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What is Immunotherapy or allergy shots? 

Immunotherapy or “allergy shots” is a preventive program designed to desensitize you to those substances to which you are allergic.

Immunotherapy involves giving sterile allergy extracts injections containing small quantities of allergens like pollen, grass, mole and animal dander etc. in gradually increasing doses. The incremental increases of the allergen cause the immune system to become less sensitive to the substance, probably by causing production of a "blocking" antibody, which reduces the symptoms of allergy when the substances is encountered in the future. Immunotherapy also reduces the inflammation that characterizes rhinitis and asthma. The allergy shots are given once weekly till a maximum tolerated dose is achieved.

You allergy test results are used to create the mixture of allergens or substances which are causing allergies. This is a custom made formula based on the allergens and degree of allergic responses on the allergy testing. Immunotherapy is used in conjunction with medications and environment control of allergens. It is more effective in controlling allergies caused by allergens which you inhale like pollen, house dust, grass and mold spores.

How Does Immunotherapy Works?

Allergies to substances you inhale are caused by your body producing excessive antibodies (IgE antibodies) toward these substances when you are exposed to them. When you are re-exposed to these substances, you experience allergic symptoms. Immunotherapy is designed to block your body’s production of allergy antibodies and stimulate production of protective antibodies, thereby eliminating your allergy symptoms.

Small dilute doses are necessary at the beginning in order for your immune system to build tolerance to the shots over a period of time. As the doses are increased at regular intervals, you should become less sensitive to the substances that cause your allergy symptoms. The dose that provides you with the most symptom relief, or the maximum dose you can tolerate without a reaction, will become your maintenance dose and you will continue to receive this maintenance dose at regular intervals. Your maintenance dose is dependent on how well you tolerate the shots, which in turn can be dependent on how much pollen, mold, or other allergy-producing substances are in the air you are breathing.

Sometimes, a patient has to be held at a lesser dose until the allergy season passes, then doses can be increased to provide protection for the next allergy season. Occasionally a maintenance dose must be decreased during the allergy season as the additional “allergic load” is too much for some people to tolerate along with their shots at full dosage levels. As you have probably concluded, immunotherapy is an individually tailored program designed to combat your specific allergies.

What to Expect From Allergy Shots?

For majority of patients, as the strength of the treatment dose is increased, they will experience relief of symptoms after the injection and eventually the majority of their symptoms should be controlled from shot to shot. Many times this symptom relief is gradual as opposed to being dramatic and patients fail to realize how much the shots are helping them. Symptom relief may wear off before you get your next injection, and in this case, your doctor may choose to shorten the intervals between injections. For example, if the effects of the shot wear off by the 5th day, your doctor can elect to give your shot at 5 day intervals. Likewise, the interval between shots can be lengthened if you determine relief does not wear off between shots. It is important that you note the effect of each shot and report your response at the time you get your next shot. There are some situations where your shots may have to be temporarily discontinued such as infection, high stress, or other medical problems that are not being controlled. If you are off your shots for 30 days or more, it will necessary to reduce the dosage and “build up” again over a short period of time.

Possible Side Effects:

Your shots will probably have a slight sting that subsides quickly. A small local reaction at the injection site consisting of redness and swelling is not unusual. A local reaction greater than 2 inches in diameter or persisting for more than 48 hours is an indication to adjust your next dose. An increase in symptoms the first day after receiving your injection can also be an indication to adjust your treatment dose or to use medications to control these symptoms.

In rare cases, patients experience increased allergy symptoms shortly after an allergy shot. If this should happen to you, return to the doctor’s office immediately. There is a small danger of anaphylactic shock (a severe allergic reaction) shortly after an injection. Therefore, immunotherapy requires medical supervision. It is for these reasons, after getting the allergy shot you must wait in the office for 15 minutes and inform the nurse before you leave the office.

How Long Do I Have to Take Shots?

Most patient stay on immunotherapy for 2 to 3 years. Younger patients stand a better chance of discontinuing the shots that do older patients. The rule of thumb is to stay on the shots until your symptoms have been controlled or minimized for two consecutive allergy seasons. When this point has been reached, you can consider discontinuing the shots. Doctor can help you make that decision.

Immunotherapy for Asthma:

Immunotherapy is effective in the treatment of allergic asthma. Allergy shots can help relieve the allergic reactions that trigger asthma episodes, thereby enhancing pulmonary function and decreasing the need for asthma medications.

Summary of Immunotherapy:

This is the only specific therapy which changes the immune reaction in the body to relieve allergy symptoms on the long run. Medications help relieve the symptoms but do not change the course of allergies through the life time. This method of treatment has been found to improve allergies in hundreds of patients and allergy shots have been given to millions of patients safely. There is no cure for allergies but Immunotherapy does alter to better the course of allergies in an allergic patient.

Breathe Easy! Free of Allergies!!

One in 5 Americans suffer from allergies including indoor/outdoor, food & drug, latex, insect, skin and eye allergies. Understanding the cause of your allergic symptoms is our specialty. In Kansas, allergies often spike when allergens such as pollen, grass, ragweed and mold bring on symptoms like watery eyes and sneezing. The abundance of outdoor activities can also pose more serious dangers for people who are allergic to certain foods or stinging insects.

Through state-of-the-art testing at Allergy & Asthma Clinic, we can effectively diagnose what does and does not trigger your symptoms. So you don’t have to get rid of your cat if it is actually mold that is causing your itchy eyes and throat. Once you learn exactly what you are allergic to, our clinic  works with you to create an effective treatment plan to reduce or eliminate your allergy symptoms.

What are Allergies?

Allergies are a disorder where the immune system overreacts to a normally harmless substance called an allergen.

The immune system overreaction is called hypersensitivity. Hypersensitivity can occur to many substances including animal dander, chemicals, medicines, latex, foods, grass and tree and weed pollen, insect stings, and even metals. Once the body misidentifies a material as an allergen, the immune system’s reaction against the allergen is the cause of the symptoms of allergy.

The symptoms of allergy are numerous and may include:

The symptoms individual experience depends on the type of allergy and the severity of the allergic response. The severity of the allergic response varies from person to person.

Individuals that develop allergies have a genetic predisposition. However, genetic factors alone are not sufficient and a person must also have exposure to become allergic. In fact, there must be an initial exposure that triggers the immune system to identify the allergen and then with subsequent exposures to the allergen, the individual experiences allergic reactions and allergy symptoms. Some individuals are allergic to one or very few things while others are allergic to many things. The number of allergies a person has depends on their genetic background, the function of their immune system and their environmental exposures.

People who have allergies can live healthy and active lives with proper medical care.

Allergy Services

• Allergy Skin Testing (Needle-less Testing)
• Animal Dander Allergy
• Drug Allergy
• Drug Challenge and Desensitization Aspirin, Antibiotics, Other Medications
• Food Allergy
• Food Challenge
• Hay Fever and Pollen Allergy
• Immunotherapy (Allergy Injection Therapy) Traditional, Rush, Accelerated-Rush Schedules
• Insect Allergy
• Latex Allergy
• Mold Allergy
• Occupational Allergy