What is Acarizax?
Acarizax is a sublingual (under the tongue) once daily immunotherapy treatment (SLIT) that is used in children and adults who have severe house dust mite allergy. It comes in the form of a tablet that dissolves under the tongue. Taken daily, Acarizax can help the immune system develop a tolerance to grass pollen.
Acarizax is taken daily for three years. If the treatment is to be successful and have long-term benefits, it is extremely important that Acarizax is taken every day during the entire treatment period, unless there are troublesome side effects or the person taking Acarizax is unwell.
When do I start Acarizax?
The first dose of the immunotherapy will be administered in the Children’s Day Unit. You will be sent details of the date, time and place. You/your child will need to stay for approximately one hour after the first dose. During this time, your/your child will be monitored closely for any symptoms or signs of an unwanted allergic reaction. After this initial dose, the SLIT treatment will continue daily at home
How do I take Acarizax?
The Acarizax tablet is placed under the tongue. The tablet needs to be held under the tongue for one minute without swallowing or talking. No food or drink is permitted for five minutes after taking the Acarizax tablet.
If you/your child are taking any other sublingual immunotherapy medications, we recommend to leave at least ONE HOUR between different sublingual medications.
When shouldn’t Acarizax be taken?
Acarizax works by stimulating and altering the immune system through the immune cells found in the lining of the mouth. Acarizax should be missed on days when the person taking Acarizax is unwell (as the immune system is already in ‘overdrive’) or if the mouth is tender, cut or inflamed.
Should other allergy medications be stopped while taking Acarizax?
No. Initially the advice is to remain on all the same allergy medications as usual. It may take up to a year after starting Acarizax to notice an improvement in symptoms.
Over time it is anticipated that you/your child will be able to reduce or stop some or all of the allergy medications.
The allergy team will provide direction on how to reduce regular allergy medications at follow up clinic visits, depending on the severity of allergy symptoms.
Can any new medications be started whilst on Acarizax?
Please discuss with a member of the allergy team before starting any new medications or having other immunotherapy treatment.
At any time during the treatment period of three years, please remember to inform the allergy team of any new medications you/your child is advised to take.
How to store Acarizax
- Keep out of reach of children.
- Store Acarizax in a dry location at room temperature. You do not need to keep Acarizax in the refrigerator.
- Open each blister just before the tablet is taken. DO NOT take tablets out of the blisters to store in a pillbox.
What are the possible risks of Acarizax treatment?
Sublingual immunotherapy is very safe. Large studies on hundreds of children have never found any serious reactions. The most common side effects were itchiness in the mouth or ears, or mild allergy symptoms for example a runny nose or watery eyes, throat irritation and lip swelling after taking the Acarizax tablet. These tend to happen immediately after you have taken the Acarizax tablet and usually do not last longer than then ten to fifteen minutes. Itch and tingling can be managed by taking an antihistamine twenty to thirty minutes before taking the Acarizax tablet.
Contact details
Children’s Allergy Nurse Specialists
Allergy Secretary
Secretary’s desk
Out of hours
Phone the main hospital switchboard and ask for the Paediatric Medical registrar on-call.