What Kind Of Allergies Can Be Treated With Shots
Allergy shots work well for pollen allergies , eye allergies, bee-sting allergies, and some drug allergies. In some people, allergy shots can improve asthma symptoms.
People usually get these shots after they have tried other treatments that haven’t worked. Other treatments include avoiding allergens and taking medicine, such as an antihistamine.
Theyre Not Recommended For Everyone
Most adultsand children ages 5 and upcan get allergy shots. But if you or your child has severe, uncontrolled asthma, your doctor may recommend against them. In our practice, if a patients asthma is flaring or even if theyre sick, we generally wait to give the shot until theyre feeling better, says Dr. Dziadzio.
Women who become pregnant while in the maintenance phase of allergy shots can continue their treatment. But women shouldnt start allergy shots for the first time, or increase their dosage, while pregnant.
Certain medicines, like beta blockers, can reduce the effectiveness of epinephrinethe lifesaving drug used to treat anaphylactic shock. Because anaphylaxis is a rare but serious risk for people getting allergy shots, they may not be recommended for people who take these drugs.
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Conventional Allergy Treatments For Dogs
Treatment has traditionally been aimed at reducing exposure to allergens and a wide variety of anti-inflammatory medications, nutritional supplements, bathing techniques, foods and allergy shots for dogs. Hypo- or de-sensitization injections helped about half of treated canines. If we could control 70% to 80% of a petâs itching, that was considered a win.
For serious cases, veterinarians would often turn to corticosteroids, potent drugs that carry side effects and risks weâd rather reserve for severe symptoms. Regardless of treatment combinations and clever formulations, canine allergic dermatitis remained a tremendous challenge.
But now, a new drug that works in an innovative way has arrived to offer relief for itchy dogs.
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How Do You Prepare For An Allergy Shot
Before you start allergy shots, youll need a full evaluation. The doctor needs to test your allergies to know exactly which substances to use in the shots.
For example, if you have allergies during pollen season, theyll test for which types of pollen cause your symptoms. Ragweed, grasses, and various tree pollens are common culprits.
Allergy testing usually consists of skin pricking. During a skin prick test, your doctor will prick the skin on your back or forearm with several types of allergens to determine which ones cause reactions.
A type of specialist known as an allergist or an immunologist will conduct all testing and treatment with allergy shots.
Once your doctor has identified your allergens, youll start receiving allergy shots. The process is broken down into two phases:
- buildup
- maintenance
Potential Reactions To Allergy Shots
Every patient must wait 20 minutes after their shot before leaving the clinic. When a new vial is started, patients will be given a skin test. If the test is negative, we will administer the injection. Reactions are rare but are possible, so every patient must wait 20 minutes prior to leaving the clinic.
Patients who are undergoing treatment have been asked to fill a prescription for an Epinephrine Injector . As a delayed reaction may occur up to two hours after injection, a Wake ENT staff member will show each patient undergoing treatment how to use their Epi-Pen should it ever be necessary to do so.
If an injection is skipped, we may not be able to advance patients to their next dose at their next visit.
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What Exactly Are Allergy Shots
Allergieswhether theyre seasonal or year-roundcan put a serious damper on quality of life in some cases, they can even be deadly. But for certain types of allergies, allergen immunotherapy can be a big help.
They may require a lot of time and effort, but the benefits of allergy shots can be life-changing and long-lasting for people of all ages. Their effectiveness for children and young adults is well known, and a 2016 study also found that they can be effective for older adults, as wellreducing symptoms of hay fever in people ages 65 to 75 by 55% after three years, and reducing the need for medication by 64%.
Everyone is different, and its true that some people dont have a good response, Laura Dziadzio, MD, a pediatric allergist and assistant professor at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, tells Health. But for others, its like night and day. I have lots of patients who were really miserable and are now doing much better, and can finally enjoy the things they couldnt before.
If youve tested positive for an allergy and are considering immunotherapy treatments, here are 10 things you should know.
How Allergy Shots Are Administered
Your child’s first injection consists of a small amount of the least concentrated extract of their allergen. Each week, the dose is gradually increased until the maintenance dose is reached. There are about 24 injections that are needed the maintenance dose is generally reached in about 24 weeks.
Once your child is receiving the maintenance dose, allergy visits are then spaced out so they receive the maintenance dose every two weeks, then every three weeks, and finally every four weeks. Our team recommends continuing monthly injections for 3-5 years. If your child is receiving allergen immunotherapy due to an insect allergy, these shots may need to continue longer.
