Allergen immunotherapy, often known as allergy shots, treats common allergies to pollen, dust mites, pet dander, and mold spores. They may also be beneficial if you are allergic to the venom of stinging insects such as bees, hornets, wasps, and yellow jackets.
As much as the shots are beneficial, some people have unpleasant reactions, which can be counterproductive.
To shed more light on it, here is why this occurs, what to look for, and how you may be able to avoid allergic reactions to allergy shots.
How allergy shots work
Allergy shots are an allergy treatment that involves the allergy doctor injecting small amounts of allergens into your body. Depending on your allergies, your allergy doctor will create a customized cocktail of allergens in the shots for you.
The shots help reduce or even stop allergy symptoms from coming about.
You develop a tolerance to allergens by exposing your body to tiny amounts in the shots. Then, when you encounter allergens, such as during allergy season, your body does not react as strongly to them.
This treatment necessitates numerous doses, usually weekly, over several years. Your provider gradually increases the amount of allergens in the shot.
You’ll need to have the shots less frequently once you’ve reached the maintenance phase (the greatest dose).
Reason for allergy shot reaction
Your allergy doctor always begins with extremely low doses of the allergens. The idea is to sufficiently excite your immune system to recognize allergens without causing a severe reaction.
While this is the case, you should note that unpleasant reactions to allergy injections may occur on occasion.
This is because you are being given things you are allergic to, and there’s always that risk of an adverse reaction.
When administered correctly, allergy shots desensitize you to the allergen trigger. Unfortunately, your body may sometimes overreact to the allergens in the shot.
Reactions might range from mild swelling at the injection site to life-threatening anaphylaxis.
Swelling at the injection site is the most common reaction to allergy injections. This swelling can range from a pea to a golf ball, but it usually goes away within 48 hours. Itching and/or hives may also occur over vast areas of your body.
Thankfully, severe reactions to allergy shots are less common — generally considered less than 1%.
While these are some of the common reactions that might come about, other less common but more significant reactions that can come about include:
- Breathing difficulties include chest tightness, wheezing, and/or shortness of breath.
- A decrease in blood pressure accompanied by dizziness and/or fainting.
- Hives that appear on the injection site.
Who is prone to allergy shot reactions?
Asthmatics are more likely to have an allergic reaction to allergy injections.
If you have asthma, you must stay on your asthma meds and ensure your asthma is well-controlled before having these shots.
You should have a peak flow test before each shot to protect yourself. This test measures how quickly air exits your lungs when you exhale. This test determines whether or not your asthma is under control.
If you take beta-blockers or other blood pressure medications, you may also be more susceptible to a reaction, so be ultra cautious when going for it.
While these are the most common people to develop a reaction, anyone can develop a reaction to allergy shots. There’s no way to predict that, so you should always take precautions before you get the shots.
Ways to avoid allergy shot reactions
There are several things you can do to avoid allergy shot reactions. These things include:
Inform your healthcare practitioner if you have asthma. When giving your allergist your medical history, be detailed and exact. Mention any prior allergic reactions, medical conditions, or medications you are taking. This information will assist your allergist in determining the proper dosage and treatment plan.
Remember to take your meds as directed to keep your asthma under control.
If you have a cold or a respiratory infection, postpone getting your allergy shot until you feel better.
Avoid strenuous activities immediately after receiving an allergy injection. It’s even recommended that you avoid strenuous activities for an hour or two after injection.
Follow your doctor’s advice and take an antihistamine before your shot. You also should follow the specified allergy shot injection regimen. Your allergist will begin with a build-up period when the dose gradually increases. This gradual escalation allows your body to develop tolerance to the allergen.
When the doctor tells you to do certain things and avoid others, obey their word.
Remember that once you’ve reached the maintenance phase in your course of allergy shots, your risk of a reaction decreases significantly.
When you are looking for an allergy specialist to administer a shot, ensure that you use an experienced one who knows what they are doing.
Ensure a board-certified allergist or immunologist is treating you with allergy injections experience. They will carefully examine your allergies and provide a treatment plan tailored to your needs.
Don’t try to cut corners and hire a cheap allergist, as chances are that they won’t give you the service you want, and you will most likely be in more problems than you planned.
Take time to find an experienced professional. They might be a little expensive, but they will be worth it.
It’s a good idea to stay at the doctor’s office for at least 30 minutes after receiving an allergy shot. This allows medical professionals to keep an eye on you in case of an emergency. Serious responses are uncommon, but they might occur immediately after the injection.
Since you are already at the doctor’s office, you can get the medical attention you need if you react to the shot.
The success of allergy injections is dependent on consistency. Missing shots or delaying treatment might stymie your progress and increase your chance of adverse responses when you begin treatment.
So always be consistent with the allergy shots and get them at the right time as your allergist Germantown MD recommends.