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What does maintenance mean for allergy shots?
Maintenance phase: When you reach your “effective therapeutic dose” you will begin the maintenance phase. During this phase you receive your allergy shots less often, usually every 3 to 4 weeks. The maintenance phase typically lasts 3-5 years (or longer if advised by your allergist).
How many weeks are allergy shots?
Allergy shots are given weekly in the buildup period, which is generally about six months or 25 weeks. Once a fairly high dose called maintenance is reached, the shots are gradually given less often. They are usually continued every four weeks.
How many allergy shots are in build-up phase?
At that time, you will build-up on 1 set of injections in the injection room 1-2 times a week until you reach your maintenance dose. This could take approximately 6 injection visits to reach your maintenance dose.
How often should allergy shots be given?
You'll get the shot in your upper arm. It'll contain a tiny amount of the thing you're allergic to -- pollen, pet dander, mold, dust mites, or bee venom, for example. The dose will go up gradually until you get to what's called a maintenance dose. After that, you'll usually get a shot every 2-4 weeks for 4-5 months.
Is there a one time allergy shot?
Long-lasting steroid shots for allergies can last between three weeks and three months. During this time, the steroid is slowly released into your body. A long-lasting shot may mean that you only require one shot per allergy season. However, long-lasting shots come with risks.
How do I get rid of allergies forever?
Can you get rid of allergies forever? There is currently no cure for allergies. However, researchers continue to investigate potential therapies. People can treat their allergy symptoms with medications and take steps to reduce their exposure to the allergen causing the reaction.
Do allergy shots cause weight gain?
“No, allergy shots are not associated with weight gain.
Can allergy shots cause high blood pressure?
Although these medicines can ease nasal congestion and improve breathing, they can constrict blood vessels throughout the body, making the heart work harder to pump blood. This is what increases blood pressure.
Why It's Done
- Allergy shots may be a good treatment choice for you if: 1. Medications don't control your symptoms well, and you can't avoid the things that cause your allergic reactions 2. Allergy medications interact with other medications you need to take or cause bothersome side effects …
Risks
- Most people don't have much trouble with allergy shots. But they contain the substances that cause your allergies — so reactions are possible, and can include: 1. Local reactions,which can involve redness, swelling or irritation at the injection site. These common reactions typically begin within a few hours of the injection and clear up soon after. 2. Systemic reactions,which are less …
How You Prepare
- Before starting a course of allergy shots, your doctor will use a skin test or blood test to determine that your reactions are caused by an allergy — and which specific allergens cause your signs and symptoms. During a skin test, a small amount of the suspected allergen is scratched into your skin and the area is then observed for about 15 minutes. Swelling and redness indicate an allerg…
What You Can Expect
- Allergy shots are usually injected in the upper arm. To be effective, allergy shots are given on a schedule that involves two phases: 1. The buildup phasegenerally takes three to six months. Typically shots are given one to three times a week. During the buildup phase, the allergen dose is gradually increased with each shot. 2. The maintenance phasegenerally continues for three to fi…
Results
- Allergy symptoms won't stop overnight. They usually improve during the first year of treatment, but the most noticeable improvement often happens during the second year. By the third year, most people are desensitized to the allergens contained in the shots — and no longer have significant allergic reactions to those substances. After a few years of successful treatment, so…
Allergy Shots
- Allergen immunotherapy injections or “allergy shots” are a treatment for patients with allergic runny or stuffy nose, allergic asthma or life threatening reactions to insect stings. Allergy shots are for people who have serious allergy symptoms that are not helped by changes to their environment and/or medicines. Some studies have shown that allergy shots may stop asthma fr…
How They Work
- Allergy shots may “turn down” your reactions to the things that you are allergic to. The shots do not cure your allergies, but you will have fewer symptoms and need to use less medicine. It is important to stay on schedule with your allergy shots. If several weeks have passed since your last shot please call and speak to an allergy nurse, 203-432-8797. We may need to change your …
How Long to I Have to Keep Getting My Allergy Shots?
- There are two phases to allergy shot therapy: a build-up phase and a maintenance phase. 1. Build-up phase:In this phase you will start with a low dose injection and build to a higher dose of allergens over time. For typical immunotherapy this phase lasts from 6 to 10 months, depending on how often you get your shots and how well you tolerate them. ...
Reactions to Allergy Shots
- Reactions to allergy shots are common. Most reactions are local (redness and swelling where you got the shot). Rarely, reactions can affect your entire body. This is referred to as a systemic reaction, and it can be dangerous. For this reason you must stay in our office for 30 minutes following every shot appointment. Additionally, you should not exercise for 2 hours after your sh…
Local Reactions
- Local reactions are the most common. They can vary from a dime-sized itchy spot to a large lemon-sized swelling. You may need to take an antihistamine (like Benadryl), and apply ice to reduce your reaction. If you have a local reaction tell your allergy nurse at your next visit. If a local reaction lasts longer than 24 hours or happens often your allergist may change your allergy sho…
Systemic Reactions
- Systemic reactions include: 1. stuffy or runny nose 2. sneezing 3. cough 4. itchy or red eyes and ears 5. itching or tightness of the throat 6. hives 7. flushing 8. lightheadedness 9. chest tightness 10. wheezing, 11. and rarely, life-threatening reactions (including difficulty breathing and/or a dangerous drop in blood pressure ). Most systemic reactions are mild and improve with treatme…
Changes in Your Health
- If at any time during the course of your immunotherapy you develop a new medical condition, you become pregnant, or you start a new medication, please tell the nurse. In particular, high blood pressure or heart medications and certain antidepressants cannot be taken with allergy shots. You should not get your allergy shot if you are have a fever, rash, asthma symptoms, or increase…