Allergy Immunotherapy Program

If you have tried allergy medications without success or want to reduce your reliance on medications to treat your symptoms, allergy immunotherapy may be the right fit for you. Allergy IT can be used to successfully treat: an itchy, sneezy, congested nose, watery, irritated eyes, coughing, wheezing, sinus pressure and recurrent infections, or itchy, dry rashes caused by allergen exposure.

Allergy IT is very safe. Approximately 70 percent of patients may experience a localized reaction where the injection is given in the back of the arm. This may include redness, itching, and swelling at the injection site. Our team can help you manage these symptoms with anti-itch lotions and ice.
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There is a less than 1 percent chance that you will experience a severe allergic reaction from allergy shots. Therefore, we have a mandatory waiting period after your injections (25 minutes for walk-in shots) to ensure your safety. If you feel any different after your shot, let a staff member know. We are trained to promptly assess and treat any allergic reaction.

Allergy shots are a safe and effective treatment for children. The benefits of allergy immunotherapy shots can even last through adulthood. In fact, studies indicate that starting allergy shots at a young age prevents the development of new allergies and allergic asthma later in life. Traditional immunotherapy is typically started around the age of 6, and accelerated immunotherapy is an option for kids ages 12 and up.

Allergy shots cannot be initiated during pregnancy due to the small risk of an allergic reaction. If you become pregnant while on the build-up phase, we will halt your allergy shot dose until after you have given birth. If you become pregnant during the maintenance phase, it is safe to continue allergy shots.

While treatment times vary from patient to patient, a typical allergy immunotherapy shot program can last 3-5 years. Typically, rush and cluster programs will shorten the time spent on allergy shots. Once you reach the maintenance phase, your provider will recommend that you continue therapy for at least 3 years to reduce the likelihood of allergy symptoms returning.

The majority of patients experience relief when on allergy immunotherapy and should see a reduced reliance on allergy medications over time. Studies have shown that patients who have completed at least 3 years of the maintenance phase can experience lasting relief after allergy shots are no longer administered.

We know that life happens, and you may take a vacation or get sick during our allergy immunotherapy shot program. For this reason, we offer a grace period on shots. During the build-up phase, you have up to 14 days to receive an allergy shot without setbacks. While in the maintenance phase, patients receiving biweekly shots have up to 21 days without encountering a delay in treatment times. Patients getting shots each month have a 42 day grace period. If it has been over 60 days since your last shot, a follow-up appointment will be encouraged to discuss getting you back on track. Feel free to call our office at (614) 482-3980 if you have any questions regarding your shot schedule.