Do you experience itchy, watery eyes, congestion, runny nose and sneezing after visiting Stephen C. Beachy Central Park? Are you getting inadequate relief from over-the-counter (OTC) allergy medications? If so, you may benefit from allergy shots – a long-term approach to treating allergy symptoms.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Allergy Shots?
Allergy shots require a significant time commitment. It’s important to make sure your schedule allows for frequent office visits if you’re interested in allergy shots.
Allergy shots are effective for people who have:
- Allergic rhinitis (hay fever).
- Allergic asthma.
- Allergic conjunctivitis (eye allergies).
- Allergies to stinging insects.
The best candidates for allergy shots experience severe allergy symptoms year-round and don’t respond well to OTC medications.
Who Shouldn’t Get Allergy Shots?
Allergy shots aren’t for everyone. You shouldn’t get allergy shots if you’re:
- Under five years old.
- Are pregnant.
- Have heart disease.
- Have severe asthma.
How Do Allergy Shots Work?
Allergy shots work similar to a vaccine in that your body creates new antibodies to combat invasive substances, known as allergens. They also work by improving the way other immune system cells function in response to allergens so that eventually you’ll have decreased symptoms or no symptoms at all.
With allergy shots, small amounts of allergen extracts are introduced to the body so the immune system builds up a tolerance. This happens in two phases: the buildup phase and the maintenance phase.
Buildup Phase
The buildup phase requires the largest time commitment, as you’ll receive injections up to twice a week. You’ll need to stay in the office for 30 minutes after so your reaction can be monitored, as the dose is constantly increasing during this phase. This phase lasts three to six months.
Maintenance Phase
The maintenance phase entails getting a shot once or twice per month. You’ll still need to stay in the office for 30 minutes after each shot, but your body will better tolerate the injections once they’re at the maintenance level. This phase lasts three to five years. It’s important to not miss any injections, as this can disrupt treatment. For more information about allergy shots or to schedule an appointment with an allergist, call Texas ENT & Allergy today.
