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Posted in Uncategorized | March 6, 2025
From sneezing and wheezing to itchiness and a runny nose, allergies can disrupt your life, leaving you feeling less than your best. Fortunately, you can find lasting relief from allergies with allergy therapy.
Keep reading to learn more about 7 signs you might be a candidate for allergy therapy.
An allergy occurs when your immune system considers a substance harmful, even though it’s not, and overreacts to it, causing allergy symptoms. These substances are known as allergens and include pollen, pet dander, mold, dust mites, insect stings, and certain foods.
Allergy therapy, also called allergy immunotherapy, is a proven allergy treatment that works like a vaccine. It helps your immune system build a tolerance to the substances you’re allergic to over time.
Signs you may be a good candidate for allergy therapy include:
Good allergy immunotherapy candidates generally have moderate to severe allergies. Typically, mild allergies are treated with different allergy medications.
The type of allergy you have is another factor in determining eligibility for allergy drops or shots. Allergy therapy effectively treats pollen, dust mites, mold, insect venom, pet dander, and cockroach allergies.
It’s also helpful for people with peanut allergies.
Have you tried multiple allergy medications, but your allergies don’t seem to get better? When allergy medication doesn’t relieve your symptoms, allergy therapy could be a good option for you.
Before beginning treatment, an allergist will perform testing to determine the specific allergens that cause your symptoms. You’ll then start receiving gradually increased doses of the allergens.
This is done on a regular schedule that lasts 3 to 5 years. With time, allergy therapy causes your immune system to become less sensitive to the allergen, reducing or preventing your allergy symptoms when you encounter the allergen.
If you experience bothersome or persistent side effects from allergy medicines, allergy therapy can be an excellent alternative. Immunotherapy can be delivered in two ways: sublingually (allergy drops) or through injections (allergy shots).
Allergy shots have been a tried-and-true allergy treatment for over 100 years. Also called subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT), allergy shots are administered in the doctor’s office and typically given in the upper arm.
Every shot contains small amounts of a specific allergen or allergens. Allergy shots are generally well-tolerated.
They may cause mild discomfort but not severe pain. Much like allergy shots, allergy drops or sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) contain tiny amounts of the offending allergens.
Each day, you’ll place allergy drops under your tongue, which will be absorbed into your bloodstream. The taste of allergy drops is usually slightly sweet because they contain glycerin.
The initial dose of allergy drops is given under medical supervision. From there, they can be taken from home or on the go, making them a convenient alternative for people with busy schedules.
One of the best ways to prevent allergies is by avoiding known allergens. However, this isn’t always possible.
When that’s the case, allergy therapy may help control your allergy symptoms. If you opt for allergy shots, they’ll be administered in two phases: the build-up phase and the maintenance phase.
In the build-up phase, you’ll begin with a low-dose injection that will slowly be increased with every shot. The shots are typically given 1 to 2 times per week.
You’ll remain at your doctor’s office for about 30 minutes after each shot so they can monitor any reaction. Based on the injection frequency, this phase can last from 3 to 6 months.
After the build-up phase, you’ll move to the maintenance phase. You’ll get maintenance shots typically every 3 to 4 weeks.
Post-injection, you’ll stay in the doctor’s office for around 30 minutes in case you experience any side effects.
While treatment options such as antihistamines, corticosteroids, nasal sprays, and decongestants may relieve your allergy symptoms quickly, their effects are short-lived. As a result, you may need to use them more often.
Allergy therapy offers lasting relief in the long run, helping you decrease your reliance on allergy medications. However, it requires patience, commitment, and consistency, typically 3 to 5 years, to experience the full benefits of the treatment.
Many allergy medications offer temporary relief because they don’t treat the underlying cause of your symptoms. Allergy therapy is a game-changer that provides a long-lasting solution.
It not only eases the symptoms of allergies but also addresses the actual cause of your allergies by changing how your immune system responds to specific allergens. Most patients find considerable relief in the first year of immunotherapy.
They often go on to experience a substantial improvement in their allergic symptoms years after completing treatment.
Allergies don’t have to diminish your quality of life. You can nip your allergies in the bud with allergy therapy from Specialty Care Institute and find relief from your symptoms.
Are you struggling with persistent allergies? Schedule your appointment at Specialty Care Institute in Barrington, Arlington Heights, Hoffman Estates, and Elgin, IL, today to discover if you’re a good candidate for allergy therapy.
