They’re 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 healthcare provider may recommend against them. “In our practice, if a patient’s asthma is flaring or even if they’re sick, we generally wait to give the shot until they’re feeling better,” Dr. Dziadzio said.
People who become pregnant while in the maintenance phase of allergy shots can continue their treatment, according to the AAAAI. But you shouldn’t start allergy shots for the first time, or increase 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.
What Kind Of Allergy Shots Do I Need
The kind of shot you get depends on what youre allergic to. Before starting treatment, youll be tested to identify exactly what substances trigger your symptoms and determine what goes into your treatment.
For example, if you experience a lot of symptoms in the spring, you may have a pollen allergy. Youll be tested to determine exactly what type of pollen your immune system is reacting to. Your immunologist will then formulate allergy shots that are made just for you.
Youll Have To Stick To A Schedule
For treatment to be most effective, youll need to create an allergy shot plan that involves multiple doses over a period of time.
Exactly how many doses youll need and for how long will depend on your individual situation. Dr. Reichmuth, one of the expert immunologists at Florida Medical Clinic, says your doctor will work with you to create a schedule best suited for your symptoms.
Schedules are split into two phases: the build-up phase and the maintenance phase.
During the buildup phase, allergy injections are given more frequently, typically 1-2 times a week for 4-8 months. During maintenance phase, the injections become less frequent according to the plan you create with your immunologist.
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What Are The Side Effects Of Allergy Shots
The side effects of allergy shots are usually minimal. Most commonly, patients will feel slight itching or swelling at the site of the injection. Other people may experience more severe allergy symptoms like sneezing, watery eyes, nasal congestion, and hives. While rare, a person can have a serious reaction, like anaphylaxis, typically within 30 minutes after the shot is given. Therefore, waiting at an allergy office is required after an allergy shot is given. It is important for trained allergy staff to monitor patients after their allergy shots to ensure no reaction occurs.
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, mould, 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.
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What Needs To Happen Prior To Starting Immunotherapy
Before starting treatment, the physician and patient identify the target list of allergic triggers. Skin tests are performed to confirm these specific allergens. Immunotherapy is usually recommended if the person is found to be sensitive to several allergens that are difficult to avoid, such as multiple pollens and environmental allergens, or if symptoms are severe enough to require chronic use of medications to get relief. Often an allergic patient is able to reduce or eliminate medications once immunotherapy has reached maintenance doses.
A Shot Isn’t Your Only Option
For people who hate shots or can’t keep up with their intensive schedule, sublingual therapyknown as SLITmay be another option, according to the AAAAI. This type of immunotherapy is delivered in daily tablets that dissolve under the tongue, and only the first few doses need to be taken with a healthcare provider present.
Per the AAAAI, approved sublingual therapies are on the market for:
- Short ragweed pollen
- Timothy grass pollen
Additionally, Palforzia is the only FDA-approved oral treatment available for children aged 4 to 17 with peanut allergies.
Some allergy practices will also administer liquid drops under the tongue to treat other types of allergies, although these treatments are not FDA-approved.
If allergen immunotherapy is something you may be interested in, be sure to talk with your healthcare provider to see what treatment plan is most appropriate for your individual case.
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What Is Rush Immunotherapy
Itâs a faster way to get to a maintenance dose, but itâs also riskier.
During the first part of the treatment, you get doses of the allergen every day instead of every few days. Your doctor will check on you closely, in case you have a bad reaction. In some cases, you may get medicine before you get the dose of the allergen, to help prevent a reaction.
People Dont Usually Complete Allergy Shots Or Drops
By Shereen Lehman, Reuters Health
5 Min Read
NEW YORK – Doctors may recommend allergy shots or under-the-tongue drops to their patients, but most dont start the treatments, reports a new study.
Researchers also found that among patients who do begin so-called allergen immunotherapy, most dont complete the full course of therapy, which takes years.
The study looked at people with allergic rhinitis, which includes seasonal allergies and sensitivities to dust mites and pet dander, for instance. It is one of the most common reasons people go to the doctor: up to one third of adults and 40 percent of kids suffer from a runny nose, sneezing and watery eyes in the presence of particular allergens.
