How To Administer Allergy Shots

How Well It Works

Allergy shots are effective in treating allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma. The shots reduce symptoms in those allergic to pollens, animal dander, dust mites, mold, and cockroaches. Experts do not know how long allergy shots work after you stop getting the shots. Some people may not have their allergies return. Others may have allergies return within a few years.footnote 1

Although you still need to avoid allergens, you may be able to use less medicine or stop using medicines.

How Often Do I Need Allergy Shots

At the beginning, allergy shots are usually administered two to three times per week. With this build-up, improvement can occur within three to four months and will usually be at its full benefit within the first year to 18 months. In a typical treatment schedule, shots are tapered to weekly intervals once the maintenance phase is reached then to every two weeks at 12 months, then every three to four weeks after 18 to 24 months. Most people can come off their shots after about three years. Your shot schedule is individualized by the board-certified allergy and asthma specialist these specialists are the only ones who receive extensive training in this procedure.

Family Allergy & Asthma also offers two accelerated approaches, cluster allergy shots, which take 4-9 weeks and Rush allergy shots, which requires 1 full day appointment. You should always consult with an allergy and asthma specialist before beginning a series of allergy shots.

State Of The Art Technology With A Hometown Feel

On behalf of our board certified otolaryngologists and staff, thank you for choosing ENT Physicians of North Mississippi to serve your healthcare needs. Our state-of-the-art comprehensive ENT, Otology, and Neurotology practice has been serving Tupelo and the surrounding area since 1973. Whether you have a minor condition or your symptoms are more severe, our team of ENT specialists can help you. We look forward to meeting you.

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What Happens When Coming In For An Allergy Shot Without An Appointment

When a patient starts immunotherapy and chooses the traditional build-up schedule, they will receive notice when their vials are available at their shot room. We have 40+ offices throughout the region, and the office you choose to get allergy shots in does not have to be the same one where your appointment with your physician was if another is more convenient. After you receive notice, visit the office, check-in at the desk, and take a seat. Once your name is called, our staff will go over safety information during the first visit. At your first visit, you will also be given a scan card to let you sign in by scanning your card at the next visit. This barcode can also be stored on our patient app.

After the first visit, patients come in scan their card and take a seat so our shot room staff can get their vials ready.

Disadvantages Of Allergy Immunotherapy

As with all types of medical procedures and treatments, allergy desensitization has some drawbacks. Following are some of the more common disadvantages of allergy shots:

• Immunotherapy does not work on every type of allergy. It is true that shots work well for common allergies such as pet dander, pollen, dust, and other pollutants found in the home. Shots are ineffective for treating food allergies and urticaria. Urticaria causes chronic hives related to an underlying disease such as hyperthyroidism or lupus. In addition, insect venom allergies such as bee stings or spider bites cannot be prevented by allergy shots.
• Some patients have a reaction that shows up as redness, swelling, and tenderness at the injection site. However, injection site reactions usually last just one day.
• Occasionally, certain patients balk at the time commitment needed for successful allergy prevention. Missing appointments can delay or derail relief from allergies.
• Allergy shots can worsen allergy symptoms at first when the injection regimen starts.
• Since allergy shots rarely cause anaphylaxis, patients must wait in their physicians office for 30 minutes until the danger of anaphylaxis passes.

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They Could Improve Mental Health

Allergies have the capacity to affect a person’s quality of life, which could include aspects of physical and mental health, according to a January 2016 Drug Discovery Today article

Further, researchers of a September 2018 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that “a history of seasonal allergies was associated with significantly higher odds of reporting lifetime mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and eating disorders.”

However, the January 2016 Drug Discovery Today article noted that studies have shown the positive affect that allergen immunotherapy can have on the quality of life for those with grass pollen allergies.

Therefore, if severe allergies have really taken a toll on your health and happiness, it’s possible that mental state can improve as well with the help of allergy shots or other immunotherapy options.

Allergy Immunotherapy Administration Of Extracts Under Protocols From Allergists Not Privileged At The Northwestern University Health Service

Purpose:

Allergy immunotherapy is used to alter the immunologic response in allergic patients. The extracts used are individually prepared solutions supplied by allergists not privileged at the Northwestern University Health Service . It is the intent of NUHS to provide to patients the service of administrating these extracts under protocols written and provided by outside allergists.

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University Of Rochester University Health Services

Developed by Mary Madsen, RN, Manager UHS, River Campus Office, July1997

ALLERGY INJECTION SERVICES

POLICY C.1.3: ADMINISTRATION OF ALLERGY INJECTIONS

• TheUniversityHealth Service will administer allergy injections safely per UHSprotocol and per individual allergist’sinstructions.

