Benefits
There are a number of benefits to getting allergy shots:
- Decreases dependence on oral allergy medication
- Decreases long-term costs
- Treats the underlying cause of allergies, not just the symptoms
- Treats multiple allergies at once
- Provides long-term allergy relief
Cons
While there are many benefits to deciding on getting an allergy shot, there are also a number of cons that you should consider before making a final decision:
- Higher up-front costs
- Redness, swelling and tenderness can appear after the shot
- Time-consuming
- Can worsen allergy symptoms in the beginning
- Low risk of anaphylaxis, which may require monitoring after getting the shot
Subcutaneous immunotherapy can’t treat all allergies, but have been proven to be beneficial for the following allergies:
- Several different pollens including grasses, trees, and weeds
- Molds
- House dust mites
- Cockroaches
- Pet dander
- yellow jackets
- hornets
- wasps
- bees
- fire ant
Do they work?
The success of allergy shots depends on the length of your treatment. While some people may experience lasting relief, others may relapse after discontinuing the shot. If you do not experience improvement after a year of maintenance therapy, speak with your allergist about other treatment options.
Failure to respond to allergy shots could be due to the following:
• Inadequate dose of allergen in the allergy vaccine
• Missing allergens not identified during the allergy evaluation
• High levels of allergen in the environment
• Significant exposure to non-allergic triggers, such as tobacco smoke
Are allergy shots right for you?
- What are your allergies? If you’re allergic to one or more of the substances listed above, then allergy shots can help lessen your symptoms. However, if you have an allergy to latex, drugs, or certain foods, immunotherapy is not recommended.
- How bad are your allergies? If symptoms continue for longer than three out of 12 months or are impacting your daily activities then allergy shots may provide more relief than other treatment methods.
- What other treatments have you tried? If you’re on a prescription antihistamine or another medication from an allergist but these don’t help your symptoms, let your allergist know. They could recommend immunotherapy as your next treatment.
- Are you okay with needles? If you have a severe fear of needles, then you might want to rethink allergy shots. Although the injections become less frequent as the treatment goes on, it will take a while to get there. You may want to discuss sublingual immunotherapy or SLIT with your allergist. This treatment involves you taking tablets or drops under your tongue instead of receiving injections.
- Do they work for children? Children as young a three can develop seasonal allergies. While the shots are safe for children, it’s best to discuss it with your allergist first. Children can have a minor reaction to the shot that can be treated by applying ice to the area and administering an antihistamine to reduce the swelling. In rare cases, children can experience hives, itching across the body, or difficulty breathing.
Before you make a final decision make an appointment with a doctor or allergist to make sure you are a good candidate for allergy shots.