When symptoms arent fully managed by allergy medications, doctors may suggest a course of allergen immunotherapy, which can include getting regular allergy shots or taking under-the-tongue drops at home for three to five years.
It is, I guess unfortunately, the best kept secret amongst allergists because it is the best allergy treatment that we have available and the only treatment that is a disease modifier, Dr. Robert Anolik told Reuters Health.
Patients on the treatments can help control their symptoms and those that use immunotherapy for enough time may see long-term benefits, he said.
Anolik, from Allergy and Asthma Specialists of Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, led the study. His teams findings were published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
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Fast Facts On Allergy Shots:
- Allergy shots are a proven allergy treatment and have been used for more than 100 years.
- Most insurance plans will cover the cost of allergy shots.
- They have been shown to decrease the symptoms of many allergies.
Over time, the dosage of the allergen will be given in increasing amounts to build up the persons immunity or tolerance.
The treatment will be split into 2 phases.
Build-up phase
Injections will usually be given once a week for the first 7 months, although in some cases they can be more frequent. Individuals often notice a decrease in the symptoms of their allergy, during the build-up phase.
Maintenance phase
After the initial 7 months, an injection every 2 weeks is usually sufficient. Eventually, injections can be given every 4 weeks, and the whole course of treatment will usually last for between 3 and 5 years.
The maintenance phase can often be ongoing for as long as 12 months before a person starts to notice an improvement.
An allergy specialist will decide on the specific dosage and time gaps between the injections and also when to stop allergy shots being given.
Both adults and children can be given allergy shots, although they are not usually recommended for children under the age of 5. This restriction is because of the difficulty of getting young children to cooperate and communicate if they have side effects.
An allergist or immunologist using proper equipment in their office, including treatment for adverse reactions, should give allergy shots.
Are Allergy Shots Harmful
Usually allergy shots are very safe. But because allergy shots contain small amounts of the allergen you’re allergic to, you might have an allergic reaction to the shot itself. One kind of allergic reaction is swelling at the place where the shot is given.
People can also have severe, shock-like reactions to an allergy shot. This type of reaction is called anaphylaxis and is very serious. But this problem rarely happens. If you get your shots on schedule , you’re less likely to have this kind of reaction.
In case you have a bad reaction, your doctor will have you stay at the office for about 20 minutes every time you get your shot. That way, if you have a reaction to the shot, your doctor can give you something right away to stop it.
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Are Allergy Shots Lifelong
For many patients, it can be a lifelong solution. Allergy shots are the most commonly known immunotherapy. Virtually all the things in the air that you can be allergic to such as trees, grasses, weeds, pets, molds and dust can be treated with allergy shots. Most allergy shot treatments last three to five years.
They Contain Allergens So Reactions Can Happen
Allergy shots work by exposing patients to tiny amounts of whatever it is they’re allergic to. The amount of allergen in each injection increases gradually over time so the body can build up a tolerance.
“It changes the person’s immune system from having a bad reaction to pretty much ignoring the allergen,” Dr. Dziadzio said. “For some people, it decreases their allergies enough so they can come off medicine entirely, and for some it helps their medicines be more effective.”
But because allergens are involved, reactions to the shots themselves are possible. These can range from swelling and itching at the injection site to sneezing and a runny nose, to, in rare cases, anaphylactic shock, which is severe and could be life-threatening. That’s why it’s recommended that patients stay at their healthcare provider’s office for 30 minutes after each shot so they can be monitored and treated for reactions if they do occur, according to MedlinePlus.
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Which Allergies Can Allergy Shots Treat
Allergy shots cant treat all allergies, but they can help those with allergies to several different pollens including grasses, trees, and weeds. They are also beneficial for molds, house dust mites, cockroaches and pet dander.
If you have general insect allergies, including an allergy to yellow jackets, hornets, wasps, bees or fire ant, allergy shots could also be a good option.
If you struggle with seasonal allergies, talk to your doctor or allergist about immunotherapy injections.
How Many Shots Will I Have To Get
Quite a few. You will start getting shots one or two times each week. After about six months of weekly shots, your doctor will decide when you can start maintenance treatment. Maintenance shots are usually given just once each month, year round. You’ll need to get monthly allergy shots for three to five years. Then you can stop having shots.
