Allergy shots, also known as allergy injections or allergen immunotherapy, are a long-term treatment that helps reduce allergic reactions to various triggers. These include pollen, dust mites, insect stings, and pet dander. Allergy shots are a long-term treatment option for allergy symptoms. They’re very effective and have no long-term side effects. Risks may include allergy symptoms shortly after receiving your shot. You may need regular allergy shots for up to five years. This guide will help you understand how allergy shots work, their effectiveness, and whether they are right for you.
What Are Allergy Shots?
Allergy shots are a long-term treatment designed to treat allergy symptoms and minimize or even eliminate them.
When your immune system overreacts to certain substances, known as allergens, it triggers allergy symptoms. Allergy shots contain small, controlled amounts of these allergens, gradually training your immune system to become less sensitive. Over time, the dose is increased, helping your body develop a tolerance. This process strengthens your immune system, reducing or preventing allergic reactions when you encounter the allergen in the future.
Other names for allergy shots include:
- Allergen immunotherapy injections (often called “immunotherapy”)
- Subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT)
How Do Allergy Shots Work?
Before starting allergy shots, your healthcare professional will use a skin test or blood test to make sure your symptoms are caused by an allergy. The tests show which specific allergens cause your symptoms.
Before beginning your allergy shot regimen, an evaluation by a healthcare provider is required to ensure a structured approach to allergy care.
During a skin test, a small amount of the suspected allergen is scratched into your skin. Then the area is observed for about 15 minutes. Swelling or a change in skin color indicate an allergy to the substance.
When you go in for allergy shots, let the nurses or doctors know if you are not feeling well in any way. This is especially important if you have asthma. Also let them know if you had any symptoms after a previous allergy shot.
Buildup Phase (3–6 Months)
During the buildup phase, patients receive injections one to three times per week, with gradually increasing doses of the allergen. This phase helps the immune system adjust to the allergen exposure without triggering a severe allergic reaction.
Maintenance Phase (3–5 Years)
Once the effective dose is reached, patients enter the maintenance phase of allergy shot treatments, where injections are administered less frequently, typically once every two to four weeks. This phase continues for three to five years to ensure long-term allergy relief. Allergy shots are recommended for individuals who suffer from severe allergies that do not respond well to other treatments. Common conditions that may benefit from immunotherapy include:
Seasonal Allergies
People allergic to pollen, mold spores, and other environmental allergens that fluctuate throughout the year can benefit from allergy shots.
Year-Round Allergies
Those who experience allergic reactions to pet dander, dust mites, and mold on a continuous basis may find relief through immunotherapy.
Insect Sting Allergies
Individuals allergic to insect stings, such as bee or wasp venom, can reduce their risk of severe reactions through allergy shots.
Allergic Asthma
For those with asthma triggered by allergens, immunotherapy can help reduce asthma symptoms and improve breathing.
Allergic Rhinitis
Commonly known as hay fever, allergic rhinitis causes symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, and congestion. Allergy shots can help manage these symptoms effectively.
Who Should Not Take Allergy Shots?
This treatment method requires frequent injections at the doctor’s office. You need to be able to commit time to it.
Allergy shots are only used in people who are at least five years old. Younger children may not be able to communicate potential side effects clearly.
Allergy shots also aren’t recommended if you:
- Are pregnant
- Have heart disease
- Have severe asthma
Who Can Benefit From Allergy Shots?
Allergy shots can benefit individuals of all ages who suffer from moderate to severe allergy symptoms that are not well-controlled with medications or avoidance measures. This includes people with allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, conjunctivitis (eye allergy), and stinging insect allergy. For those with allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever, and allergic asthma, allergy shots can provide significant relief from symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, and difficulty breathing. However, it’s important to note that food allergies are not typically treated with allergy shots. Instead, avoidance and emergency treatments like epinephrine are recommended for managing food allergies.
Effectiveness of Allergy Shots
It depends. Your body is unique, and how you respond to allergy shots may be different from others. Some people may notice their symptoms improving six to eight months into the buildup phase. Others may take up to 12 months before they have noticeable improvement. Allergy shots can provide long-term relief well after the injections have stopped.
