Allergy Shots

How do allergy shots work?

Allergy shots contain specific amounts of natural allergen extracts that are injected under the skin in your arm. This controlled exposure to the allergens prompts your body to produce antibodies that block allergic symptoms over time.

Allergy shots (allergen immunotherapy) prompt your body to build a natural resistance to the allergen, strengthening your immune system and providing lasting relief from your allergic reactions. The shots can also prevent new allergic reactions from forming.

Who can benefit from allergy shots?

Allergy shots can be a good treatment if:

• Your symptoms aren’t controlled by medication
• You experience side effects from allergy medication
• You want to lower the number or dosage of drugs you take daily
• You have unavoidable allergy triggers (for example, pollen and dust)
• You have severe reactions to stinging insects
• You want to spend more time outdoors
• You need a long-term solution to your allergy problem

Those who suffer from allergy-induced asthma can also benefit from allergy shots. The shots can reduce the need for asthma medications. Allergy shots have also proven effective for patients suffering from eczema or atopic dermatitis.

Are allergy shots safe?

The most common reaction to allergy shots is a local reaction. These reactions can be as insignificant as a dime-sized itchy spot or as large as a lemon-sized swelling. These reactions rarely require treatments, and the shots can stay on schedule. Your reactions will lessen over time.

On rare occasions, a patient experiences an anaphylaxis reaction, which can be life-threatening. A shot of epinephrine usually quiets these symptoms. Severe allergic reactions to allergy shots typically happen within 30 minutes. All patients are required to stay in the office for 30 minutes after they get their allergy shots for observation.

What is the process of allergy shots?

The administration of allergy shots is broken into two major phases: buildup and maintenance. In the buildup phase, the strength of the allergens in the shot gradually increases on a strict schedule until the patient gets to the point where they can tolerate an injection referred to as the maintenance dose.

We usually administer the shots 1-2 times a week for 3-6 months. Patients are then switched to the maintenance dose, which is administered once a month.

Patients often experience an improvement in symptoms within a few weeks but might not feel significantly better for 6-12 months. Patients receive their maximum benefits in 3-5 years, depending on how severe their allergies are.

You don’t have to spend your life suffering from allergies. Call ENT & Allergy Specialists of VA, PC today or schedule an appointment online to be freed from allergic reactions.