Allergy shots when do they work

This involves receiving injections with increasing amounts of the allergens about one to two times per week. The length of this phase depends upon how often the injections are received, but generally ranges from three to six months. This begins once the effective dose is reached.

The effective maintenance dose depends on your level of allergen sensitivity and your response to the build-up phase. During the maintenance phase, there will be longer periods of time between treatments, ranging from two to four weeks. You may notice a decrease in symptoms during the build-up phase, but it may take as long as 12 months on the maintenance dose to notice an improvement.

If allergy shots are successful, maintenance treatment is generally continued for three to five years. How Effective Are Allergy Shots? Allergy shots have shown to decrease symptoms of many allergies. These shots don't mask symptoms or temporarily block immune responses; they can actually fix the cause of your allergies, training your immune system to more effectively manage its response to that allergen.

Unlike medications, immunotherapy is, therefore, completely personalized to your unique allergy. Similar to a vaccine, an allergy shot exposes your immune system to a very small amount of the substance, or substances, to which you're allergic.

Your immune system responds by learning how to handle that allergen without overreacting. It's this over-reaction of the immune system to "harmless" substances that causes what we call allergies. An allergy-prone immune system is not unlike trying to bug bomb your whole house because of a single housefly instead of simply getting a flyswatter or catching the fly to let it outside. Allergy shots are effective for many kinds of allergic rhino-conjunctivitis, which mostly impact the nose and eyes.

They include:. They can also be used to treat other types of allergies like those that cause hives, anaphylaxis, and allergic asthma such as:. They may also help with some forms of dermatitis, in which the skin responds to being touched by an allergen.

Allergy shots are a very precise science that involves a thorough test to determine to which specific substances you have an allergic reaction.

During the first months, you get an allergy shot times per week. We usually increase the dose by just a bit with each shot. After your body learns to tolerate the allergen, you get maintenance shots about once a month for another years. Your symptoms usually begin to improve within the first year of treatment, and then improve more dramatically in the second year.

Overall, allergy shots have a low risk for side effects or adverse reactions. A few people may have a severe allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis, which is why your allergy shot can be administered only by a medical professional. Most women, men, and children experience only mild symptoms or some swelling at the injection site. To find out if allergy shots are right for you, call us today or request your appointment here on our website.

You will need to remain in the doctor's office for 30 minutes after each shot, in case you have a reaction. 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, some people don't have significant allergy problems even after allergy shots are stopped. Other people need ongoing shots to keep symptoms under control.

Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Allergy shots are regular injections over a period of time — generally around three to five years — to stop or reduce allergy attacks. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter.