GEORGETOWN, Ky. (WKYT) – For those living with several food allergies, it can be stressful. The risk of possible exposure and a potential severe reaction can cause anxiety.

“Trying not to get cross-contamination with stuff. It’s a big thing, and I think you have to educate them on that because things do change with that diagnosis,” said Dr. Shaunah Ritter with Family Allergy & Asthma.

Now, a drug initially designed for asthma treatment has shown promise in helping those with multiple food allergies.

Xolair is a shot injected every two or four weeks and can reduce the severity of allergic reactions.

“Instead of a kid having a reaction to a third of a peanut, which is a really tiny amount of a peanut, they were able to tolerate up to two and a half peanuts,” Dr. Ritter said.

Dr. Ritter is excited about the research and believes this will make a real difference for her patients.

“The quality of life, I think, is going to be the biggest and most important thing,” said Dr. Ritter.

The medication becomes a safety net if someone is accidentally exposed to an allergen. Not used as an emergency treatment.

“I think the biggest thing is it’s not a cure, right, because you don’t want the wrong expectation,” Dr. Ritter said.

Dr. Ritter says the data gives hope. Now, patients and their families can have a certain sense of comfort

“I don’t want them to live in fear every day, right, but they also need to realize that it does make a difference,” said Dr. Ritter. “They need to pay attention to what they’re doing and always have their EpiPen on them, and I try to educate them on that every single time.”

Xolair can be given to patients as young as one year old. The cost is between $2,900 and $5000 a month, depending if the patient is an adult or child, but it is covered by insurance.

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