Allergy Immunotherapy Clinic Q&A

Allergy shots are regular injections over a period of time, typically around three to five years, to help stop or reduce allergy attacks. Immunotherapy is a treatment in the form of allergy shots. Every allergy shot contains a trace amount of the specific substance or substances that trigger allergic reactions. These triggering substances are called allergens. Allergy shots contain just the right amount of allergens to stimulate your immune system — but not enough to cause a full-blown allergic reaction.

Gradually, your allergy doctor will increase the dosage of allergens in each of your allergy shots. This desensitizes your body to the allergens, so you get used to them. Your immune system establishes a tolerance to the allergens, causing your allergy symptoms to diminish over time.

During the build-up phase, you may notice a decrease in symptoms, however, it may take as long as 12 months on the maintenance dose to see an improvement. If allergy shots are deemed successful, maintenance treatment is typically continued for three to five years. Allergy shots work similarly to a vaccine: your body reacts to the amounts of a specific allergen by developing immunity or tolerance to the allergen.

There are two main phases. The first is the build-up phase, where you receive injections with gradually increasing amounts of the allergens, approximately once or twice a week. Lasting typically from three to six months, the length of this phase depends upon how often the injections are received.

The second is the maintenance phase, which begins once the effective dose is reached. The dose during this phase will depend upon your level of allergen sensitivity and your bodily response to the build-up phase. During the maintenance phase, it is typical that there will be longer periods of time between treatments, ranging from two to four weeks. Your allergist will determine what dosage is best for you.

The conventional approach produces a 64.5% success rate. Generally, allergen immunotherapy takes 6 months, with patients making weekly visits with gradually increasing doses. The weekly visits can be a burden, and many patients drop out.

With a success rate of 90-100%, allergen immunotherapy with bee or wasp venom shows the best results. In general, allergen immunotherapy is very successful in 70-85% of all cases.

If you adhere to allergy shot treatments for long enough, there is a very good chance you’ll see an improvement or possibly even a complete recovery from your allergy symptoms. Approximately 85% of people with hay fever who receive this type of treatment say their allergy symptoms got better. Alternatively, sublingual treatments haven’t been studied nearly as much as allergy shots have been. They also haven’t been shown to work as well as allergy shots. However, if you are up for the commitment of taking the medicine every day, as prescribed, it could be an option to explore the specific allergies it targets.

If you or someone you know are experiencing symptoms of allergies and are in need of allergy immunotherapy, or are unsure of the cause of your reactions, please contact our office for more information and to get in touch with an Allergist in the South Miami, FL area. To book an appointment with Piniella Asthma and Allergy call us or visit us online at www.pa2allergy.com. We serve patients from Coral Gables FL, Palmetto Bay FL, Westchester FL, Brownsville FL, Kendall FL, Pinecrest FL, Richmond West FL, and Goulds FL.