Do you still need to carry an EpiPen after oral immunotherapy?
Short answer
Usually, until your allergist says otherwise. In a 2026 survey of Canadian allergists, the most common answer was case by case, followed by carrying it for a set period. OIT raises the threshold for a reaction, but reactions can still happen, for example with exercise or illness.
Researchers at Western University and the University of British Columbia surveyed 36 Canadian allergists who offer oral immunotherapy, about 18% of the country's allergists, and presented the results at the CSACI meeting in October 2026. On carrying epinephrine after OIT, the most common answer was to decide case by case, followed by continuing for a set period such as 6 to 12 months. Smaller groups said to stop after eating the food at home without a reaction, or after passing a final food challenge, and the fewest said to continue indefinitely.
Only 16% routinely test whether protection lasts after stopping daily doses. Food Allergy Canada notes that reactions can happen during OIT even at doses that were tolerated before, triggered by things like exercise, infections or asthma flares.
Ask your allergist for a written plan, and keep two doses with you until then. More in do you still need an EpiPen after oral immunotherapy?
Sources
- Poster: Beyond OIT: what happens after desensitization? A national survey on post-OIT practice and sustained unresponsiveness (Krishnan S, Erdle S, Wong T, Jeimy S), 81st CSACI Annual Scientific Meeting, Toronto (2026)
- 81st Annual CSACI Scientific Meeting, Toronto, October 15 to 18, 2026, Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2026)
- Allergy treatment spotlight: oral immunotherapy (OIT), Food Allergy Canada (2026)
Fact-checked by Western Allergy Services Ltd., Canadian allergy company since 1972, on October 26, 2026. Last updated October 26, 2026. How we check our answers
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General information, not medical advice. Always follow the instructions that come with your medication and the advice of your pharmacist or doctor. In an emergency, call 911. Medical disclaimer