Trying to find a magic elixir for allergies? You will probably have a better chance of finding the Loch Ness Monster. Modern medicine has found no cure for the aging process, and similarly cannot cure allergies once and for all. The best method of managing allergies is still the avoidance of triggers. The most severe symptoms can be helped by medications and other treatments. But what do you do when trigger avoidance isn't possible, or prescription medicine doesn't work? If this is the case, your doctor might suggest Allergy Shots, the nearest technique to a cure-all to date.

Fortunately, there are certain allergies, similar to certain infections, that can be managed through a sequence of vaccinations. When used for allergy control, these shots are referred to as immunotherapy. However, a select amount of airborne irritants and allergens can be controlled by immunotherapy. If allergy shots aren't covered by your insurance plan, they can prove to be pricey.

What Allergy Shots Entail

Choosing immunotherapy means you'll be given shots containing the allergens that bring about your allergies. Slowly, the dosage is raised, and your body's immune system builds up a resistance to the allergen. Initially, the shots may result in flare-ups of the symptoms of the allergy, but these occurrences should lessen over time. Keep track of allergy symptoms that you experience after an allergy shot. Let your physician know about your symptoms following the last injection before you have your next shot. Be sure to tell your doctor about any sicknesses you might have that might have an effect the safety of success of the allergy shot.

Your immune system will determine how often and how many injections you have, how severely the body will respond, and how long the treatment will last to achieve success. Usually, allergy shots are administered once or twice weekly over a period of about six months, then lessening to once each two to four weeks. Several individuals have reported that their symptoms have gotten better after using immunotherapy for one year. However, to guarantee that the treatment works long-term, immunotherapy generally takes between three to five years, and on occasion longer. Work with your doctor to decide if your allergy symptoms have been managed well enough to cease allergy shots.

Be Careful

Just like any other form of treatment, you should be aware of the dangers before starting. Very rarely, reactions to the allergy shots have proven to be fatal. The May 1994 FDA Medical Bulletin reported just below one death in every million allergy shots administered from 1985 to 1993. While death is rare, the chance of a mild negative reaction is more likely. The most frequent reaction is a swelling at the point of injection. Some patients have reported serious responses such as difficulty breathing and a swelling of the throat requiring emergency care, although these instances are rare.