Allergy shots are a long-term treatment for allergic reactions to a variety of allergens.
Allergy shots (also known as subcutaneous immunotherapy) are a long-term treatment for allergic reactions to seasonal, indoor, and insect sting allergies. Allergy shots decrease your sensitivity to allergens and often lead to long-lasting relief of allergy symptoms even after treatment is stopped. This makes it a cost-effective, beneficial treatment approach for many people.
Immunotherapy involves your body responding to injected amounts of allergens, given in gradually increasing doses, by developing immunity or tolerance to the allergen. Before starting treatment, we use skin or blood tests to identify specific allergens to which you have allergic antibodies. Allergy shots are effective in treating reactions to many allergens including trees, grass, weeds, mold, dust mite, animal dander, and insect stings.
Allergy symptoms will not improve immediately with immunotherapy; symptoms will typically improve gradually over the first year of treatment and should continue to improve over the next few years. Allergy shots may even decrease symptoms for other allergens; in some patients, allergy shots may prevent new allergies or asthma from developing.
Since immunotherapy contains a substance you are allergic to, there are potential risks involved. Swelling and redness can develop at the site of injection but are usually quick to resolve. Serious reactions to allergy shots are rare. When they do occur, they require immediate medical attention. Symptoms of a severe reaction (anaphylaxis) can include hives, swelling in the throat, wheezing or tightness in the chest, nausea and dizziness. Most serious reactions develop within 20 minutes of the allergy injections, which is why it is recommended you wait in the office for monitoring for at least 20 minutes after you receive your allergy injection.
Allergy shots (also known as subcutaneous immunotherapy) are a long-term treatment for allergic reactions to seasonal, indoor, and insect sting allergies. Allergy shots decrease your sensitivity to allergens and often lead to long-lasting relief of allergy symptoms even after treatment is stopped. This makes it a cost-effective, beneficial treatment approach for many people.
Immunotherapy involves your body responding to injected amounts of allergens, given in gradually increasing doses, by developing immunity or tolerance to the allergen. Before starting treatment, we use skin or blood tests to identify specific allergens to which you have allergic antibodies. Allergy shots are effective in treating reactions to many allergens including trees, grass, weeds, mold, dust mite, animal dander, and insect stings.
Allergy symptoms will not improve immediately with immunotherapy; symptoms will typically improve gradually over the first year of treatment and should continue to improve over the next few years. Allergy shots may even decrease symptoms for other allergens; in some patients, allergy shots may prevent new allergies or asthma from developing.
Since immunotherapy contains a substance you are allergic to, there are potential risks involved. Swelling and redness can develop at the site of injection but are usually quick to resolve. Serious reactions to allergy shots are rare. When they do occur, they require immediate medical attention. Symptoms of a severe reaction (anaphylaxis) can include hives, swelling in the throat, wheezing or tightness in the chest, nausea and dizziness. Most serious reactions develop within 20 minutes of the allergy injections, which is why it is recommended you wait in the office for monitoring for at least 20 minutes after you receive your allergy injection.
Allergy shots (also known as subcutaneous immunotherapy) are a long-term treatment for allergic reactions to seasonal, indoor, and insect sting allergies. Allergy shots decrease your sensitivity to allergens and often lead to long-lasting relief of allergy symptoms even after treatment is stopped. This makes it a cost-effective, beneficial treatment approach for many people.
Immunotherapy involves your body responding to injected amounts of allergens, given in gradually increasing doses, by developing immunity or tolerance to the allergen. Before starting treatment, we use skin or blood tests to identify specific allergens to which you have allergic antibodies. Allergy shots are effective in treating reactions to many allergens including trees, grass, weeds, mold, dust mite, animal dander, and insect stings.
Allergy symptoms will not improve immediately with immunotherapy; symptoms will typically improve gradually over the first year of treatment and should continue to improve over the next few years. Allergy shots may even decrease symptoms for other allergens; in some patients, allergy shots may prevent new allergies or asthma from developing.
Since immunotherapy contains a substance you are allergic to, there are potential risks involved. Swelling and redness can develop at the site of injection but are usually quick to resolve. Serious reactions to allergy shots are rare. When they do occur, they require immediate medical attention. Symptoms of a severe reaction (anaphylaxis) can include hives, swelling in the throat, wheezing or tightness in the chest, nausea and dizziness. Most serious reactions develop within 20 minutes of the allergy injections, which is why it is recommended you wait in the office for monitoring for at least 20 minutes after you receive your allergy injection.
