Allergen immunotherapy (allergy shots or drops)
allergy shots · allergy immunotherapy · desensitization for allergies · allergen immunotherapy · allergy drops under the tongue
You are given small doses of the allergen, slowly increasing. Your body gets used to it, and the allergy becomes weaker.
For allergy to pollen, house dust mites, or insect stings, when the exact allergen is known.
⏱ Duration: a shot or a tablet under the tongue takes a few minutes, plus about 30 minutes of observation; the course usually lasts 3 to 5 years
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Season. The course is often started outside the pollen season. The allergist will make the schedule.
- Shot day. On the day of the shot, no sauna, hard workouts, or alcohol.
- Medicines. Do not stop your allergy and asthma medicines on your own.
What to bring
- Your referral
- Your allergy test results
- An ID
- A diary of reactions
How it goes
- The doctor or nurse asks how you feel
- Sometimes your breathing is measured, if you have asthma
- You get a shot under the skin of your arm, or a drop or tablet under the tongue
- You stay under observation for about 30 minutes
- The nurse checks the injection site
- You are told the date of your next dose
What you'll feel
- A small pinch
- Redness and itching at the injection site are common
- With drops or tablets, an itchy mouth in the first days
Afterwards
- Do not leave the clinic before the observation time is over
- That day, no hard exercise, sauna, or alcohol
- Write your reactions in the diary
- Do not skip doses, since the effect depends on regularity
Contact a doctor straight away if
- Trouble breathing, swelling of the lips or tongue, or a rash all over: call emergency services
- Heavy swelling at the injection site, larger than a palm
- Dizziness or weakness after a dose
Common questions
When will I see results?
Relief is usually noticeable by the end of the first year. The full course takes several years.
Can a child have this treatment?
Often yes, usually from about age 5. The allergist makes the decision.