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Timothy meadow grass

Timothygrass is a plant whose pollen is used as a medicine. One type of timothy preparation is placed under the tongue to reduce the symptoms of grass pollen allergy (hay fever). Another type of timothy preparation is injected under the skin to reduce the symptoms of hay fever and other seasonal allergies.

How does timothy grass work?

Timothy grass in very small doses is believed to desensitize the body to grass pollen allergies.

How effective is timothy grass?

Timothygrass may be effective when used for grass pollen allergies. Specific timothy preparations appear to significantly reduce the symptoms of hay fever in people suffering from asthma. The injectable version could also reduce asthma symptoms. Some research suggests that administering meadow timothy over a 3-year period to children suffering from grass allergy prevents the development of asthma.

Safety and side effects

Timothygrass appears to be safe and harmless for most adults and children between the ages of 3 and 16. When placed under the tongue, timothy grass can cause itching and irritation around the mouth and nose, mouth sores and a runny nose. When administered as an injection, timothy grass may cause irritation at the injection site.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and lactation: Not enough is known about the use of timothy grass during pregnancy and lactation. For this reason, pregnant and breastfeeding women are advised to avoid timothy grass.

Interactions

There is currently no information on interactions between timothy meadow grass and medicines or supplements.

Dosage

The following dosages have been investigated in scientific studies:

Under the tongue

  • For hay fever: 75,000 units of a specific standardized timothy grass product (Grazax) daily, starting 8 weeks before the start of the grass pollen season and continuing until the end of the grass pollen season.

Injected under the skin

  • For hay fever: 100,000 units of a specific meadow timothy allergy product (Alutard SQ) twice a week, starting 8 weeks before the start of the grass pollen season and continuing until the end of the grass pollen season.

References

  1. Ball T, Edstrom W, Mauch L, et al. Gain of structure and IgE epitopes by eukaryotic expression of the major Timothy grass pollen allergen, Phl p 1. FEBS J 2005;272:217-27.
  2. Brecker L, Wicklein D, Moll H, et al. Structural and immunological properties of arabinogalactan polysaccharides from pollen of timothy grass (Phleum pratense L.). Carbohydr Res 2005;340:657-63.
  3. Brimnes J, Kildsgaard J, Jacobi H, Lund K. Sublingual immunotherapy reduces allergic symptoms in a mouse model of rhinitis. Clin Exp Allergy 2007;37:488-97.
  4. Calderon M, Essendrop M. Specific immunotherapy with high dose SO standardized grass allergen tablets was safe and well tolerated. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 2006;16:338-44.
  5. Casanovas M, Sastre J, Fernández-Nieto M, et al. Double-blind study of tolerability and antibody production of unmodified and chemically modified allergen vaccines of Phleum pratense. Clin Exp Allergy 2005;35:1377-83.
  6. Dahl R, Stender A, Rak S. Specific immunotherapy with SQ standardized grass allergen tablets in asthmatics with rhinoconjunctivitis. Allergy 2006;61:185-90.
  7. Hannan JM, Marenah L, Ali L, et al. Insulin secretory actions of extracts of Asparagus racemosus root in perfused pancreas, isolated islets and clonal pancreatic beta-cells. J Endocrinol 2007;192:159-68.
  8. Kildsgaard J, Brimnes J, Jacobi H, Lund K. Sublingual immunotherapy in sensitized mice. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2007;98:366-72.
  9. Malling HJ, Lund L, Ipsen H, Poulsen L. Safety and immunological changes during sublingual immunotherapy with standardized quality grass allergen tablets. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 2006;16:162-8.
  10. Motta A, Peltre G, Dormans JA, et al. Phleum pratense pollen starch granules induce humoral and cell-mediated immune responses in a rat model of allergy. Clin Exp Allergy 2004;34:310-4.
  11. Motta AC, Dormans JA, Peltre G, et al. Intratracheal instillation of cytoplasmic granules from Phleum pratense pollen induces IgE- and cell-mediated responses in the Brown Norway rat. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2004;135:24-9.
  12. Niggemann B, Jacobsen L, Dreborg S, et al. Five-year follow-up on the PAT study: specific immunotherapy and long-term prevention of asthma in children. Allergy 2006;61:855-9.
  13. Rak S, Yang WH, Pedersen MR, Durham SR. Once-daily sublingual allergen-specific immunotherapy improves quality of life in patients with grass pollen-induced allergic rhinoconjunctivitis: a double-blind, randomized study. Qual Life Res 2007;16:191-201.
  14. Roberts G, Hurley C, Turcanu V, Lack G. Grass pollen immunotherapy as an effective therapy for childhood seasonal allergic asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2006;117:263-8.
  15. Rossi RE, Monasterolo G, Coco G, et al. Evaluation of serum IgG4 antibodies specific to grass pollen allergen components in the follow up of allergic patients undergoing subcutaneous and sublingual immunotherapy. Vaccine 2007;25:957-64.