If you are someone who is suffering from severe allergic reactions and seasonal allergies, then you might be familiar with getting allergy shots from allergy clinics. Here are some important things you need to know about allergy shots.

What Are Allergy Shots?

Allergy shots are injections which help to alleviate your allergies. This is a much more effective way to control your allergies than to constantly take medication. The most interesting thing about allergy shots is that once you get them for a couple of years, you can get rid of allergy symptoms even after you have ceased shot treatment. For a lot of people, allergies are practically gone and the reactions mostly never come back.

Things To Know About Allergy Shots

Here are some things you need to know about allergy shots.

Shots Are Preferred When Medication Doesn’t Work

Allergy shots are mostly taken when medication is no longer effective against allergic reactions. This is very common and it can happen to a lot of people. The reason why is because your body becomes resistant to the medication you are already consuming, so you need something stronger to tackle the reactions of the allergy. This is why people tend to go for allergy shots, since they are much more potent and effective than regular allergy medications. This is all done with a simple doctor’s appointment and they will start the shot plan, as soon as they run some tests on you.

The Effect Is Long Term

Shots are quite controversial, but in reality, they are much more effective than normal allergy medications. The injected medicine works quickly and alleviates the allergies. You also get them done on a regular basis, so it’s not like you are going to skip any appointment for an allergy shot. Mostly, with medication, you can forget to take it sometimes and this can cause the allergies to aggravate. Injections or shots are much better in this regard. You have an appointment for which you need to show up, so that you can get injected with the allergy medication.

Risks Of Allergy Shots

There are some risks associated with allergy shots. They can cause localized reactions, such as redness and itchy bumps on the skin. In worse case scenarios, allergy shots can lead to anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a very dangerous contraindication of allergy shots. It mainly involves lowering of blood pressure and inability to breathe. This is why whenever you are getting a shot for the first time, you are monitored for about an hour or two, so doctors can see whether or not you are getting a severe reaction from the shot.

You Need To Be Tested Before Getting Allergy Shots

Because of the risks associated with allergy shots, doctors will firstly take some blood and skin tests, to make sure that you react well to the allergy shot. Performing these tests beforehand will make sure that you don’t experience any sort of discomfort or anaphylaxis, in worse cases. Also, some tests might be done to find out or diagnose your allergy. There is not a single shot which can treat all allergies, you need to be tested for a specific allergy and then a designated shot is prescribed to you.

It Goes On For Years

One thing that is very tedious about allergy shots is that you need to follow up with these injections for some years. You can’t just have one shot done. This is a long treatment and mostly people get their shots for about 3 to 5 years, before they can see that their allergies are no longer triggered. Typically, there are 3 shots a week which go on for 5 months, then gradually it is decreased to just one shot a month.

The Effects Don’t Occur Overnight

You also need to be realistic about shots. The results do not occur overnight. You need to be patient and persistent with the process. Proper results kick in after 2 to 3 months of getting regular shots.

Allergy shots are a great way to suppress your allergies and taking them regularly can alleviate your allergies and reactions to a greater extent. Find allergy doctor Manassas who can diagnose your allergy and administer allergy shots.