Top Allergist in Rockville MD
Allergy testing is a vital tool to pinpoint specific allergens causing your symptoms. Through precise methods like skin and blood tests, it helps create effective treatment plans, allowing you to manage and reduce allergic reactions for improved well-being. Dr. Oral Alpan, MD, offers experienced allergy diagnosis and care at Amerimmune Clinic, focusing on tailored treatment plans. For more information, contact us or request an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 121 Congressional Lane, Suite 320, Rockville, MD 20852.


Table of Contents:
Can an allergist help with drug allergies?
What is the best way to manage a peanut allergy?
Are allergy shots effective, and how do they work?
What is the difference between an allergy and a sensitivity?
A drug allergy occurs when your immune system mistakenly identifies a medication as harmful, triggering symptoms that can range from mild irritation, such as itching or rash, to severe, potentially life-threatening reactions like anaphylaxis.
If you suspect you may have a drug allergy, our team at Amerimmune Clinic provides thorough evaluations and specialized diagnostic testing tailored to your unique needs. We start by carefully reviewing your medical history, symptoms, timing of reactions, and medications involved. To accurately diagnose your condition, we may conduct advanced tests including skin prick testing or blood-based allergy assessments.
Once our allergist identifies your specific drug allergy, we will guide you toward safe and effective alternative medications. In cases where no suitable alternatives exist, Amerimmune Clinic offers state-of-the-art drug desensitization procedures. Through this carefully controlled and closely supervised process, you can safely receive necessary treatments even if you’ve experienced previous allergic reactions.
With compassionate care and expert guidance, Amerimmune Clinic is committed to improving your quality of life and safely managing your drug allergy concerns.
First and foremost, individuals diagnosed with peanut allergy should strictly avoid peanuts and peanut-containing products. Our experts will educate you on how to properly read ingredient labels on packaged foods, recognize cross-contamination risks in restaurants, bakeries, and other food establishments, and communicate clearly about your allergy when dining out or attending social gatherings.
Regular consultations and follow-ups ensure accurate diagnosis and continuous monitoring of allergy severity, allowing us to identify any changes or improvements over time. We will prescribe and thoroughly train you on the proper use of emergency medications, such as epinephrine auto-injectors.
We emphasize patient education and preparedness. Our team will assist you in developing a personalized allergy action plan, outlining clear steps to follow in the event of exposure or allergic reaction.
Finally, as a practice committed to innovation and advanced allergy therapies, Amerimmune Clinic remains at the forefront of emerging treatments. We routinely evaluate new developments, such as oral immunotherapy and other desensitization approaches, and will discuss suitable treatment options, providing you with the most advanced strategies available to manage peanut allergies safely and effectively.
Allergy shots are an effective, evidence-based treatment designed to gradually reduce your sensitivity to allergens and lessen your allergy symptoms over time.
At our clinic, allergy shot therapy involves carefully controlled exposure to small amounts of the specific allergens that trigger your reactions, allowing your immune system to become progressively desensitized. This personalized treatment begins with an initial buildup phase, during which you will receive injections with incrementally increasing doses of the allergen once or twice weekly. Once we reach your target dose, you’ll transition to the maintenance phase, typically receiving injections every two to four weeks over several years. This consistent, medically supervised process helps your body adapt, ultimately reducing the severity and frequency of allergic reactions.
Amerimmune Clinic specializes in allergen immunotherapy for common allergy triggers such as pollen, dust mites, pet dander, mold, and insect stings. Our patients frequently report significant improvement in symptoms, a higher quality of life, and reduced reliance on allergy medications. In many cases, allergy shots can provide lasting relief even after treatment concludes.
While allergy shots are a safe and widely respected treatment option, they must always be administered under professional medical supervision to minimize potential risks. Our skilled healthcare providers closely monitor your treatment and are prepared to address any reactions, which although rare, may include mild irritation at the injection site or, in exceptional cases, more serious allergic responses.
At Amerimmune Clinic, we specialize in diagnosing and managing various immune-related conditions, particularly allergies and sensitivities. These terms are often mistakenly used interchangeably because both conditions can cause uncomfortable symptoms. However, from a medical standpoint, they represent distinctly different bodily reactions that require unique approaches to diagnosis and treatment.
An allergy occurs when the immune system mistakenly identifies a normally harmless substance—such as pollen, food proteins, dust mites, or animal dander—as a dangerous threat. In response, the immune system produces specific antibodies, particularly Immunoglobulin E (IgE), which trigger the release of inflammatory substances like histamine.
Allergic reactions can range from mild symptoms, like itching, sneezing, watery eyes, or skin rashes, to severe and potentially life-threatening reactions such as anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis symptoms include difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat, a sudden drop in blood pressure, dizziness, and loss of consciousness. Allergic reactions typically develop rapidly, within minutes to a couple of hours after exposure, and can escalate with repeated exposure.
A sensitivity, also known as an intolerance, differs significantly from an allergy as it does not involve the immune system’s IgE antibodies. Instead, sensitivities often arise when the digestive system cannot adequately metabolize or digest certain substances, or due to reactions to naturally occurring chemicals or additives in foods. We offer comprehensive sensitivity testing and personalized treatment plans to help patients manage these conditions effectively.
Sensitivity reactions typically present with milder symptoms that develop more gradually. Common symptoms include digestive discomfort, such as bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, headaches, fatigue, or skin irritation. Well-known examples include lactose intolerance—where the body lacks sufficient lactase enzyme to digest lactose—or a sensitivity to gluten experienced by individuals without celiac disease.
At Amerimmune Clinic, we are committed to helping our patients understand and manage allergies and sensitivities. Our experienced team provides accurate diagnostic testing, personalized treatments, and ongoing support to help you achieve optimal health and quality of life. For more information, contact us or request an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 121 Congressional Lane, Suite 320, Rockville, MD 20852. We serve patients from Rockville MD, North Bethesda MD, Aspen Hill MD, Potomac MD, Redland MD, and surrounding areas.

Additional Services You May Need
▸ Allergy Consultation
▸ Immunology Consultation
▸ Allergen Immunotherapy
▸ Allergy Vials
▸ Allergy Shots
▸ Biological Drug Administration
▸ Diagnostic Testing
▸ Skin Prick Testing
▸ Allergy Patch Testing
▸ Oral Food Challenge Testing
▸ Nasal Swab Culture Testing
▸ Routine Venipuncture Testing
▸ Telehealth
▸ Immunology Testing
▸ Food Allergy Testing
▸ Asthma

Additional Services You May Need
▸ Allergy Consultation
▸ Immunology Consultation
▸ Allergen Immunotherapy
▸ Allergy Vials
▸ Allergy Shots
▸ Biological Drug Administration
▸ Diagnostic Testing
▸ Skin Prick Testing
▸ Allergy Patch Testing
▸ Oral Food Challenge Testing
▸ Nasal Swab Culture Testing
▸ Routine Venipuncture Testing
▸ Telehealth
▸ Immunology Testing
▸ Food Allergy Testing
▸ Asthma