standardised allergen extract from house dust mites at a glance
Medicine class
House dust mite allergen immunotherapy
Form
A fragile, freeze-dried tablet placed under the tongue
Before treatment
Suitability is confirmed from symptoms and a positive skin-prick or specific-IgE test
Starting treatment
The first administration is supervised by an allergy-experienced clinician, with observation afterwards
Important limitation
It does not treat an acute asthma attack and does not replace existing asthma controllers
What is standardised allergen extract from house dust mites used for?
The selected UK product is licensed after diagnosis based on clinical history and confirmed house dust mite sensitisation.
Persistent moderate-to-severe house dust mite allergic rhinitis in adults and children aged 5–17 years when symptom-relieving medicines have not provided adequate control.
House dust mite allergic asthma in adults aged 18–65 years that is not well controlled by inhaled corticosteroids and occurs with house dust mite allergic rhinitis.
How does standardised allergen extract from house dust mites work?
Repeated exposure under the tongue aims to retrain the immune response so that house dust mite allergens provoke less inflammation. The complete mechanism is not fully understood, but treatment increases mite-specific IgG4 antibodies that can compete with allergy-driving IgE for allergen binding.
How to take standardised allergen extract from house dust mites
Follow the technique demonstrated by the specialist team.
Use dry fingers and remove the fragile tablet carefully from the opened blister; do not push it through the foil.
Place it under the tongue immediately and allow it to disperse.
Avoid swallowing for about one minute.
Do not eat or drink for five minutes afterwards.
Temporarily interrupt treatment and contact the clinical team if severe mouth inflammation, an oral wound, dental extraction or other oral surgery occurs.
standardised allergen extract from house dust mites side effects
Common or expected effects
- Mild or moderate itching, tingling, discomfort or swelling in the mouth, lips or throat
- Throat irritation or ear itching
- Altered taste, mouth ulcers or tongue discomfort
- Nausea, abdominal discomfort, diarrhoea or vomiting
- Cough, hoarseness or mild asthma symptoms
- Itching of the eyes or skin, or hives
Get urgent medical advice
- A severe systemic allergic reaction, including facial or throat swelling, breathing or swallowing difficulty, voice change, faintness or throat fullness
- Acute worsening of asthma
- Severe or persistent heartburn, indigestion or difficulty swallowing, which may indicate eosinophilic oesophagitis
- Severe or persistent swelling or inflammation in the mouth or throat
standardised allergen extract from house dust mites in pregnancy
Treatment should not be started during pregnancy because clinical experience is lacking. If pregnancy occurs during established treatment, continuation requires an individual specialist assessment of previous reactions, general health and lung function; closer supervision is advised when asthma is present.
standardised allergen extract from house dust mites while breastfeeding
There are no clinical breastfeeding data, although effects on a breastfed child are not anticipated. Discuss continuation with the prescribing specialist.
standardised allergen extract from house dust mites interactions
No human interaction studies have identified direct medicine interactions, but the following issues may affect tolerability or emergency treatment.
Antihistamines and other symptom-relieving allergy medicines
These may improve tolerance of allergen immunotherapy, so stopping them can make local allergic effects more noticeable.
Beta-blockers
They may reduce the effect of adrenaline if it is needed to treat a severe allergic reaction.
Tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors and COMT inhibitors
They may intensify the cardiovascular effects of adrenaline used for a severe allergic reaction.
Common questions about standardised allergen extract from house dust mites
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
How is suitability confirmed?
A clinician considers the pattern and severity of symptoms and confirms house dust mite sensitisation using a skin-prick test, a specific-IgE blood test or both.
Is it the same as an antihistamine?
No. Antihistamines temporarily reduce symptoms, whereas this is allergen immunotherapy intended to change immune responsiveness to house dust mites.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.