If you suffer from allergic rhinitis, insect sting allergies, or allergic asthma, allergy shots may be right for you. The skilled team at Houston Pulmonary, Sleep & Allergy Associates, provides immunotherapy with allergy shots at locations in Cypress and Houston, Texas. To learn more about the benefits of allergy shots, call or book an appointment online today.
Allergy shots are the most effective form of allergy immunotherapy, a long-term treatment that reduces allergy symptoms. Allergy shots are injections that contain a tiny amount of the substance you’re allergic to (allergen). The shots contain just enough of the allergen to stimulate your immune system without causing a full-blown allergic reaction.
The team at Houston Pulmonary, Sleep & Allergy Associates administers allergy shots over some time, usually around three to five years. They gradually increase the dose of allergens in your shots to help your body get used to them. Eventually, your immune system develops a tolerance to the allergen and stops overreacting to it.
Children and adults can get allergy shots. The team at Houston Pulmonary, Sleep & Allergy Associates helps you decide whether you or your child are a good candidate for allergy shots. They consider many factors, such as the severity of the symptoms and the desire to avoid long-term medication use.
Allergy shots can effectively treat many types of allergies, including:
Allergy shots don’t treat food allergies. If you have a food allergy, the best option for treatment is to avoid that food.
First, the team at Houston Pulmonary, Sleep & Allergy Associates, carefully reviews your symptoms and medical history. They perform a physical exam and allergy testing to confirm that your symptoms are due to allergies. The allergy test also identifies the specific substances you’re allergic to.
Then, they develop a personalized treatment plan for your allergy shots. Your treatment involves a two-phase immunotherapy injection schedule, including:
This phase typically lasts three to six months and involves one to three allergy injections per week. The amount of allergen in the shot increases with each injection.
The maintenance phase continues for at least three to five years and includes an allergy injection once per month.
Immunotherapy injections take time, but the results are long-lasting. You may not notice a reduction in symptoms until you’ve been on the maintenance phase for one year.
The team also offers sublingual tablets and drops as part of the immunotherapy program.
To find out if allergy shots are right for you, call Houston Pulmonary, Sleep & Allergy Associates, or book an appointment online today.
