Ambrosia artemisiifolia

What Ambrosia artemisiifolia is used for

Quoted from the “Indications and Usage” section of the FDA-approved label.

INDICATIONS Studies have shown that properly performed an interpreted skin tests with ragweed pollen extract are useful in the diagnosis of allergy to ragweed pollen 7, 8, 20, 21. Immunotherapy with the appropriate dosage of short ragweed pollen extract is effective in reducing symptoms of hay fever and asthma resulting from exposure to short ragweed pollen (9, 10, 11), and it is believed to be effective with …

— FDA label: Short Ragweed, Allermed Laboratories, Inc., effective January 17, 2025. Read the full label on DailyMed →

Label quoted: the one for the most common form (injection, cutaneous), Short Ragweed, Allermed Laboratories, Inc.; it covers 1 product in the FDA NDC Directory. The side effects, interactions, dosage and pregnancy quotes below come from this same label.

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Conditions named on the label

These condition names appear word for word in the label’s “Indications and Usage” text (matched with a reviewed table). Each page lists hospitals whose own websites name the condition.

Related medical specialties

Boxed warning

A boxed warning (“black box”) is the FDA’s strongest warning on a drug label, for serious or life-threatening risks.

The label quoted above has no boxed warning.

Ambrosia artemisiifolia side effects

Quoted from the “Adverse Reactions” section of the FDA-approved label. Tell your doctor about any side effect that worries you.

LOCAL REACTIONS. The occurrence of a hive 5 to 15 minutes after injection is usually due to leakage of extract into the skin along the needle tract. Firm pressure (not rubbing) at the site of injection immediately after withdrawal of the needle will usually prevent this reaction. It does not require a reduction in dosage. A strong local reaction with erythema and edema which persists at the injection site for several hours indicates that too much extract has been given.

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Failure to note this response may result in a serious generalized reaction. Treatment should be altered as follows: Additional injections should not be given until all evidence of the reaction has disappeared. The dosage should be reduced three levels, e.g., from 0.4 cc to 0.5 cc or the equivalent, and held at that level for two or three treatments. A second reaction at or near the dose which caused the first local response indicates that a maximum tolerated amount of extract has been reached and no further increases in dosage should be attempted. Maintenance therapy should be continued thereafter at the highest possible non-reacting dose. SYSTEMIC REACTIONS. Systemic (generalized) reactions may range from a mild exaggeration of the patient's allergic symptoms to hives, anaphylactic shock, or even death from anaphylaxis. Systemic reactions may occur when a previous local reaction has not been heeded, or when the extract is accidentally injected intravenously. The reaction usually occurs 5 to 20 minutes after injection. Symptoms may include sneezing, coughing, itching, shortness of breath, abdominal cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, tachycardia, hypotension, and respiratory failure in severe cases. The reaction is usually stopped by the subcutaneous injection of epinephrine HCL 1:1,000 (See Overdosage below). The oral administration of antihistamines and the placement of a tourniquet proximal to the injection site are helpful adjuncts. In the event that additional measures are required, it may be necessary to treat the patient for bronchospasm with intravenous aminophylline, intravenous fluids and corticosteroids; for hypotension with vasopressors, volume repletion, isoproterenol and corticosteroids; for laryngeal obstruction with oxygen and tracheostomy and for cardiac arrest with cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other appropriate measures.

— FDA label: Short Ragweed, Allermed Laboratories, Inc., effective January 17, 2025. Read the full label on DailyMed →

Ambrosia artemisiifolia dosage

Quoted from the “Dosage and Administration” section of the FDA-approved label. Your own dose is the one your doctor prescribes: do not change it on your own.

DIAGNOSIS. If the extract supplied in this package is concentrated product (w/v 1:20), it should not be used for intradermal testing. Concentrated extract may be used for scratch or prick testing providing the patient is not exposed to high levels of ragweed pollen and experiencing pronounced symptoms of hay fever or asthma at the time of testing. Extract for intradermal testing must be diluted to a strength of 0.25 units of antigen E per ml 7.

