What Are Allergy Shots?

Allergies, whether seasonal or year-round, can seriously dampen a person's quality of life. Allergen immunotherapy (allergy shots) can be a big help for certain types of allergies. Allergy shots work by exposing you to tiny amounts of whatever you're allergic to. The amount of allergen in each injection increases gradually over time so your body can build up a tolerance.

Allergy shots may require a lot of time and effort. However, the benefits can be life-changing and long-lasting for people of all ages. If you are considering using allergy immunotherapy, read on to learn about if allergy shots work.

How To Prepare

If allergen immunotherapy is something you may be interested in, talk with an allergist to see if the treatment plan is appropriate for your case. It's also important to know the exact triggers for your allergies before getting allergy shots.

An allergist can confirm what allergens cause you problems. They may use skin testing or blood tests to determine your triggers. Except for food allergens, the confirmed allergens will be the only ones included in your allergy shots.

Can Everyone Get Allergy Shots?

Allergy shots are recommended for some people, but not all. Talk to a healthcare provider to understand if this is a good treatment option for your allergies.

People Who Are Eligible

Allergy shots can be effective for people with seasonal allergies. They can also work for year-round indoor allergies—like mold, dust mites, and animal dander—and allergies to insect stings.

Allergy shots may also be a good choice for people who can't avoid things they're allergic to, like a pet or the outdoors. Healthcare providers will still recommend oral antihistamines, nasal steroids, and traditional therapies, along with allergy shots.

People Who Are Not Eligible

You'll want to talk with an allergist about whether you're a candidate for allergy shots. Allergy shots are not an option if you have a food allergy. Instead, the best course of action is to avoid being around the trigger food or foods.

Most adults and children can get allergy shots, so long as they can communicate symptoms of an allergic reaction. However, a healthcare provider may recommend against them if you or your child has severe, uncontrolled asthma.

People who become pregnant while in the maintenance phase of allergy shots can continue their treatment. Experts advise against starting allergy shots for the first time or increasing allergy shot doses while pregnant.

Those with heart-related conditions, such as having had a recent heart attack, are also not good candidates for allergy shots. Allergy immunotherapy increases the risk of death in case of an allergic reaction to the immunotherapy injection.

Certain medicines, like beta-blockers or angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, can reduce the effectiveness of epinephrine, a lifesaving drug used to treat anaphylactic shock. Other medications, like glucagon, can be used in conjunction with epinephrine to reverse the effects of beta-blocker medications.

Anaphylaxis is when the body has an extreme immune system response (e.g., low blood pressure or airway blockage) to something foreign. This is a rare but serious risk for people getting allergy shots. Allergy shots may not be recommended for people who take beta-blockers or ACE inhibitors.

How Long Do Allergy Shots Take to Work?

Allergy shots are given in two phases. You'll need a shot once or twice a week for about three to six months in the "build-up" phase. You'll then enter the "maintenance" phase and receive them less often, about once or twice a month for several years. Sticking to this schedule is important for the shots' effectiveness and reducing your chances of having a bad reaction.

The shots themselves don't take long to get. In case of any reactions, it's recommended that you wait for 30 minutes in the allergist's office after each one.

Potential Benefits

Getting allergy shots can have advantages. You may find relief for your allergies or other health conditions.

Different Types of Relief

Allergy shots may help you get relief in the long term. This treatment helps the immune system build up a tolerance to allergens instead of having a bad reaction. Allergy shots can decrease allergies enough to stop taking medicine entirely, but some people usually get these shots alongside other treatments.

Possible Improvement With Other Health Conditions

Allergy shots can help decrease symptoms like itchy eyes, a stuffy nose, or a runny nose. This treatment can also help with related conditions.

For example, getting your allergies under control if you have asthma may reduce flares, improve breathing, and decrease your need for medications. Eczema, an inflammatory skin condition, is often associated with and can be made worse by environmental allergies.

Changes in Physical and Mental Health

Allergies have the capacity to affect a person's quality of life, which could include aspects of physical and mental health. Research has found that people with seasonal allergies are more likely to report having:

• Anxiety disorders
• Eating disorders
• Mood disorders

If severe allergies have taken a toll on your health and happiness, allergy shots or other immunotherapy options may help improve your mental state. Some evidence suggests that allergen shots can have a positive effect on the quality of life of those with grass pollen allergies.

Potential Risks and Side Effects

Just as there are benefits to getting allergy shots, there are also risks. Talk to a healthcare provider if you are concerned about starting allergy shots.

Relief Isn't a Fast Process

Allergy shots aren't a quick fix. Some people may start to feel better during the build-up phase of their treatment, but most won't experience noticeable improvement until the maintenance phase. Some evidence suggests that it takes three years for allergy shots for hay fever to be more effective than placebo shots.

The maintenance phase for most allergy shots usually continues for three to five years. Some people experience long-lasting relief after that, while others may need continued treatment.

Allergic Reactions Can Happen

Allergens are involved, so reactions to the shots themselves are possible. These can range from swelling and itching at the injection site (usually the arm) to sneezing and a runny nose to anaphylactic shock in rare cases.

That's why it's recommended that you stay at a healthcare provider's office after each shot, no matter how long you've been on allergy shots. They can monitor and treat you for reactions if they occur.

What Can Help You When You Get Allergy Shots?

Taking an oral antihistamine before each shot can help reduce side effects and reactions, particularly where your shot is given. Antihistamines can prevent most reactions but not all. Completing pre-treatment with antihistamines won't stop a person from potentially experiencing anaphylaxis.

Other Options

Sublingual (under the tongue) therapy (SLIT) may be another option for people who dislike shots or can't keep up with an allergy shot schedule. This immunotherapy is delivered in daily tablets that dissolve under the tongue.

There are different SLIT options available based on allergen type. Approved sublingual therapies are on the market for:

• Dust mites (Odactra, for people aged 18 to 65)
• Grass pollen (Oralair, for people aged 10 to 65)
• Short ragweed pollen (Ragwitek, for people aged 5 to 65)
• Timothy grass pollen (Grastek, for people aged 5 to 65)

Some allergy practices will also administer liquid drops under the tongue to treat other types of allergies. These treatments are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

A Quick Review

Allergen immunotherapy, or allergy shots, is a long-term option to get relief from most types of environmental allergies. Allergy shots are not recommended for everyone, and they come with benefits and risks. The shots don't take long to administer, but the time required to see improvement in your allergy symptoms can take months or years.