised. The treatments reported in the Duke study are strictly experimental, limited, and under the strict supervision of the National Institutes of Health and the FDA. The use of any immunotherapeutic treatment, oral or injection, must be conducted under the supervision of a trained physician.
What Does This Mean for You? For those with food allergies, it may be tempting to try a product that promises to reduce allergy symptoms. However, it is important not to take a shortcut and try something that could endanger you or your child. The diagnosis and management of food allergies require a team effort between the patient, family, and doctor. Currently, there is no FDA-approved treatment for food allergies. Strict avoidance of the allergy-causing food is the only way to avoid a reaction. It is critical that you read ingredient labels to avoid the allergy-causing food. If your doctor recommends medication, such as antihistamines or epinephrine to control reactions, carry it with you at all times. Speak to your doctor before making any changes in your diet or before starting any over-the-counter treatments for your child’s food allergy.
FAAN Medical Advisory Board Members
Hugh Sampson, M.D., Director
Allan Bock, M.D.
Wesley Burks, M.D.
Clifton Furukawa, M.D.
John James, M.D.
Stacie Jones , M.D.
Todd A. Mahr, M.D.
Scott Sicherer, M.D.
F. Estelle R. Simons, M.D.
Steve Taylor, Ph.D.
Robert Wood, M.D.
John Yunginger, M.D.
Robert Zeiger, M.D., Ph.D.
References
1. Food and Drug Administration. "Homeopathy: Real Medicine or Empty Promises?” Available at: http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/096_home.html.
2. Food and Drug Administration. "Conditions Under Which Homeopathic Drugs May Be Marketed." Compliance Policy Guides Manual, Sec. 400.400. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/ora/compliance_ref/cpg/cpgdrg/cpg400-400.html.
|
