Allergy Shots Clinic Q&A

The effectiveness of allergy shots is over 90% when they are given properly. Several clinical studies have shown that it reduces allergy symptoms, and medication use prevents new allergies and asthma in children and relieves allergy symptoms for a long time after treatment ends. There is evidence that allergy shots are cost-effective and reduce overall healthcare expenses, including prescription medicine costs, office visits, hospital stays, and missed work/school days.
 
Treatments for allergies and asthma are especially helpful in children since they prevent the development of new allergies and asthma. Approximately a quarter of allergic children may develop asthma as they grow older if they are left untreated. Most allergy shots are administered to children over the age of 5 but may sometimes be given to younger children as well.

By giving your body allergy shots, you can become accustomed to the things that trigger an allergic reaction. They aren’t a cure, but they will improve your symptoms over time and you may not get as many symptoms as you used to. If you suffer from allergy symptoms over three months a year and medicines do not provide enough relief, allergy shots may be an option.
 
To reduce or stop allergy attacks, allergy shots are regularly administered over a period of time – usually three to five years. Allergy shots contain a small amount of the specific substance or substances that trigger your allergies. These substances are known as allergens. Your immune system is stimulated by allergy shots, but you won’t develop a full-blown allergy as a result.
 
You receive allergy shots that contain increasing doses of allergens over time. The purpose of this is to desensitize your body to the allergens. Over time, your immune system becomes tolerant to allergens, decreasing allergy symptoms.

Allergy shots do not get rid of allergies, as usually there is no cure for an allergy. However, allergy shots can minimize symptoms and over time an individual will experience much milder reactions to the allergens, in some cases none at all.
 
Some allergies can be treated with allergy shots, such as those caused by grasses, trees, and weeds. Also beneficial are they to molds, house dust mites, cockroaches, and pet dander. You may also benefit from allergy shots if you are allergic to yellow jackets, hornets, wasps, bees, or fire ants. You may be able to benefit from immunotherapy injections if you struggle with seasonal allergies.

Through allergy shots, your immune system is gradually exposed to the specific substances you’re allergic to, thus preventing reactions or symptoms. In order to get the most out of immunotherapy, you’ll need to visit your allergist over a period of several years.
 
An injection filled with the specific allergen(s) you are allergic to is administered during the appointment. A very small dose of the allergen is used at first, then it is slowly increased over time by your allergist. As a result of the treatment, the patient develops an immunity or desensitization to the allergen.
 
At first, your allergist will see you once or twice a week while you undergo immunotherapy. The build-up phase describes the process of building up your body’s tolerance to the allergen. In order to achieve a therapeutic response, you will eventually reach a maintenance dose, which is the maximum dosage and concentration for your allergens.
 
As your maintenance dose decreases over time, your allergist visits for injections will decrease sequentially until you are only needed once a month. In order to achieve long-term relief of your symptoms, this maintenance phase usually lasts three to five years (as determined by your allergist).
 
Allergy shots are available at Allergy & Asthma Center. We serve patients from Lawrenceville GA, Atlanta GA, Conyers GA, Suwanee GA, Duluth GA, Grayson GA, Decatur GA, Brookhaven GA, Lithonia GA, and Covington GA.