Frequently Asked Questions

OIT is a medical treatment that gradually exposes your immune system to small, increasing amounts of a food allergen. Over time, this trains your body to tolerate the food. Unlike allergy shots, OIT uses the actual food protein and is taken orally at home.

You receive allergy tubes containing clinically tested allergenic extracts at precise doses. These are taken daily — either directly under the tongue or mixed with food. Your allergist increases the dose gradually over 3-6 months until your immune system builds tolerance.

No. Allergy shots (subcutaneous immunotherapy) use injections and are primarily for environmental allergies. OIT is an oral treatment specifically for food allergies. It's taken at home rather than requiring clinic visits for each dose.

Most patients complete their induction program in 3 to 6 months. After reaching your maintenance dose, your allergist will recommend ongoing maintenance to ensure lasting tolerance.

After reaching your target tolerance, you'll continue a maintenance regimen to keep your tolerance strong. Your allergist will schedule periodic check-ins to monitor your progress. Many patients are able to eat their trigger foods freely with continued maintenance.

We treat the 8 major food allergens: peanuts, tree nuts, milk/dairy, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, wheat, and soybeans. We can also treat multiple allergens simultaneously.

Our team includes 5 board-certified allergists and immunologists led by Dr. Dat Tran, MD. All physicians are experienced in oral immunotherapy. Meet our team

We have 8 clinics across Greater Houston: Baytown, Bellaire, Cypress, Dickinson, Memorial, Pearland, Sienna, and Sugar Land. Patients outside Houston can access care via telehealth. View all locations

A referral is not required, but it can help with insurance coverage. You can contact us directly to schedule your consultation.

Yes. Your initial consultation and most follow-up visits can be handled via telehealth, so you can receive care from anywhere in the US. Certain steps — initial up-dosing, allergy testing, and periodic check-ins — are done in person at any of our 8 Houston-area clinics. We work with you to balance both.

Yes. We treat children as young as 8 months old. All pediatric treatment is supervised by board-certified allergists with age-appropriate dosing protocols and safety monitoring in place.

We accept patients as young as 8 months old. Early treatment can be particularly effective, as younger immune systems may respond more readily to desensitization.

Absolutely. While many people think of food allergies as a childhood condition, millions of adults live with food allergies. OIT has been shown to be effective for adult patients, even those who have had allergies for decades.

The most common side effects are mild and temporary: itchy mouth, mild stomach discomfort, or minor throat irritation. Severe reactions are rare. Your allergist will prepare you for what to expect and provide detailed safety instructions. Always carry your prescribed epinephrine auto-injector.

We can treat multiple food allergies simultaneously or sequentially, depending on what your allergist recommends. Multi-allergen treatment is one of our specialties — we treat all 8 major food allergens.

Our comprehensive program starts at $3,000, which covers enrollment, treatment, allergy testing, and physician consultations. Most patients pay significantly less with insurance coverage. Contact us for a personalized cost estimate.

Yes, OIT is typically covered by medical insurance as it is billed as a medical procedure supervised by a physician. Coverage varies by plan, so we recommend contacting us to verify your specific benefits.

We accept all major insurance providers including UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, BlueCross BlueShield, Anthem, Centene, and Humana, among others. Verify your coverage

We work with patients to find affordable options. Contact our office to discuss payment arrangements that fit your budget.

Getting started is easy. Call us at (832) 220-6391 or fill out our contact form to schedule your free consultation.