How Do Allergy Shots Work?

If you’re an allergy sufferer, you probably know there are a number of ways you can manage your allergies. One is to just put up with it and make sure you carry a big box of Kleenex wherever you go. Another approach is with natural remedies. Some people may find that antihistamine tablets, eye drops, or steroid nasal sprays are the way to go. Or, you can play the long game with allergy shots.

What are allergy shots?

Also known as allergy immunotherapy, allergy shots are a long-term treatment approach to minimizing your reaction to allergens. And by long-term, we mean these shots can be effective for over 5 years. They can be effective at alleviating the symptoms of many different types of allergies as well as preventing the development of new allergies, particularly in children.

An allergy shot can be useful for different types of allergic diseases, including:

• Asthma
• Allergic rhinitis (hay fever)
• Allergic conjunctivitis
• Eczema

Common allergens that trigger many of these reactions include grasses and pollens, molds, dust mites, pet dander, insect venom, and cockroaches. Allergy shots are not suitable for treating food or drug allergies.

How do allergy shots work?

An allergic reaction is a hyped-up response from your body’s immune system when it encounters a harmless substance, known as the allergen. This immune response results in all those symptoms, from a runny and congested nose, to itchy eyes, itchy skin, swelling, and constricted airways.

Allergy shots aim to coach the body into not freaking out so much when it comes into contact with an allergen. It does this by introducing said allergen in small, friendly but increasing doses via an injection. The idea is that over time, your body will build a tolerance to this allergen.

Prior to starting the therapy, your allergy doctor needs to determine what you’re allergic to. This typically involves a skin test or a blood test.

There are two phases to allergy shots:

The build-up phase

This is the first stage, which occurs over 3 to 6 months. During the build-up phase, you receive an allergy shot between 1 to 3 times a week, with the dose of the allergen increasing a tiny bit each time.

The maintenance phase

Once the effective dose of allergen in your shots has been achieved, you enter the maintenance phase. Your allergy doctor determines the best maintenance dose for you based on how sensitive you are to the allergen and how you progressed during the build-up phase. The maintenance phase involves a shot every 2 to 4 weeks for 3 to 5 years (told you this was the long game). While many people find their allergy symptoms improving slightly during the build-up phase, it can take up to a year into the maintenance phase to notice significant relief from your allergies.

Do allergy shots really work?

For many people, yes. Allergy shots can provide long-lasting relief from their allergy symptoms even once the maintenance phase has finished. However, others may find their symptoms return once they’ve stopped receiving the shots.

If your allergy shot therapy didn’t work as well as you had hoped, it may be due to a number of factors, including:

• Being exposed to particularly high levels of the allergen in your environment
• The allergy shot dose not being increased sufficiently to challenge your immune system
• You are allergic to allergens not included in the shots

Allergy shots are not for everyone. Children under 5 years old are not recommended to undergo this therapy, as are people with severe asthma, heart conditions, or those taking certain medications. Pregnant women are also advised against commencing allergy shots during pregnancy, but it may be okay to continue the treatment if it started before falling pregnant.