TIMOTHY GRASS: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

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.

How does it work ?

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

Uses & Effectiveness

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.

Special Precautions and Warnings

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

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

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.

View References

REFERENCES:

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. View abstract.

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. View abstract.

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. View abstract.

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. View abstract.

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. View abstract.

Dahl R, Stender A, Rak S. Specific immunotherapy with SQ standardized grass allergen tablets in asthmatics with rhinoconjunctivitis. Allergy 2006;61:185-90. View abstract.

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. View abstract.

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. View abstract.

Kildsgaard J, Brimnes J, Jacobi H, Lund K. Sublingual immunotherapy in sensitized mice. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2007;98:366-72. View abstract.

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. View abstract.

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. View abstract.

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. View abstract.

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. View abstract.

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. View abstract.

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. View abstract.

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. View abstract.

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. View abstract.

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. View abstract.

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. View abstract.

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. View abstract.

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. View abstract.

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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

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TIMOTHY GRASS - Uses, Side Effects, and More