Allergy immunotherapy: Regular shots might bring you relief

An allergy shot every month for several years might not be your idea of fun. But if you or your child has persistent allergies that aren't responding to medication, monthly allergy shots (immunotherapy) might be your best bet for relief.

Allergy shots - sometimes called allergy vaccines, desensitization shots or hyposensitization shots - contain small amounts of allergens. Allergens are the allergy-causing substances to which you react. The purpose of allergy shots is to increase your tolerance to allergens.

Allergy Relief

Some of the medications used to treat respiratory allergy symptoms include antihistamines, decongestants, nasal sprays and eyedrops.

What do medications do?

Allegra D
Allegra
Claritin-D
Flonase
Nasacort
Nasacort AQ
Nasonex
Patanol
Zyrtec

To be effective, allergy shots are given on a schedule. Typically you'll receive a shot once or twice a week for about three to six months. After that, you'll need a shot about once a month for three to five years. If you don't have an adverse reaction, the allergen dose is increased each time you receive a shot. Gradually your body learns to accept the allergen as the harmless substance it is. As this happens, your symptoms decrease.

But allergy shots aren't for everyone. The shots don't work on all allergies or on all people with allergies. And if you do decide to go through with the allergy shots, it takes commitment to stick to the treatment for a few years.

Talking with your doctor can help you decide if allergy shots are right for you or your child.

Benefits of allergy shots

Allergy shots are used to desensitize you to certain allergies. In some cases they might also be used to prevent your child from developing allergy-related asthma.

The most common condition treated with allergy shots is allergic rhinitis - commonly known as hay fever. Symptoms occur when you inhale airborne particles, such as dust, pet dander and pollen.

# Hay fever

In most people who undergo allergy shot treatments, allergic rhinitis can be controlled. Symptom relief appears to be related to dosage and length of treatment.

Allergy shots can also be used to control allergic reactions to stinging insects, such as bees, yellow jackets, hornet and wasps. However, allergy shots won't treat some allergies, such as allergic rashes on your skin (atopic dermatitis) and food allergies.

If your child has allergies, consider allergy shots to help prevent him or her from developing allergy-related asthma later in life. Allergy shots may also prevent children from developing new allergies. Children as young as 5 years old can receive allergy shots.