Allergy Shots Explained: Immunotherapy for Long-Term Allergy Relief
The end of winter is often associated with increasingly warmer weather and longer days. However, for many Oklahomans, this time of year also brings the familiar dread of seasonal allergy symptoms such as itchy eyes, sneezing, and nasal congestion.
Over-the-counter medications can provide temporary relief, but they don’t treat the underlying cause of allergies. If you’re tired of managing symptoms without long-term results, it may be time to consider allergen immunotherapy, commonly known as allergy shots.
What is Allergen Immunotherapy?
Allergen immunotherapy (commonly referred to as allergy shots) is a long-term treatment addressing the root cause of allergies rather than just relieving symptoms. It works by desensitizing the immune system to specific allergens by exposing it to gradually increasing levels of specific allergens.
The process begins with diagnostic testing by our skilled allergists at Oklahoma Allergy & Asthma Clinic. This allows us to determine what is triggering an allergic reaction for you.
Next, you will be given regular injections containing small, carefully controlled amounts of these allergens, such as pollen, dust mites, or pet dander. The process allows your immune system to gradually build up a tolerance.
As your body becomes less sensitive to these triggers, allergic reactions become milder and easier to manage. For some patients, allergen immunotherapy may also help reduce the risk of developing new allergies in the future.
What to Expect from Treatment
At the Oklahoma Asthma and Allergy Clinic, getting started with allergen immunotherapy is a straightforward process that begins with a visit to one of our clinics. During your initial visit, your allergist will review your allergy history.
If you haven’t had allergy testing before, a skin test may be performed to identify the specific allergens triggering your symptoms. Once this step is completed, your allergist will create a treatment plan individualized for you. Each shot is like a customized medical cocktail for your immune system. Patients are monitored after each injection in an aim to better ensure safety and minimize reactions.
Treatment Phases
Allergy shot treatment follows a structured schedule designed to build protection safely over time. This schedule involves two phases. The first is build-up and the second is maintenance.
The Build-up Phase
At the start of treatment, injections are given more frequently while the allergen dose gradually increases. The build-up phase can occur in different formats, but most commonly, patients start with a building schedule of 1 to 3 shots per week. You will be asked to wait at the clinic to be monitored after each shot. This is to monitor for rare, but serious systemic reactions like anaphylaxis. The build-up phase generally takes 3 to 6 months until you reach your highest effective dosage.
Your physician will then work with you to find a schedule that balances effectiveness and safety with your health needs.
The Maintenance Phase
Once you reach your highest dose, you will enter the maintenance phase. During this phase, injections are needed less often, and your allergist may adjust the schedule based on your response to treatment. The length of treatment is different for everyone, but most people complete allergen immunotherapy after 3 to 5 years of maintenance.
Since allergy shots work gradually, consistency and timing are both important for long-term results.
A Short Note About Oral Immunotherapy (OIT)
Oral immunotherapy is primarily used for patients with food allergies like peanut allergies. With OIT, patients ingest increasing amounts of the allergen. The process is designed to desensitize the immune system. If you have food allergies, our allergists will work with you to develop an OIT plan individualized for you.
Choosing the Right Time to Start Allergy Shots
When to start allergen immunotherapy depends on what triggers your allergies, how severe your symptoms are, and what you hope to achieve with treatment. If you have seasonal allergies, such as reactions to tree, grass, or weed pollen, it helps to start a few months before allergy season. This gives your body time to adjust before symptoms get worse. Many people start in the fall or winter to prepare for spring allergies.
Patients with year-round allergies, such as reactions to dust mites, mold, or pet dander, can start allergen immunotherapy at any time. Since these allergens are always present, regular treatment can help manage your symptoms no matter the season.
While planning and starting early helps, treatment can still be effective in reducing symptoms, even if allergy season has already begun. Your medical team at Oklahoma Allergy & Asthma Clinic can help you decide when to start.
Take the Next Step Toward Long-Term Allergy Relief
If allergies interfere with your daily life, allergen immunotherapy may offer you more lasting relief than day-to-day symptom management alone. Schedule an appointment with an allergist at the Oklahoma Allergy & Asthma Clinic NOW to find out if allergy shots are right for you. Our team of dedicated specialists will help you identify your triggers, determine the best time to start treatment, and create a personalized treatment plan for you.
