Allergy, Asthma & Sinus Center of Tuscaloosa

Allergy Shots

Allergy shots are the most powerful and sophisticated way we have of dealing with allergies. Shots target those substances to which an individual is allergic and no others. They work by slowly increasing tolerance of the substances to a point where there is no longer a reaction when the individual comes in contact with it. They are geared to changing the way the body reacts to foreign substances, causing it to switch from the destructive allergic reaction to a more natural process by which non-allergic people react. This avoids the symptoms associated with allergic reactions. Allergy shots represent the nearest thing we have to a cure for allergies.

The nice thing about shots is that they allow the body to simply reset the way it handles foreign substances such as dust, pollen, molds, and animal dander without employing drugs. The eventual goal is to have the individual taking the shots react in a non-allergic fashion, like everyone else does.

Although the process has been refined, the basic concepts have been in practice since the 1920's, so we know that they can be a safe and effective approach to controlling allergies. Small amounts of those substances to which the individual is allergic are injected in increasing amounts, causing the body to develop tolerance. Eventually, the tolerance should be great enough to allow natural exposure to occur without causing an allergic reaction.

The shots can cause their own allergic reaction, so patients are observed for a period following the shot. This allows a maximum effective dose to be administered with minimal chance of a reaction getting out of hand. They are initially given once or twice a week during a buildup period, then most people can graduate to once a month until they have reached the point where the shots can be stopped. The effect may be permanent. This is the best approach for anyone who is serious about treating their allergies.

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