Allergy shots, a type of immunotherapy, are used to desensitize your body to specific seasonal and other allergens, and improve your quality of life. This treatment method is effective if your body has a reaction to certain allergens, including:
- Dust mites
- Grass or tree pollen
- Mold
- Pet dander
- Ragweed pollen
- Stinging insect venoms (produced by wasps, honeybees and hornets)
Each allergy shot contains a small amount of the allergen that affects you. This encourages a response from your immune system to help it build up a tolerance. This treatment is not recommended for food allergies.
Do I need allergy shots?
The first step toward understanding the severity of your allergy is a skin test. Your allergist will recommend treatments based on the result, including what medications to take and what activities to avoid. If these measures don’t help with your symptoms, your allergist may recommend allergy shots.
What should I expect during my allergy shot appointment?
Our team will create a vaccine specific to your skin test results and inject it under your skin, usually in the upper arm. You will need to stay at your allergist’s office for about 30 minutes after the shot to monitor any side effects, which may include itchy eyes, runny nose, or redness or irritation around the injection site.
How often do I need to get an allergy shot?
Through the build-up phase, which can last several months, you will have to visit your allergist every week. The dose of each allergy shot increases steadily over this period so that your body can begin to build up a resistance to the allergen. Your symptoms may decrease during this phase. Once you reach an effective dose, you may only need an allergy treatment once per month. You will likely need an allergy shot monthly for three to five years during the maintenance phase. Some patients may require shots longer to manage their symptoms.