Are Allergy Shots For You?

When persistent allergies dont respond to medication, or side effects interfere w

ith treatment, allergy shots may be an option to consider. Immunotherapy is a se
ries of injections given to desensitize asthma and allergy sufferers from specif
ic allergens, which are determined through extensive skin and blood testing. All
ergy shots are like vaccinations because they boost the defenses of the immune s
ystem to help the body block the allergic reaction. To be effective, the shots a
re given on a typical schedule of twice weekly, weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. F
or the first three to six months the dosage is increased gradually with each inj
ection, which gives the body time to accept the allergen as harmless. For long-t
erm allergy relief, sometimes monthly shots are the best bet for allergy relief.

Allergy shots are a common treatment prescribed for allergic rhinitis or hay fev
er, as it is most commonly known and allergy-induced asthma. Allergies can be se
asonal due to trees, grasses, and weeds, or occur throughout the year, indicatin
g sensitivity to indoor allergens too. Dust and dust mites are common irritants,
as well as molds and pet dander, so people with a beloved cat or dog would choo
se treatment any day than part with a member of their family. Unfortunately, for
people with allergies to their favorite foods, like seafood for instance, the o
nly treatment is to abstain completely because there is no vaccine yet available
. Reactions to bees, yellow jackets, wasps, and hornets can also be decreased or
eliminated with immunotherapy, meaning that there would no longer be a need to
carry an Epi Pen for possible anaphylactic reaction.
If youre considering allergy shots, youve probably been experiencing symptoms for
quite some time. Immunotherapy testing is the best way to confirm that your symp
toms are being caused by allergies, and to determine the specific allergens to b
e focused on during treatment. Allergy symptoms wont go away overnight, but you w
ill experience a noticeable amount of relief within a year of starting therapy.
Immunotherapy is very safe, but because it uses everything that makes you misera
ble, the possibility of a local or systemic reaction occurring cant be ignored. T
his is why patients are required to stay in the waiting area for a specified amo
unt of time following administration of the allergy shots. Dont let this scare y
ou; the benefits of immunotherapy far outweigh the remote possibility that a sev
ere reaction may occur. The decision to make the commitment to proceed with ther
apy truly depends on just how uncomfortable you are, and how satisfied you are w
ith your present treatment regimen.