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Skin tests should not be performed if the patient has taken antihistamine within 24 hours prior to testing. PROCEDURES Scratch Test: 1 drop of extract concentrate applied to a small scratch or scarification of the volar surface of the forearm or the flat aspect of the back. Prick Test: 1 drop of extract concentrate applied to the unbroken skin of the forearm or the back followed by pricking the skin under the drop. Intradermal Test: 0.05 ml of extract containing 0.25 antigen E units per ml given intradermally on the volar surface of the forearm or outer aspect of the upper arm. This test should not be performed unless the patient is negative to a properly administered and interpreted scratch or prick test. A final intradermal test using 0.05 ml of extract containing 2.5 antigen E units per ml may be used to rule out skin sensitivity to ragweed allergen. INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS Scratch and Prick Test A negative test shows only a slight red area at the site of scarification or prick penetration. Positive tests are scored as follows: 1+ Erythema with 5 mm wheal 2+ Erythema with 5 - 10 mm wheal 3+ Erythema with a 10 - 15 mm wheal 4+ Erythema with a wheal 15 mm (or larger) with pseudopodia Intradermal Test A negative test shows no change in the appearance and size of the 5 mm wheal created by the I.D. injection of 0.05 ml of extract. Positive tests are scored as follows: 1+ Erythema with 10-20 mm with a 5-10 mm wheal 2+ Erythema with 20-30 mm with a 5-10 mm wheal 3+ Erythema with 30-40 mm with a 10-15 mm wheal 4+ Erythema greater than 40 mm with a 15 mm wheal (or larger) with pseudopodia IMMUNOTHERAPY Concentrated ragweed extract must be diluted before administration to new patients. As a rule, extract containing 0.01 to 0.05 units of antigen E per ml are safe to initiate immunotherapy. An intradermal skin test with the intended starting dose may be done as an additional precaution in evaluating the patient's sensitivity. Injections should be given subcutaneously in the outer aspect of the upper arm. Care must be taken to avoid injecting the extract into a blood vessel, because of the potential hazard of anaphylaxis. Concentrated extract is usually administered once every two to four weeks at a maximum dose of 0.2 ml. A mild burning sensation immediately following the injection of concentrated extract is due to the glycerol in the extract. It should not be interpreted as an adverse allergic response. A suggested dosage schedule is shown in the Table below. Patients who have received allergenic extract for maintenance therapy should not be given the same dose from a fresh vial of extract. The antigen E content of ragweed pollen extract varies from lot to lot.

— FDA label: Short Ragweed, Allermed Laboratories, Inc., effective January 17, 2025. This is part of the section. Read the full label on DailyMed →

When Ambrosia artemisiifolia should not be used

Quoted from the “Contraindications” section of the FDA-approved label.

There are no absolute contraindications to the use of ragweed pollen extract in the diagnosis and treatment of ragweed allergy. When used in accordance with accepted principles of skin testing and immunotherapy, the extract is considered safe and effective.

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Relative contraindications include (1) extreme sensitivity to the extract as demonstrated by previous anaphylaxis following skin testing or subcutaneous injection, (2) recent myocardial infarction, and (3) pregnancy (see Precautions #4). The benefit to risk ration must be evaluated in each of the above situations. Ragweed pollen extract should not be administered to persons who are not sensitive to ragweed pollen

— FDA label: Short Ragweed, Allermed Laboratories, Inc., effective January 17, 2025. Read the full label on DailyMed →

Ambrosia artemisiifolia overdose

Quoted from the “Overdosage” section of the FDA-approved label. If someone may have taken too much, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (or 911 in an emergency).

A local reaction characterized by erythema and edema that persists for several hours or longer, or a recurrence of allergic symptoms following an injection requires that the dosage be reduced. Additional extract should not be given until all evidence of a previous reaction has disappeared.

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Severe generalized symptoms or anaphylaxis following an injection must be treated immediately with epinephrine HCL 1:1000 as follows: Usual Dosage - Children under 12 years 0.1 to 0.2 cc; persons over 12 years 0.3 to 0.5 cc, repeated as necessary every 10 to 15 minutes. Intravenous antihistamines and hydro-cortisone also may be used, but only after sufficient epinephrine has been give. (see Adverse Reaction Systemic). Immunotherapy after anaphylaxis should only be considered if the probable cause of anaphylaxis can be identified, such as accidental intravenous injection or failure to reduce the dosage after a previous local reaction or during periods of high external exposure to ragweed pollen.

— FDA label: Short Ragweed, Allermed Laboratories, Inc., effective January 17, 2025. Read the full label on DailyMed →

Forms and how it is given

Companies that list this medicine

Labelers in the FDA NDC Directory: the company named on the package (maker or distributor), with the number of prescription products.

• Allermed Laboratories, Inc.1 product

FDA approval history

• BLA: Biologics License Application: how a biologic medicine (made from living cells) is approved.

Shortage status

The FDA drug shortage list does not show these products.

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Recalls

No recall linked to these products (by their NDC code) appears in the FDA enforcement reports.

Official identifiers

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Sources

1. FDA-approved label on DailyMed (National Library of Medicine) — Short Ragweed, Allermed Laboratories, Inc., effective January 17, 2025; via openFDA, FDA data exported October 30, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026
2. NDC Directory (openFDA) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FDA data exported October 30, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026
3. Drugs@FDA (openFDA) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FDA data exported October 30, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026
4. Drug recall enforcement reports (openFDA) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FDA data exported October 27, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026
5. Drug shortages (openFDA) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FDA data exported October 30, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026

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