Timothy Grass
OTHER NAME(S): Fléole des Champs, Fléole des Prés, Herd Grass, Herd's Grass, Meadow Cat's-tail, Mil, Phléole des Champs, Phléole des Prés, Timothy, Phleum pratense, Phleum Pretense, Phléole des Prés, Hierba de Timothy
Overview
Timothy grass is a cool-season variety of grass. Many people are allergic to the pollen from timothy grass.
People use prescription products that contain timothy grass pollen in small doses to reduce seasonal allergy (hay fever) symptoms.
Timothy grass pollen in very small doses is thought to desensitize the body to grass pollen allergies.
Timothy grass pollen in very small doses is thought to desensitize the body to grass pollen allergies.
Uses
Likely Effective for
- Hay fever. Prescription timothy grass products reduce hay fever symptoms in people with allergies and asthma. Non-prescription products have not been studied for this purpose and are not expected to help.
Insufficient Evidence for
- Asthma.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of timothy grass for these uses.
Side Effects
When applied under the tongue: Prescription timothy grass pollen extract is POSSIBLY SAFE for most adults when used appropriately. It can cause itching and irritation of the mouth and nose, blisters in the mouth, and runny nose. There isn't enough reliable information to know if non-prescription products are safe or what the side effects might be.
When injected under the skin: Timothy grass pollen extract is POSSIBLY SAFE for most adults when injected by a healthcare professional. It can cause irritation where the needle entered the skin. But using timothy grass pollen extract at very high doses is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. This can cause serious allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis.
Precautions
When applied under the tongue: Prescription timothy grass pollen extract is POSSIBLY SAFE for most adults when used appropriately. It can cause itching and irritation of the mouth and nose, blisters in the mouth, and runny nose. There isn't enough reliable information to know if non-prescription products are safe or what the side effects might be.
When injected under the skin: Timothy grass pollen extract is POSSIBLY SAFE for most adults when injected by a healthcare professional. It can cause irritation where the needle entered the skin. But using timothy grass pollen extract at very high doses is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. This can cause serious allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if timothy grass is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Children: Timothy grass pollen extract is POSSIBLY SAFE when applied under the tongue (sublingual) in children 5 years or older or when injected under the skin of children 3 years or older.
Interactions
We currently have no information for Timothy Grass overview.
Dosing
ADULTS
UNDER THE TONGUE:
- For hay fever: 2800 units of a prescription product (GRASTEK, Alk Abello A/S) daily, starting 8-12 weeks before grass pollen season starts and continuing until it ends. This product is approved by the US FDA.
CHILDREN
UNDER THE TONGUE:
- For hay fever: 2,800 units of a prescription product (GRASTEK, Alk Abello A/S) daily, starting 8-12 weeks before grass pollen season starts and continuing until it ends. This product is approved by the US FDA.
References
- 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.
- Dahl R, Stender A, Rak S. Specific immunotherapy with SQ standardized grass allergen tablets in asthmatics with rhinoconjunctivitis. Allergy 2006;61:185-90.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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, randomised study. Qual Life Res 2007;16:191-201.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Kildsgaard J, Brimnes J, Jacobi H, Lund K. Sublingual immunotherapy in sensitized mice. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2007;98:366-72.
- Pfaar O, Hohlfeld JM, Al-Kadah B, et al. Dose-response relationship of a new Timothy grass pollen allergoid in comparison with a 6-grass pollen allergoid. Clin Exp Allergy. 2017 Nov;47(11):1445-1455.
- Sola J, da Silva Ferreira JA, Dionicio Elera J, et al. Timothy grass pollen therapeutic vaccine: optimal dose for subcutaneous immunotherapy. Immunotherapy. 2016;8(3):251-63.
- Kaur A, Skoner D, Ibrahim J, et al. Effect of grass sublingual tablet immunotherapy is similar in children and adults: a Bayesian approach to design pediatric sublingual immunotherapy trials. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2018 May; 141(5):1744-1749.
- Rondón C, Blanca-López N, Campo P, et al. Specific immunotherapy in local allergic rhinitis: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial with Phleum pratense subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy. Allergy. 2018 Apr;73(4):905-15.
- Sola J, Sánchez V, Landeta A, Madariaga B, Martínez A, Álvarez-Cuesta E. A Phase I clinical trial with subcutaneous immunotherapy vaccine of Timothy grass pollen extract according to EMA guidelines. Immunotherapy. 2015;7(4):343-52.
- Maloney J, Bernstein DI, Nelson H, et al. Efficacy and safety of grass sublingual immunotherapy tablet, MK-7243: a large, randomized controlled trial. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2014 Feb;112(2):146-153.e2.