PROCEDURES:

Reactions To Allergy Shots

Reactions to allergy shots are common. Most reactions are local . Rarely, reactions can affect your entire body. This is referred to as a systemic reaction, and it can be dangerous. For this reason you must stay in our office for 30 minutes following every shot appointment. Additionally, you should not exercise for 2 hours after your shots.

If you are having asthma symptoms when you are scheduled for an allergy shot it is important to tell your nurse. Allergy shots can worsen asthma symptoms.

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Changes In Your Health

If at any time during the course of your immunotherapy you develop a new medical condition, you become pregnant, or you start a new medication, please tell the nurse. In particular, high blood pressure or heart medications and certain antidepressants cannot be taken with allergy shots. You should not get your allergy shot if you are have a fever, rash, asthma symptoms, or increased allergy symptoms.

How Long Do Allergy Shots Last

People who receive allergy shots over a three to five-year span will see a huge improvement in their allergic symptoms for years after discontinuing their shots. Keep in mind that it is still possible for your allergic symptoms to relapse. We will start immunotherapy again for any patients who experience a relapse in their allergic symptoms.

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How Long Do Asthma Shots Last

A typical allergy shot schedule may look something like this:

• Buildup phase: You will initially receive a small dose of the allergen, which gradually increases, one or two times per week during the buildup phase. This phase generally lasts about three to six months.
• Maintenance phase: After approximately three to six months of weekly shots, you will achieve your maintenance dose, at which point the number of shots reduces from weekly to one dose every two to four weeks. The maintenance phase may last for three to five years.

Sublingual Immunotherapy As An Alternative To Allergy Shots

Depending on the type of allergy involved, sublingual immunotherapy may provide a reasonable alternative for those who fear shots.

These types of medication are placed under the tongue, often daily, and can be administered at home rather than in a healthcare provider’s office. Much like allergy shots, sublingual immunotherapy gradually helps build the bodys tolerance to an allergen. Over time, the person may have fewer symptoms and medication needs. The drugs are considered safe and effective, and can be used in children over the age of 2.

There are currently only a limited number of options approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration , including:

• Oralair to treat to five types of northern grass pollen allergies
• Grastek to treat Timothy grass pollen allergy
• Ragwitek to treat ragweed pollen allergy
• Odactra to treat dust mite allergy

Other sublingual drops and tablets have been used in Europe for years but are not currently approved by the FDA. As for safety, there have thus far been no severe reactions or death reports in persons receiving sublingual immunotherapy for allergy.

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Getting Allergy Immunotherapy At The Student Health Center

Allergy immunotherapy is used to alter the immunologic response in allergic patients. The extracts used are individually prepared serums supplied by allergists not privileged at the Indiana University Student Health Center. It is the intent of Student Health Center to provide to patients the service of administrating these extracts under the orders provided by outside allergists.

How To Make An Appointment With Our Allergy Specialists

To schedule an appointment call 801-581-2955 or submit an appointment request. A referral is not required to meet with our allergy specialists. However, you may want to verify your coverage with your insurance carrier first as some carriers do require a referral from a primary care provider to be seen by a specialist.

If you are transferring from another practice to U of U Health for allergy care, you will need to be evaluated by one of our providers before starting your allergy shot regimen at our clinic.

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Standardization Storage And Mixing Of Allergen Vaccines

Ideally, vaccines should be standardized with a defined potency and labeled with a common unit.15 Such standardization would eliminate the variability in vaccines and allow for safer and more effective dosing. The Bioequivalent Allergy Unit , which is assigned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration based on quantitative skin testing performed on a reference population of allergic patients known to be highly skin-testreactive to that allergen, reflects clinical potency and is currently used for standardization of vaccines.

Standardized allergens available in the United States include cat dander, grass pollens, dust mites, and short ragweed pollen. Unstandardized vaccines may vary widely in biologic activity based on manufacturer and by lot, depending on the allergen content of the raw material and the conditions of extraction. Furthermore, the labeling conventions of Protein Nitrogen Units or weight by volume reflect protein content but not allergenic potency. Research is underway on new technologies for DNA and protein analysis that would allow an allergen vaccine to be characterized by the content of the major allergen and the consistency of each lot to be monitored accurately.

