Phoenix Allergen Immunotherapy

How effective are they?

Allergen immunotherapy (Allergy Shots) may “turn down” allergic reactions to common allergens including pollens, molds, animal dander and dust mites. In most cases, the initial 6-to-12-month course of allergy shots is likely to gradually decrease sensitivity to airborne allergens and continuation of injections leads to further improvement. The injections do not cure patients but diminish sensitivities, resulting in fewer symptoms and use of fewer medications. It is important to maintain shots at the proper time interval; missing your shots for a short time may be acceptable but an appropriate adjustment in the dose of vaccine may be necessary for long lapses in injections. Please see us if you miss receiving your injections for longer than what is recommended for your current vial.

What are the benefits?

The benefits of immunotherapy can be appreciated early in the build-up phase but may take as long as one year on maintenance. Failure to respond after one year on maintenance therapy warrants further evaluation and possibly discontinuation of treatment. Successful maintenance treatment is generally continued for 3 to 5 years. The decision to stop immunotherapy will be discussed after 3 to 5 years of treatment. Some people may experience lasting remission of their allergy symptoms after discontinuing treatment. Others may relapse after discontinuing immunotherapy, some will have a slight increase in symptoms controllable with medications, and others may require resumption of allergy injections in time. You will be re-evaluated periodically while on injections; changes in the allergen vaccine or injection schedule may be necessary to obtain optimal results. Once a year a serum review will be done during a visit with the provider to evaluate making a new serum for the following year. Serums must be remade every year.

At San Tan Allergy & Asthma, we offer allergy shots as a long-term treatment option for the management and potential cure of allergies.

Allergy shots have been an option for treating allergies since allergies were first described over 100 years ago. Allergy shots, also known as allergen immunotherapy (or “IT”), work by teaching your body to stop reacting in a negative way to the things that it may be allergic against. Allergen IT involves the injection of increasing doses of allergens under the skin in the back of the arm. When performed according to guidelines, it can be a very effective treatment for reducing allergy symptoms, working in about 80% of patients and resulting in allergy relief. Allergen IT is different from other treatment options in that it is a curative type of therapy that continues to work even after the treatment is stopped.
Read more about allergy shots here: English and Spanish Information
Allergen immunotherapy consent form: English and Spanish Forms

Why not allergy drops?
Although there are some practices that offer allergy drops as a “cutting edge” type of treatment for allergies, the physicians at San Tan Allergy & Asthma have chosen not to offer this type of treatment as it is not FDA approved and there is very little evidence to suggest that it is any more effective than placebo at treating allergic conditions. Although there are studies ongoing to determine if sublingual allergen immunotherapy (administering increasing doses of allergen under the tongue to reduce a person’s allergic sensitivity), they generally involve much higher doses of allergen than are administered through allergen drops. In other countries, sublingual immunotherapy involves the administration of allergen tablets under the tongue. It seems to be most effective in patients who have only one or two allergies rather than multiple allergies.

To read more about allergy shots visit one of the links below:
www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/library/allergy-library/allergy-shots-(immunotherapy)
www.acaai.org/patients/resources/allergy-injections/Pages/allergy-injections.aspx