Allergy shots are injections that are designed to stop or reduce allergy
symptoms in a form of treatment called immunotherapy. Each shot contains
a small amount of the substance(s) that you are allergic to called allergens.
The shot stimulates your immune system but does not provide enough of
the allergen to cause a full allergic reaction. Over time, your body becomes
desensitized to the allergens causing your symptoms to decrease.
What Allergies Are Treated with a Shot?
Seasonal allergies – Such as hay fever and pollens released by trees,
grasses, or weeds
Indoor allergies – If your symptoms last throughout the year, you
may be reacting to indoor allergens such as dust, mold, or pet dander.
Allergy shots are not used to treat food allergies. The best option for
people with food allergies is to carefully avoid that food. These injections
are also not used to treat chronic hives (urticaria). This clinic also
does not treat allergies related to insect stings.
Who Can Benefit from Allergy Shots?
Allergy shots can be beneficial when:
Over-the-counter medications do not control your symptoms very well and
you cannot avoid your allergens.
Allergy medications interfere with other medications that you need to take
or cause unwanted side effects.
You wish to reduce your long-term use of allergy medication.
The severity of your allergy symptoms is disruptive to your daily life.
Are There Risks to Getting an Allergy Shot?
A common reaction is redness, swelling, or irritation at the injection
site. These reactions usually begin within a few hours of the shot but
clear up quickly. Taking an antihistamine medication before getting your
shot can reduce the risk of a reaction. Check with your care provider
to see if this is best for you. Serious reactions are rare, but do require
immediate medical attention.
These symptoms can include:
Sneezing
Nasal congestion
Hives
Throat swelling
Wheezing
Chest tightness
Anaphylaxis is a rare life-threatening reaction to an allergen that affects
the body systemically including blood pressure and difficulty breathing.
This clinic has safety measures in place such as requiring you wait 20
minutes after receiving your injection to leave the clinic. If you or
your loved one did have a severe reaction, we would be able to intervene
immediately. This clinic also requires injections be completed in the
clinic to ensure your safety. An additional requirement is for you to
carry an unexpired, valid dose of epinephrine.
If you have a severe reaction after you leave, return to the clinic, or
go to your nearest emergency room.
When you arrive for your shot, let the care provider know if you are not
feeling well. This is especially important if you have asthma or other
respiratory issues. Also let them know if you had a reaction after a previous
allergy shot.
How Does the Allergy Shot Work?
There are two phases:
The build-up phase lasts for about 3-6 months and usually consists of receiving
injections 1-2 times per week. During this time, the amount of the allergen
will increase gradually to get to a therapeutic dose.
The maintenance phase generally continues for about 3-5 years after the
therapeutic dose is reached. During this time, there will be longer breaks
in between injections. Your care provider will work with you to determine
what schedule is best.
You may notice a decrease in symptoms during the build-up phase, but it
can also take as long as 12 months on the maintenance dose to notice a
significant improvement. Any decision to discontinue your regimen should
be discussed with your care provider.
How Do I Start My Allergy Shot Treatment?
Before beginning injections, your care provider will perform a skin test
or blood test to determine which specific allergens to address. During
a skin test, a small amount of the suspected allergen is scratched into
your skin and observed for about 15 minutes. Swelling and redness would
indicate an allergy to that substance.
Allergy symptoms will probably not clear up immediately with allergy shots.
They typically improve during the first year of treatment, but the most
significant improvement is usually seen during the second year. Some people
do not have significant allergy symptoms even after completing their treatment,
but other people need ongoing shots to keep symptoms controlled.
Allergy, ImmunologyView Profile
