I'm taking allergy shots. When will I feel better?

December 18, 2001

Traditionally, allergy injections have been prepared by diluting the antigens (what you are allergic to) several times and beginning injections with this very dilute solution, then gradually increasing the concentration.

When I worked in an office where we used this method, patients usually didn't see a lot of improvement for several months. But they were spared the added discomfort, time, and expense of the additional testing that would have been necessary to speed things up.

Where I work now, we calculate each antigen individually and only dilute to the level necessary for that antigen. I often hear patients say, "I can already tell a difference," after just a few weeks of shots.

However there is a price to pay. The testing methods for this can require several sticks to each item the patient is allergic to. While the sticks are usually not significantly uncomfortable, itching during testing sometimes is uncomfortable. Sometimes the upper arms, where we do the testing, become sore and feverish for a day or two after testing.

Seasonal or environmental exposure to the offending allergen, compliance, and concurrent medications are other factors which affect progress.

Allergy shots help most allergy sufferers. But occasionally we find folks who are not helped by them. As I tell our patients, "There are no guarantees in allergy."

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