Do Allergy Shots Work?

African American children have a higher rate of food allergies than children of other races. About 5.6 million children under the age of 18 in the U.S. have food allergies, according to FARE (Food & Allergy Research Education).

On top of that, many people suffer from outdoor allergies that can be mild in some months and severe in others depending on the weather.

Having an allergic reaction means your immune system is reacting to a foreign substance. In turn, your immune system will respond by manufacturing antibodies that react to a substance called an allergen. Even though the immune system is mistaken, it will react by attacking the allergen and identifying it as harmful. This may cause your body to have a negative reaction that inflames your skin, airways or digestive system.

You may also have allergy-like reactions to hot or cold temperatures, sunlight, or other environmental triggers. You are more likely to develop allergies if your parents, especially your mother, has them. Allergies can also make medical conditions such as sinus problems, eczema, and asthma worse.

There are several methods of treatment that can lessen or eliminate your allergies, but the best solution is to always avoid what is triggering your allergies whenever possible. Methods of treatment include: nasal sprays, skin creams, eye drops, allergy immunotherapy (allergy shots or allergy drops) and oral medication.

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Subcutaneous immunotherapy, another term for allergy shots, is done under the skin and is designed to reduce allergy symptoms and severity. Some people who got allergy shots saw their allergies stop altogether.

How do they work?

Allergy shots train your immune system to not react to substances you’re allergic to by gradually exposing it to those specific substances. You will see an allergist for several years and receive injections with specific allergens. Your first dose will be limited and your allergist will gradually increase it over time with the goal being to create desensitization to the allergen.

In the beginning, you will go through a “build-up phase” where you see your allergist once or twice weekly to build up the amount of allergen in your system. Eventually, you will reach the maintenance phase, which is the maximum dose. This phase lasts about three to five years depending on your allergist’s recommendation for the best therapeutic benefit and long-term relief of your symptoms. Your visits to the allergist will also decrease over time until you are only going once a month.

Benefits

There are a number of benefits to getting allergy shots:

• Decreases dependence on oral allergy medication
• Decreases long-term costs
• Treats the underlying cause of allergies, not just the symptoms
• Treats multiple allergies at once
• Provides long-term allergy relief

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Cons

While there are many benefits to deciding on getting an allergy shot, there are also a number of cons that you should consider before making a final decision:

• Higher up-front costs
• Redness, swelling and tenderness can appear after the shot
• Time-consuming
• Can worsen allergy symptoms in the beginning
• Low risk of anaphylaxis, which may require monitoring after getting the shot

Subcutaneous immunotherapy can’t treat all allergies, but have been proven to be beneficial for the following allergies:

• Several different pollens including grasses, trees, and weeds
• Molds
• House dust mites
• Cockroaches
• Pet dander
• yellow jackets
• hornets
• wasps
• bees
• fire ant

Do they work?

The success of allergy shots depends on the length of your treatment. While some people may experience lasting relief, others may relapse after discontinuing the shot. If you do not experience improvement after a year of maintenance therapy, speak with your allergist about other treatment options.

Failure to respond to allergy shots could be due to the following:

•    Inadequate dose of allergen in the allergy vaccine
•    Missing allergens not identified during the allergy evaluation
•    High levels of allergen in the environment
•    Significant exposure to non-allergic triggers, such as tobacco smoke

Are allergy shots right for you?

• What are your allergies? If you’re allergic to one or more of the substances listed above, then allergy shots can help lessen your symptoms. However, if you have an allergy to latex, drugs, or certain foods, immunotherapy is not recommended.
• How bad are your allergies? If symptoms continue for longer than three out of 12 months or are impacting your daily activities then allergy shots may provide more relief than other treatment methods.
• What other treatments have you tried? If you’re on a prescription antihistamine or another medication from an allergist but these don’t help your symptoms, let your allergist know. They could recommend immunotherapy as your next treatment.
• Are you okay with needles? If you have a severe fear of needles, then you might want to rethink allergy shots. Although the injections become less frequent as the treatment goes on, it will take a while to get there. You may want to discuss sublingual immunotherapy or SLIT with your allergist. This treatment involves you taking tablets or drops under your tongue instead of receiving injections.
• Do they work for children? Children as young a three can develop seasonal allergies. While the shots are safe for children, it’s best to discuss it with your allergist first. Children can have a minor reaction to the shot that can be treated by applying ice to the area and administering an antihistamine to reduce the swelling. In rare cases, children can experience hives, itching across the body, or difficulty breathing.

Before you make a final decision make an appointment with a doctor or allergist to make sure you are a good candidate for allergy shots.