What is drug desensitization?

What is drug desensitization?

Sometimes, you need to take a medication that you’re allergic to. For example, certain chemotherapy medications to treat ovarian cancer may cause an allergic reaction. There may be no safe alternative.

A healthcare provider, usually an allergist or immunologist, can do drug desensitization. This helps your body temporarily accept the medicine. The provider gives you a very small dose of the medicine. Over a few hours, they gradually increase the dose until you’ve received the full amount. You continue to take the medicine regularly. Doing so keeps you in this temporary non-allergic state. Once you stop taking the medication, you’ll be allergic to it again.