Allergen immunotherapy injections should be given under the direct supervision of a physician. At Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, we will give your child the initial injections of each vial in our office. Subsequent injections may be given at the hospital or at your child’s pediatrician’s office whichever is more convenient for your family. Division staff will continue to closely monitor your child’s progress and prescribe refills as needed.
There are shortened schedules for allergen immunotherapy where your child can build up to the maintenance dose faster. This is not appropriate for all children and may carry an increased risk of adverse reactions. Speak to your child’s allergist to see if this option in right for your child.
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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.
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How Do Allergy Shots Help
Allergy shots help the body build immunity to specific allergens, so it’s not as bothered by them. Allergy shots also can help kids who have allergies andasthma have fewer asthma flare-ups.
Allergy shots contain a tiny amount of a purified form of the allergen causing problems. Doctors increase the dose slowly over the first 36 months. This lets the immune system safely adjust and build immunity to the allergens. This is called the buildup phase.
The highest effective safe dose becomes a child’s monthly maintenance dose. Health care providers give this to the child for about 3 to 5 years. Most kids will need fewer shots over time.
Some kids’ allergy symptoms ease during the buildup phase. Others don’t feel better until they’re into the maintenance phase. After years of getting allergy shots, some may have lasting relief from symptoms.
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Why Might Your Doctor Not Recommend Allergy Shots
- You have another health problem, such as coronary artery disease , that puts you at increased risk for a severe reaction to the shots.
- Your child with allergies is younger than 5.
- You are pregnant. Pregnant women who are already getting allergy shots may keep getting them. But doctors don’t recommend starting allergy shots during pregnancy.
Who Can Benefit From Allergy Shots
You may benefit from allergy shots if you have:
- Asthma that allergies make worse
- Allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis
- Eczema, a skin condition that a dust mite allergy can make worse
Allergy shots are effective for common allergens such as:
- Weed, ragweed, tree pollen
- Insect stings
- Cockroaches
Adults as well as children 5 years and older can receive allergy shots.
Your provider is not likely to recommend allergy shots for you if you:
- Have severe asthma.
- Have a heart condition.
- Take certain medicines, such as ACE inhibitors or beta-blockers.
- Are pregnant. Pregnant women should not begin allergy shots. But, they may be able to continue allergy shot treatment that was started before they became pregnant.
Food allergies are not treated with allergy shots.
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What To Expect At Your Appointment
You should take an oral antihistamine such as cetirizine , fexofenadine , or loratadine on the morning of your allergy shot appointment or right before coming to your appointment. However, only do so if it’s okay to take these medications alongside your allergy shots. If you are unsure, ask your allergist.
Once you check in at the front desk for your appointment, a member of our clinic staff will bring you to an exam room. He or she will ask you some questions to evaluate you for any active asthma symptoms before administering your shot.
You will typically receive one to four injections depending on your allergies. We will place the needle into your upper arm to inject the allergen into the tissue between your skin and muscle. Then we will monitor you in the clinic for 30 minutes. It’s common for people to experience itching and swelling at the injection site from the allergy shots. If this occurs, we will apply hydrocortisone cream to provide some relief.
How To Get Allergy Shots
If you’re struggling to manage your allergy symptoms, you should consult with an otolaryngologist, allergist, immunologist, or an ear, nose, and throat doctor.
After evaluating your symptoms and reviewing your medical history, you will undergo an allergy test before starting immunotherapy.
The shots are most successful when they are tailored to an individual, Mehdizadeh says, and an allergy test helps your doctor determine exactly what you are allergic to.
Here’s what happens during immunotherapy:
1. You’ll receive an allergy skin test. The doctor will inject a small dose of an allergen into the skin, either on your arm or back, and then observe your skin for an allergic reaction. Swelling or redness tells the doctor you are allergic to that substance. The results of this test will help your doctor determine which allergens to include in your injections.
2. You’ll begin to receive allergy shots. Injections are administered on a schedule over the course of about three to five years, Mehdizadeh says. During the first year you’ll likely receive them in a doctor’s office once a week and stay for half an hour afterward to make sure you don’t have a severe reaction.
3. In the second year, you’ll likely receive allergy shots every two to three weeks and the allergen dosage will gradually increase. The shots will still be administered in the office and you’ll continue to be monitored.