Where Can I Give A Subcutaneous Injection

The following are sites where you can give a subcutaneous injection:

• Abdomen: Uncover your abdomen. You may give an injection within the following area: below the waist to just above the hip bone and from the side to about 2 inches from the belly button. Avoid the belly button.
• Thigh: Uncover the entire leg. Find the area halfway between the knee and hip and slightly to the side. Gently grasp the area to make sure you can pinch 1 to 2 inches of skin.
• Lower back: Uncover the back from the waist to the top of the buttocks. Imagine a line that runs across the back just above the crack between the buttocks. An injection may be given below the waist and above this line. Give the injection halfway between the spine and the side.
• Upper Arm: Uncover the arm to the shoulder. Have the person getting the injection stand with his hand on his hip. Stand next to and a little behind the person. Find the area halfway between the elbow and shoulder. Gently grasp the skin at the back of the arm between your thumb and first 2 fingers. You should be able to grasp 1 to 2 inches of skin.

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Can Allergy Shots Treat Food Allergies

No. Avoidance is the only treatment for food allergy. There is no cure. Neither desensitization nor shots have proven to be a safe or effective way of reducing food allergy reactions. If interested in being part of future research for treatments, contact the Family Allergy & Asthma Research Institute.

They Can Make Asthma And Eczema Better

When people think of allergy symptoms, they generally think of itchy eyes and a stuffy or runny nose, or anaphylactic shock. And while allergy shots can help prevent all of those, they can also help with related conditions as well.

If you have asthma, getting your allergies under control may also help reduce flare-ups, improve your breathing, and reduce your need for medications. Eczema, an inflammatory skin condition, is often associated with environmental allergies.

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Itching And Swelling After Allergy Injections

As with allergy testing, allergy shots may cause itching and swelling at the injection site. These symptoms, which can start minutes or hours after the injection, tend to be more uncomfortable than painful.

There are a number of ways that may prevent or alleviate these symptoms, such as taking an antihistamine several hours before getting a shot. If the swelling does occur at the injection site, ice packs and pain killers such as Advil can usually help improve the localized swelling or discomfort.

What To Expect From Allergy Shots

Allergy shots are typically given in a healthcare provider’s office or clinic that specializes in allergic diseases.

As a safety precaution, most patients are given a prescription for emergency rescue medications such as epinephrine before starting treatment in case a serious allergic reaction occurs.

With allergy shots, very small amounts of an allergen are initially given once or twice a week. Over time, the amount of allergen injected is gradually increased. This helps your immune system become less reactive to that particular substance. Some people may need to continue treatment for several years.

It’s usually required that you remain in the clinic for about a half hour after you receive your shot in case you experience an allergic reaction.

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What Are The Allergy Shot Build

We offer three different build-up schedules to help patients reach their maintenance phase: traditional, cluster, and rush. The traditional schedule requires 1-3 shots a week, there are no appointments necessary, and it takes patients 3-6 months to reach maintenance. The cluster schedule requires two appointments a week for 4-9 weeks to reach maintenance, these appointments last for approximately two hours and must be scheduled. The rush schedule requires 1 scheduled full day appointment followed by 16 visits to reach maintenance.

What Are My Treatment Options For Seasonal Allergies

After a patient has been allergy-tested and diagnosed with allergic rhinitis, our physicians use a three-tier approach for treatment: avoidance, medication, and immunotherapy. Patients who can avoid the trigger of their allergies or if the usual doses of allergy medications can control their symptoms may not need immunotherapy. Immunotherapy, also called allergy shots, is proven effective against inhalant allergies and stinging insect allergies and may be recommended if the patients allergies are not under control.

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Allergy Shots For Children

As early as ages 3, kids can begin to develop seasonal allergies, leaving many parentswondering what is the best treatment? We also get asked often are allergy shots safe forchildren. Yes, they are, but this is something that needs to be discussed with your allergist.Children, like adults, sometimes develop a minor reaction near the site of the injectionimmediately after the allergy shot is given. Simply applying ice to the area and administering anantihistamine can reduce the swelling.

There are rare cases where children can have a more severe reaction, including hives, itchingacross the body, or difficulty breathing. These are less common but can occur. That is why itsbest to consult with your allergy specialist to determine if an allergy shot is appropriate for yourchild.

How Do I Choose The Best Place For A Subcutaneous Injection

• Keep track of where the injections are given: Make a list of the sites you can use. Write down the date, time, and the site each time you give an injection.
• Change sites for the injections: It is important to use a different site each time you give an injection. This prevents scars and skin changes. The sites where injections are given should be at least 1 inch away from each other. Ask your healthcare provider if you need to inject the medicine in a certain site.

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