Allergy Shots

What are allergy shots?

Allergy shots are a form of immunotherapy where small, diluted amounts of a known allergen are injected in a controlled environment.

Allergy shots are often an effective treatment for people who have allergies to pollen, pet dander, dust, and bees, or other stinging insects. Allergy shots are also helpful for people with asthma.

How does immunotherapy work?

Immunotherapy works by exposing you to small but increasing amounts of a known allergen on a frequent basis.

The shots include just enough of the allergen to stimulate your immune system without triggering an allergic reaction. Over time, your body becomes desensitized to the allergen, and your allergic symptoms reduce or even disappear.

Allergy shots and immunotherapy are a long-term strategy for treating allergies. You may need to have injections several times a week for around three to five years to stop your allergy attacks.

Even after your allergy has been eliminated, you may need to have allergy shots to maintain your de-sensitivity.

What allergic symptoms do allergy shots reduce?

Allergy shots are known to reduces symptoms like:

• Runny nose
• Congestion
• Watery eyes
• Sneezing
• Skin rashes like eczema and hives
• Responses to insect bites or stings

Your allergy symptoms won’t disappear overnight. It takes time for your body to get used to the allergen and become desensitized to it.

Who can benefit from allergy shots?

Allergy shots are suitable for both children and adults. But they're typically inadvisable for children under the age of five or older adults with other medical conditions like cardiac disease.

You may find allergy shots useful if other allergy medications aren’t effective at controlling your symptoms. They are also helpful for people who want to reduce their allergy medications or can’t take allergy medications because they adversely interact with other medications.

How do I know if immunotherapy is right for me?

First, make an appointment with one of the expert allergists at the Allergy and Asthma Specialists of Greater Washington to discuss your allergies and potential treatments. Some of the factors that can influence your decision include:

• Length of the hay fever or allergy season and the severity of your symptoms
• Effectiveness of other treatments and medications
• Time available to commit to treatment
• If you want to avoid long-term medication use

Call or schedule a consultation online to learn more about allergy shots today.