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Reactions Which May Occur To A Weekly Allergy Injection Include But May Not Be Limited To:
Delayed Reaction: Some patients develop swelling, itching or bruising several hours and up to three days after injection. This can be minimized by taking a long-acting antihistamine prior to the injection. Examples include: Claritin, Allegra, Clarinex, and Zyrtec.
Large Local Reaction: Immediate or delayed redness or swelling that is larger than a 50 cent piece and lasts more than 24 hours may require icing and taking an antihistamine such as Benadryl . Please avoid driving after taking 50 mgs of Benadryl.
General or Systemic Reaction: These reactions are rare and usually occur within minutes. Potentially very serious symptoms include chest tightness, difficulty breathing, coughing, wheezing, hives, generalized itching or flushing, mouth or throat swelling, fainting or collapsing. The patient must seek immediate emergency medical treatment if these symptoms occur. First, an Epi-Pen should be used to inject epinephrine into the leg. Only then should the patient call 911.
If a patient becomes pregnant while being treated for allergies, she should immediately stop treatment and contact our clinic.
Featured
Allergen Immunotherapy Switches Off Allergy
Although medications available for allergy are usually very effective, they do not cure people of allergies. Allergen immunotherapy is the closest thing we have for a “cure” for allergy, reducing the severity of symptoms and the need for medication for many allergy sufferers.
Allergen immunotherapy involves the regular administration of gradually increasing doses of allergen extracts over a period of years. Immunotherapy can be given to patients as an injection or as tablets, sprays or drops under the tongue .
Allergen immunotherapy changes the way the immune system reacts to allergens, by switching off allergy. The end result is that you become immune to the allergens, so that you can tolerate them with fewer or no symptoms.
Allergen immunotherapy is not, however, a quick fix form of treatment. Those agreeing to allergen immunotherapy need to be committed to 3-5 years of treatment for it to work, and to cooperate with your doctor to minimise the frequency of side effects.
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How Long Does It Take To For Allergy Shots To Work
Most people notice some improvement in their allergy symptoms within one year of starting allergen immunotherapy. By the third year of allergen immunotherapy, most people no longer have serious allergic reactions.
Some people can stop having allergy shots after a few years of treatment and no longer experience symptoms, but other people need ongoing allergen immunotherapy to prevent allergy symptoms from coming back. Your doctor will adjust your treatment plan depending on your unique needs.
What Does The Allergist Do
Before starting immunotherapy, the allergist will take a complete medical history.
- Be sure to tell him or her about every medication you take, prescription and nonprescription, even those you take only occasionally.
- Report any vitamins, dietary supplements, herbal products, and other alternative therapies you take.
- Also report every allergy you know of.
- If you are a woman, it is essential that you tell your allergist if you are pregnant or have any plans to become pregnant in the foreseeable future. In this case, allergy shots might be better suited for another time. Based on your particular situation, the allergist will tell you your options for treatment of your allergies during pregnancy. In certain situations, allergy shots can be continued during pregnancy, if it is determined that the potential benefits outweigh the risk of an unlikely, but potentially severe, reaction to one of the shots.
- At first you will get the shots often, once or twice a week.
- After about 6-12 months, you will start maintenance therapy, which means a shot about every month or so.
- Most people continue to take maintenance therapy for 3-5 years.
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How Often Do You Get Allergy Shots
At first, youâll go to your doctor once or twice a week for several months. Youâll get the shot in your upper arm. It’ll contain a tiny amount of the thing youâre allergic to — pollen, pet dander, mold, dust mites, or bee venom, for example.
The dose will go up gradually until you get to whatâs called a maintenance dose. After that, youâll usually get a shot every 2-4 weeks for 4-5 months. Then your doctor will gradually increase the time between shots until youâre getting them about once a month for 3-5 years. During that time, your allergy symptoms will get better and may even go away.
If your symptoms donât improve after a year of shots, talk with your doctor about other treatment options.
How Should I Dispose Of The Needles And Syringes
You should be aware that some communities have strict rules about disposal of medical waste material, so do not throw the needle and syringe into the trash until you know if this is permissible. It is usually preferable to take the used needles and syringes to your veterinary clinic or local pharmacy for proper disposal.
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What Are The Benefits
- Patients treated with allergy shots are expected to have a marked decrease in allergy symptoms as well as a marked decrease in the use of allergy medications.
- Symptoms like fatigue, poor concentration, headaches, ear and sinus infections can also be improved.
- Children treated with allergy shots are less likely to develop asthma or new allergies.
- Asthma and sinusitis episodes will usually be decreased.
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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.
