Allergy shots, also known as allergen immunotherapy, are a long-term treatment option for people with allergies. They involve injecting small amounts of allergens into the body over time to help the immune system gradually become less sensitive to those allergens.
Here’s how they work:
- Identification of Allergens: Before starting allergy shots, a doctor will typically conduct tests to identify which specific allergens are triggering your allergic reactions. These could include pollen, pet dander, dust mites, mold, or certain foods.
- Customized Treatment Plan: Based on the identified allergens, a customized treatment plan is created. This plan outlines the specific allergens that will be included in the shots and the schedule for administering them.
- Gradual Exposure: Allergy shots involve administering gradually increasing doses of the allergens over time. The injections are usually given in the upper arm.
- Desensitization: The goal of allergy shots is to desensitize the immune system to the allergens. By exposing the body to small amounts of the allergens in a controlled manner, the immune system learns to tolerate them without triggering an allergic reaction.
- Long-Term Treatment: Allergy shots are typically administered over a period of several years. Initially, they are given more frequently, often once or twice a week, with the dose gradually increasing. Once the maintenance dose is reached, the frequency of injections may decrease to once every few weeks or months.
- Symptom Reduction: Over time, allergy shots can help reduce the severity of allergy symptoms and the need for other allergy medications. They can also prevent the development of new allergies and asthma in some cases.
Allergy shots are most commonly used to treat seasonal allergies (such as pollen allergies), indoor allergies (such as dust mites or pet dander), and insect sting allergies. They are usually recommended for people who have not responded well to other allergy treatments or who want a long-term solution to their allergies. However, they may not be suitable for everyone, and it’s important to discuss the potential risks and benefits with a doctor before starting allergy shots.