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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.
They’re A Big Time Commitment
Allergy shots are given in two phases. In the “build-up” phase, you’ll need a shot once or twice a week for about three to six months. After that, you’ll enter the “maintenance” phase and receive them less oftenabout once or twice a month, for several years, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology ,
Sticking to this schedule is important, for the shots’ effectiveness and to reduce your chances of having a bad reaction. “For some people it’s absolutely worth it, but some people just don’t have that time to spare,” Dr. Dziadzio said. And while the shots themselves only take a minute, you probably will have to wait those 30 minutes in your healthcare provider’s office after each one.
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Can Allergy Shots Weaken Immune System
In some cases, allergy shots can reduce a body’s immune response. By regularly receiving injections that introduce trace amounts of an allergen into their body, some patients can have their bodies get used to an offending agent, meaning that the response is less severe than it would be without a shot.
What Risks Are There With Allergy Shots
You may have redness, swelling, or pain at the site of the shot. These symptoms usually start 20 to 30 minutes after the shot and may not go away until the next day.
To make you feel better, put an ice pack on the shot site and take an antihistamine, like diphenhydramine . Sometimes, the amount of your next dose will need to be changed.
If you have a reaction that is bigger than one and a half inches wide, you should tell your doctor. A reaction that lasts longer than 24 hours also should be reported to the doctor.
Life-threatening reactions are rare. These are serious reactions:
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Sudden itching of the nose, eyes, throat, ears, or skin
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Shortness of breath or wheezing
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A lightheaded or dizzy feeling
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Tightness in the chest
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Hives or itchy palms
Serious reactions most often occur within 30 minutes after the shot. Any of these symptoms should be reported right away. The office where you get your shots can treat these reactions. The treatment will include a shot of adrenalin and an antihistamine. More treatment may be needed.
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Allergy Shots Are Usually Very Safe
Allergy shots are well-tolerated by most people, and any side effects tend to be minor. Your doctor will discuss possible side effects to look out for during your visit. Shots are suitable for most patients over the age of five.
The most common side effects are typical of any injection, which include redness, swelling, or itching at the injection site.
If you experience trouble breathing, dizziness, or throat swelling after an injection, its important to let your allergy provider know immediately. These may be signs of anaphylaxis, which is a rare but serious side effect. Your doctor will ask you to wait in the clinic for half an hour after getting an injection to monitor you for signs of anaphylaxis.
What Do Allergy Shots Protect Against
Evidence suggests that shots may effectively treat itchy skin rashes caused by airborne allergens, Dr. Purcell says. They may also prevent people with allergic rhinitis from developing asthma. While allergy shots are generally suitable for adults and children over age 5, they aren’t for everyone.
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Can Allergy Shots Help Kids
Yes! Allergy shots can be started at any age. The age in which shots may be recommended for young children is done on a case-by-case basis.
Research has also shown that allergy shots can prevent children who have allergic rhinitis from getting asthma. Treating the underlying cause of allergies in children can help prevent other sinus problems, improve quality of life, and help prevent your child from missing school due to allergy and asthma symptoms.
Safeguards Are In Place
- Everyone who gets a COVID-19 vaccine should be monitored on site for at least 15 minutes after vaccination.
- You should be monitored for 30 minutes if:
- You have had a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis due to any cause.
- You have had any type of immediate allergic reaction to a non-COVID-19 vaccine or injectable therapy.
- You had a severe allergic reaction to one type of COVID-19 vaccine and are now receiving another type of COVID-19 vaccine . This vaccination should only be done in a health clinic, medical facility, or doctors office.
- You had an immediate allergic reaction that was not severe from a previous dose of that type of COVID-19 vaccine. This vaccination should only be done in a health clinic, medical facility, or doctors office.
Vaccination providers should have appropriate personnel, medications, and equipmentsuch as epinephrine, antihistamines, blood pressure monitor, and timing devices to check your pulseat all COVID-19 vaccination provider sites.
If you experience a severe allergic reaction after getting a COVID-19 vaccine, vaccination providers can provide care rapidly and call for emergency medical services. You should continue to be monitored in a medical facility for at least several hours.
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