Allergy Shots (Immunotherapy)
Many people take medicines and stay away from their triggers to control their allergies. Allergy shots (immunotherapy) are another type of treatment that can provide long-term relief of allergy symptoms. The goal of the treatment is to make your body less sensitive to allergens.
Allergens are the substances that cause your allergies. The shots work by helping your body get used to the allergens. Then your immune system no longer responds to allergens as if they were harmful. You will have allergy testing to figure out what your allergens are before having allergy shots.
What are allergy shots?
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Each allergy shot contains a small dose of the substances that cause your allergies. The dose is slowly increased as your treatment continues.
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You will get shots once or twice a week at first.
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After about 3-6 months you will reach your maintenance level. Then you will get shots every 2 to 4 weeks.
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Your allergy shots may continue for a few years or even longer. It is important to stay on schedule to give the shots the best chance to work. It also helps you get to your maintenance dose and schedule sooner.
Deciding to have allergy shots
When deciding whether or not to have allergy shots, you and your healthcare provider should discuss the following:
- How long your symptoms last each allergy season or whether or not you have symptoms all of the time
- How severe your allergy symptoms are
- Whether or not taking medicines and avoiding triggers helps you
- Whether or not you want to keep taking allergy medicine
- Time and cost of allergy shots
Getting your shots
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Allergy shots are given by injection in the upper arm.
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You may receive one shot or you may receive more than one. This depends on the how many things are causing your allergies.
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You may feel a slight sting when you get each shot.
After your shots
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You will need to wait for 30 minutes before you can leave. This is to make sure you are not having a serious reaction to the shot.
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You may have itchiness and soreness in your arm, or sneezing and nasal congestion.
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If you have a serious reaction, you will receive treatment while you are in your provider's office. Some people can have swelling at the site of injection a few hours after their injection. This is typically not a sign of a severe reaction, but let your allergy doctor know about these reactions. He or she may adjust the dose of your next shot.
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What is a serious reaction?
In rare cases, allergy shots can cause a reaction called anaphylaxis. This is a life-threatening problem that must be treated right away. Most people who get allergy shots will be prescribed an epinephrine autoinjector by their healthcare provider. If you have any of the symptoms below, use your epinephrine autoinjector and call 911:
- Swelling in your throat
- Wheezing or chest tightness
- Trouble breathing
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded Diffuse or widespread rash
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