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Call Allergy Shots (Subcutaneous Immunotherapy)
Allergy shots, also called subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy or SCIT, use measured injections of selected allergens to reduce sensitivity over time. They are a long-term treatment for appropriately selected patients, not an immediate-relief medicine or a guaranteed cure.
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A Long-Term, Allergen-Specific Treatment
What Are Allergy Shots?
How SCIT works
SCIT introduces gradually adjusted doses of allergens identified through the clinical history and appropriate testing. It may be considered for allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, selected allergic asthma, or stinging-insect allergy when the expected benefit justifies the time and risk.
What it can treat
Allergy shots are not used to treat food allergy. A positive test alone is not a reason to begin treatment; the allergen must match meaningful symptoms and exposure. The prescribed extract, target dose, and schedule are individualized.
Confirm the Diagnosis Before Treatment
Who May Be a Candidate for SCIT?
The decision considers symptom severity and duration, response to avoidance and medication, asthma control, other health conditions, treatment goals, cost, and the ability to attend repeated monitored visits. Children and adults can be considered, but age, communication, and medical risk affect suitability.
Before recommending SCIT, the clinician reviews the exposure pattern and confirms relevant IgE sensitization with targeted skin or blood testing when appropriate. Uncontrolled asthma, a recent health change, a previous systemic reaction, or certain medicines may change the plan or require additional precautions.
Plan for Repeated Monitored Visits
Build-Up and Maintenance Phases
Build-up phase
During a conventional build-up phase, injections with increasing allergen amounts are commonly given once or twice a week until a maintenance dose is reached. AAAAI patient guidance describes a typical build-up of about three to six months, but an individual schedule may be slower, faster, paused, or modified for safety.
Maintenance phase
Maintenance injections are usually spaced farther apart. Successful treatment is often continued for three to five years, followed by an individualized decision about whether to stop. Those time frames are general guidance, not a promise that every patient will follow the same schedule or respond by a particular date.
Safety Depends on Clinical Supervision
Reactions, Observation, and Dose Decisions
Redness, itching, or swelling at the injection site can occur. Systemic reactions may include widespread hives, respiratory symptoms, dizziness, gastrointestinal symptoms, or anaphylaxis. For that reason, injections should be given in a medical setting prepared to recognize and treat a reaction.
AAAAI patient guidance recommends remaining in the office for at least 30 minutes after an injection. Tell the team about current asthma symptoms, illness, a new medicine, a delayed reaction, pregnancy, or a missed dose before the next injection. Never adjust an injection schedule or dose from general online instructions.
Response Varies From Person to Person
Benefits, Limits, and Follow-Up
Many patients experience reduced allergic symptoms or medication needs, but benefit is not immediate and not guaranteed. It may take months at an effective maintenance dose to judge response. Some people have lasting improvement after stopping; others relapse or do not respond enough to continue.
Follow-up reviews symptoms, exposure, asthma control, reactions, missed visits, adherence, and whether the treatment remains worthwhile. Contact the practice before traveling to confirm whether an SCIT consultation or injection visit is currently offered at the requested office and what records or testing are needed first.
Know When to Get Urgent Help
Emergency and Red-Flag Symptoms
After an allergy injection, immediately tell onsite staff about throat tightness, trouble breathing, widespread hives, dizziness, faintness, vomiting, or rapidly worsening symptoms. After leaving, use prescribed epinephrine according to the emergency plan and call 911 for suspected anaphylaxis. Do not drive yourself during a severe reaction.
Patient Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Allergy shots contain selected allergen extracts and are given repeatedly as immunotherapy. They are not corticosteroid injections and are not intended for immediate symptom relief.
No. Subcutaneous allergy shots are not used to treat food allergy. Food-allergy treatment and oral immunotherapy are separate clinical questions.
A conventional build-up often takes about three to six months, and maintenance may continue for three to five years. The schedule and duration are individualized and can change for safety or response.
Systemic allergic reactions can occur, including anaphylaxis. Observation keeps the patient near staff and treatment during the period when many serious reactions begin.
Tell the clinical team before every injection about asthma symptoms or recent illness. The dose may need to be delayed or changed after an individualized safety assessment.
No. The clinician must first confirm the diagnosis, relevant allergens, medical suitability, and treatment plan. Extract preparation and injection scheduling are separate steps, and availability varies by office.
Choose the right next step
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