Some people who have received allergy shots may no longer need medication for their allergies.
However, it can take up to one year of maintenance shots before you see results. Some people may notice benefits early on in the maintenance phase, though.
In some cases, allergy shots don’t work. This may be due to a variety of reasons, including:
- Stopping treatment due to reactions
- Continued exposure to allergens at extremely high levels
- Not enough allergen in the actual shots
- Missed allergens during your initial evaluation
Potential Side Effects & Risks
Common side effects include reactions that look like hives or mosquito bites at the site of the injection. The area can also swell to a larger bump and increase in redness.
In some cases, systemic reactions can occur, affecting the entire body and potentially worsening asthma symptoms. It is important to monitor for these reactions and notify healthcare professionals if such symptoms arise after receiving an injection.
This type of reaction is normal. It can happen immediately or several hours after the injection.
It can last for several hours before going away without any treatment. You can help reduce swelling by applying ice to the injection site.
Some people experience mild allergy symptoms — including nasal congestion, sneezing, and itchy skin — after their shots. This is a reaction to the allergens being injected. Taking an antihistamine can help ease these symptoms.
Rare Side Effects
In rare cases, allergy shots may cause a severe reaction, including:
- Hives
- Swelling
- Anaphylaxis
If you go into anaphylactic shock, you may experience dizziness and breathing difficulties.
This reaction can develop within 30 minutes of receiving an allergy shot. This is why your doctor will likely ask you to stay at the office after the injection so that they can monitor you.
When You’re Feeling Sick
If you’re sick, let your doctor know. You may need to skip an injection until you’ve recovered.
Taking an allergy shot while you have a respiratory illness, for example, could increase your risk for side effects.
How Long Do Allergy Shots Take to Work?
Allergy shots have been around for around 50 years and have extensive research to back up their effectiveness. Because immunotherapy teaches your body to have a more measured response to the culprit allergen, the length of time varies based on the severity of the allergy and the pliability of your immune system to learn how to better manage the allergen.
Most patients experience a significant reduction in allergic symptoms within 12 months of initiating therapy, and by three years, many patients no longer have any sensitivity to the substance. Continued high-level exposure to the allergen during treatment may impact the efficacy of the treatment. For example, if you’re getting immunotherapy because you’re allergic to cats and you live with a cat, it may take longer for the immunotherapy to work, if at all.
Twelve months may seem like a long time when you’re accustomed to taking pills that quickly mask symptoms, but the sooner you start immunotherapy, the sooner you can lose the pills and feel better every day. Book online today.
FAQs About Allergy Shots
How Long Do Allergy Shots Last?
The effects of allergy shots can last for years after completing the treatment. Some individuals experience permanent relief, while others may need occasional booster shots.
Are Allergy Shots Worth It?
For those with severe allergies, allergy shots provide long-term relief and reduce reliance on medications, making them a valuable investment in health.
Do Allergy Shots Work for Food Allergies?
Allergy shots are not used for food allergies. Instead, avoidance and emergency treatments like epinephrine are recommended.
Can Children Receive Allergy Shots?
Yes, children as young as five years old can receive allergy shots, which may reduce allergy severity as they grow.
Where Can I Receive Allergy Shots in New York?
Manhattan Medical Arts offers expert immunotherapy services tailored to your needs. Book a consultation today.
Conclusion
Allergy symptoms won’t stop overnight. They usually improve during the first year of treatment, but the most noticeable improvement often happens during the second year. By the third year, most people no longer have bad reactions to the allergens.
After a few years of successful treatment, some people don’t have allergy problems even after allergy shots are stopped. Other people need ongoing shots to keep symptoms under control.
For expert allergy treatment and personalized care, visit Manhattan Medical Arts and consult with Dr. Syra Hanif.
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About The Author
Dr. Syra Hanif M.D.Board Certified Primary Care Physician
Dr. Syra Hanif is a board-certified Primary Care Physician (PCP) dedicated to providing compassionate, patient-centered healthcare.
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