Aspirin Challenge/Desensitization
Aspirin Challenge/Desensitization
The purpose of aspirin desensitization is to induce a tolerance to aspirin in a person who is sensitive to aspirin. During the aspirin desensitization procedure, you are given increasing doses of aspirin over time. This also serves as a challenge or diagnostic test because if you have a sensitivity to aspirin, you will likely develop some symptoms during the procedure. After the symptoms are treated, we proceed with the remainder of the desensitization. This procedure is a 2-day process. Once the aspirin desensitization procedure is done, you will need to take aspirin regularly.
Preparing For The Test
Please follow your doctor’s directions for pre-medication when getting ready for this test.
- Continue to take all the medicines as you usually do
- If you are diabetic, please bring your blood glucose monitor and medicine, including insulin
- If you feel sick, please call to speak with our nurse. We may need to cancel the appointment. The number to call is 920-969-1768
- Please arrive 15 to 20 minutes before your appointment time and check in at the Front Desk as soon as you arrive.
During The Test
We encourage you to bring reading materials, a laptop or a tablet to use during your stay here. We have wireless access for your technology devices. You may bring your lunch and/or snack food.
When you arrive, the nurse will explain what will be done during aspirin desensitization. If you have any questions, please ask. You will be placed in the challenge room within the center and you will have frequent monitoring of vital signs and lung function. The nurse may start an IV. The IV would be used to give medicine in case you have a significant reaction during the aspirin desensitization.
You will begin the aspirin desensitization by swallowing a small dose of aspirin. The dose will be increased every 1.5 to 2 hours during the day unless you have a reaction. You will be monitored closely by a nurse during the aspirin desensitization. Dr. Mjaanes will be available to provide evaluation or treatment in case of any symptoms. Possible symptoms include shortness of breath, wheezing, nasal congestion and a runny nose. You may be given some medicine to treat symptoms if they develop.
Once the aspirin desensitization is complete, Dr. Mjaanes will answer any questions you have and discuss the results of the test, make recommendations and identify your daily aspirin dose.
Length Of The Test
Aspirin desensitization may take two days. You will come to the center each morning and stay all day. You are monitored closely so you won’t be able to leave the center during the day. You will be able to leave for the night and return the next morning if the aspirin desensitization is continuing.
After The Procedure
Once the procedure is completed, you will need to continue to take aspirin every day to remain desensitized. We will determine the correct aspirin dose for you before discharge. Once you are desensitized to aspirin, you are also desensitized to all other NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen.
If you go 48-72 hours without remembering to take your aspirin, you will need to contact Dr. Mjaanes for further instructions about re-starting the medicine. Do not re-start it on your own without speaking to our staff because you could have a reaction. If you have any upcoming procedures or surgeries, you will need to notify the doctor that you are on an aspirin regimen. You may have to stop taking it prior to the procedure.
Schedule a follow-up appointment with your provider within a couple of weeks after desensitization.
Day Of The Test
Please check in at the Front Desk and tell them you are here for an aspirin challenge/desensitization. If you have questions, please call 920-969-1768.
Frequently Asked Questions about Aspirin Desensitization
What conditions is aspirin desensitization used to treat?
Aspirin desensitization primarily treats aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease, a condition combining asthma, recurring nasal polyps, and reactions to aspirin and other NSAIDs. It’s also used when someone who reacts to aspirin still needs it daily, such as for heart or vascular disease. By building tolerance, the treatment lets patients take aspirin safely and can calm the underlying inflammation driving their symptoms. Your provider confirms the diagnosis before recommending the procedure.
Can aspirin desensitization help with nasal polyps and chronic sinus problems?
Yes, aspirin desensitization can reduce nasal polyp regrowth and ease chronic sinusitis symptoms in people whose disease is driven by aspirin sensitivity. Many patients notice better breathing, improved sense of smell, and fewer sinus flare-ups over time, especially when combined with prior sinus surgery. It works by dampening the inflammatory pathway that fuels polyp formation. Results build gradually with consistent daily aspirin, and it does not replace all other sinus care.
Is aspirin desensitization safe if I have asthma?
Aspirin desensitization is performed specifically for many patients with asthma, but it requires stable asthma and close medical supervision. Because a reaction can trigger wheezing or shortness of breath, the procedure is done in a monitored setting with frequent vital-sign and lung checks and an IV ready if needed. Your asthma should be well controlled beforehand, which is why keeping up your asthma action plan matters. Your provider decides if timing is right.
Why do I have to take aspirin every day after desensitization?
You must take aspirin every day after desensitization because tolerance fades once the medication leaves your system. Daily dosing keeps your body from reacting and maintains the anti-inflammatory benefit that controls polyps, asthma, and sinus symptoms. If you go 48 to 72 hours without a dose, you can lose tolerance and react again, so never restart on your own. Contact Dr. Mjaanes for instructions if you miss doses.
What are the risks and possible side effects of aspirin desensitization?
The main risks of aspirin desensitization are respiratory reactions during the procedure, such as wheezing, nasal congestion, and a runny nose, which the team treats as they occur. Because reactions are expected as doses rise, the process happens under close monitoring with medication ready. Over the long term, daily aspirin can irritate the stomach or raise bleeding risk, so ongoing lung function and symptom checks help keep treatment safe. Report new symptoms to your provider.
Is it safe to stay on daily aspirin during pregnancy after desensitization?
Staying on daily aspirin during pregnancy after desensitization needs to be reviewed with both your allergy provider and your obstetrician, since the maintenance dose is higher than low-dose aspirin used in some pregnancies. In many cases the plan is adjusted rather than stopped outright, because pausing aspirin can mean losing tolerance and needing to repeat the procedure. Never change the dose on your own. Call ENT Specialists of Wisconsin at (920) 969-1768 to coordinate before making changes.
Why not just avoid aspirin and NSAIDs instead of getting desensitized?
Avoiding aspirin and NSAIDs manages the reaction risk but does not treat the underlying disease, which is why desensitization is often preferred. Even with strict avoidance, nasal polyps tend to return and asthma and sinus symptoms can persist, because the inflammation continues. Desensitization also lets patients safely take aspirin or NSAIDs when they’re medically necessary, such as for heart disease or pain relief. For other drug reactions, medication desensitization follows a similar principle.
Will I have to be desensitized again if I stop aspirin for surgery?
Often yes, if you stop aspirin for more than two to three days before surgery, you’ll likely need to be re-desensitized before resuming the daily regimen. This is because tolerance is lost quickly once the medication is out of your system. Always tell your surgeon and your allergy provider that you’re on an aspirin protocol so the pause and restart can be planned safely. Do not restart aspirin on your own. Call ENT Specialists of Wisconsin at (920) 969-1768 for guidance.
Do I have to travel to Appleton for the two-day aspirin desensitization?
The two-day aspirin desensitization is performed at an ENT Specialists of Wisconsin allergy center, and patients from across the region come in for it because it requires all-day monitoring. People traveling from Shawano, Waupaca, and other outlying communities should plan for two full daytime visits, returning home each evening. Bringing reading material, a laptop, and lunch makes the stay easier. Confirm the exact location and schedule when you book, since not every office performs this procedure.
Where can I get aspirin desensitization near Appleton, WI?
You can get aspirin desensitization near Appleton at ENT Specialists of Wisconsin, where it’s performed under close supervision by an allergy provider. The practice serves northeast Wisconsin from three Appleton offices on Grant Street, Meade Street, and Westhill Boulevard, plus locations in De Pere, Neenah, Oshkosh, Shawano, and Waupaca. To see if you’re a candidate, call ENT Specialists of Wisconsin at (920) 969-1768.