What Are Allergy Shots?

Do Allergy Shots Hurt?

If the thought of needles gives you nightmares, relax. Fear of needles is a common and normal feeling. However, you can be comforted by the fact that the injections that you receive as part of immunotherapy are smaller and less painful than the deep intramuscular shots often needed to administer immunizations and other types of medication.

While no one is ever thrilled about the option of receiving allergy shots, most quickly learn that receiving these injections beats the allergy symptoms they will suffer without them.

Your adherence to the schedule is the key for an effective immunotherapy program. You should always follow and maintain the injection schedule that your allergist prescribes as strictly as possible for optimal relief from your symptoms.

What are allergy shots?

Allergy shots (also called immunotherapy) is a vaccination program that can raise your immunity to allergens that trigger your symptoms such as allergic rhinitis (hay fever), allergic conjunctivitis allergic asthma, and stinging insect allergies. An allergy shot contains a small amount of an allergen.

How do allergy shots work?

Allergy shots work like a vaccination. When you get shots of the allergen, in gradually increasing doses, your body makes antibodies to the allergen. This means that when you encounter these allergens in the future, these antibodies help block its effect. Because the antibodies block the way your body reacts to the allergen, your allergy symptoms become less severe. After many allergy shots, you might start to get relief from your allergy symptoms.

What kind ofallergies can allergy shots treat?

Allergy shots work well for pollen allergies (also called allergic rhinitis or hay fever). eye allergies and bee-sting allergy. In several people, allergy shots can improve asthma symptoms. You Should discuss the option of allergy shots with your Allergist to determine if it's right for you.

Are allergy shots for everyone?

No. Allergy shots may not be good for you if you have severe asthma or heart problems. If you are taking beta blockers for heart problems, you should not get allergy shots. Children under 5 years old should not receive allergy shots, and if you are pregnant you should not start allergy shots. However, if you have been taking allergy shots for some time and become pregnant, talk to your doctor. You may be able to continue taking your allergy shots.

How do I begin allergy shots?

Your doctor will do an allergy test, which is done in two parts, to help determine exactly what may be causing your allergy symptoms. An allergy skin test puts tiny amounts of allergens onto your skin to see which ones you react to. Once it is determined which allergens cause your symptoms, the doctor includes only those allergens in preparing your allergen serum. If, for example, your skin tests show sensitivity to multiple allergens like many grasses and weed pollens, your allergist will mix all the grass extracts into one vial and all the weed extracts into another vial. Preparing the vials in this manner ensures that you receive only one shot for each group of extracts, thus reducing the number of injections you regularly need.

How many shots will I need?

You will begin receiving shots 1 or 2 times weekly,gradually increasing the dose. After about 6 months of weekly shots, your doctor will decide when you can start maintenance treatment. Maintenance shots are usually given just once monthly, year round for 3-5 years.

Are allergy shots safe?

Allergy shots are usually safe. However, because allergy shots contain small amounts of an allergen, some patients may experience adverse reactions. A common reaction to allergy shots is swelling at the site where the shot is given.

Rarely, a patient can have severe, shocklike reactions to an allergy shot exhibiting asthma symptoms. This type of reaction is called anaphylaxis and requires immediate attention. Your allergist is trained to monitor you for such a reaction; that is why you are asked to remain in the waiting room for approximately 20 minutes after each injection.