Allergy shots are a good way of alleviating allergy symptoms. What are the effects of allergy shots?
How allergy shots work?
Allergy shots which are also called immunotherapy are injections that are meant to boost your tolerance to an allergen. You are injected with a small dose of the substance that causes your allergy. In small doses your body does not react violently to it but instead attacks the allergen. Therefore, your body learns to fight it and you get an ability to withstand the allergen. You do not always get a complete protection against the substance even when taking immunotherapy but you usually do at least build up a certain level of tolerance to the substance.
How effective are allergy shots?
The effects of allergy shots are different for different people. This depends often of the severity of the allergies and number of them. Immunotherapy is usually effective for allergies of insects, asthma, pollen and dust mites, molds and household pets. Hives and food allergies are less prone to get better with allergy injections.
How are allergy shots taken?
Allergy shots are usually taken over an extended period of time. You might have to go take the infections twice a week for several months. The dosage of the allergen is increased gradually so that you become more and more desensitized to it. You should also remember that even after taking this therapy you will have to be monitored by a doctor every few weeks for 2 to 5 years after beginning the therapy.
Side effects of allergy shots
If you are very sensitive to the substance injected in you, it is possible to get side effects. These might include itchy eyes, shortness of breath, runny nose or a tight throat. If you experience these symptoms you should go back to the doctor’s office in order to know that the reaction is not serious. Within one inch of the site of injections you might experience redness or swelling. This is normal and should go away within a few hours.
