While some need ongoing immunotherapy treatment to keep allergy issues under control, some can discontinue treatment after the three to five-year period without the return of allergy attacks. By year three, most people are desensitized to the allergens contained in the shots and no longer have significant allergic reactions to those substances. ![]() What results can you expect from this form of treatment? While your symptoms will not go away overnight, most patients see significant improvement within the first year of treatment and even more progress thereafter. Then, during the maintenance phase, which lasts three to five years, you’ll receive a shot monthly. During this period, shots with higher allergen doses each time are administered one to three times a week. The first usually takes three to six months. Generally, allergy shots are injected into the upper arm and are administered in two phases. Over time, as your board-certified allergist increases the dose of allergens in each shot, your body builds up a tolerance for them, which results in a reduction of symptoms or even complete desensitization. While not enough to lead to a full-blown allergic reaction, it is enough to stimulate your immune system and is tailored specifically for you. Within each allergy shot is a small amount of the allergen that triggers your symptoms. To put it plainly, medicines are simply a band-aid for your symptoms, while allergy shots can make a positive impact on your immune system for the long haul.Īllergy shots are a form of immunotherapy. They are also more cost effective than a lifetime of OTC medication. In fact, allergy shots are the closest thing we have to a cure for allergies. They may also be necessary if you’ve been unable to find OTC medicines that successfully keep your symptoms under wraps or you can’t avoid the allergens that trigger your symptoms. ![]() Therefore, allergy shots can be a good option if you’d like to cut down on your long-term use of allergy meds. They can provide long-term relief from symptoms triggered by seasonal allergies, indoor allergens and even insect bites. However, the relief they offer is generally short-lived with many medications lasting just 24 hours, meaning that you have to take them daily. Over-the-counter medications can be effective in reducing allergy symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes and congestion. ![]() If this is true for you, you may wonder whether over-the-counter (OTC) medications could do the trick or if you need a more heavy-duty treatment such as allergy shots.Īdvantages of Allergy Shots Over OTC Meds Finding relief from persistent symptoms is a top priority for many allergy sufferers.
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