Asthma (allergy) shots: what do you know about immunotherapy?
The field of immunotherapy has grown over the last 2 decades and immunotherapy injections can now be used to help treat and manage allergic asthma.
This is done by getting asthma allergy shots
What are asthma (allergy) shots?
Asthma allergy shots are used to treat asthma that falls under the category of immunotherapy
These immunotherapy shots are also called subcutaneous immunotherapy
When injected, it exposes the body to a small amount of the allergen that triggers a reaction in the immune system
Over time, the immune system begins to make non-allergic antibodies against the allergen to prevent the body from mounting an immune response later in the future.
Since most asthmatics are triggered by exposure to allergens or irritants, using immunotherapy will help reduce acute asthma attacks
How long does it take for an asthma allergy injection to work?
Immunotherapy doesn’t work the same way for everybody. It depends on the response created by the immune system.
The process of developing a tolerance usually takes time, sometimes, it can take as long as a year to develop therapeutic responses.
The body’s reaction to immunotherapy injections is divided into two phases: the build-up phase and the maintenance phase.
In the buildup phase, you’re injected with gradually increased amounts of allergen once or twice a week. This phase lasts for about 3 to 6 months depending on the body’s response.
In the maintenance phase, you should have reached a level of immunity to a particular allergen, but you still need to continue treatment to keep this protection up.
During this stage, injections are given less frequently, typically every 4 to 6 weeks. The dose depends on your immune response and will be determined by your doctor.
Maintenance treatment continues for 3 to 5 years and after that, you would have developed the desired immunity and no longer need treatment.
Asthma and allergy shot side effects :
The most common side effect is reactions to the injections. This can appear as redness, swelling, or itching
In some cases, you may develop systemic side effects to your standard allergic reaction after a shot. They include sneezing, hives, and nasal congestion.
In rare cases, there are serious reactions. Your doctor needs to observe you for a period after getting your shot to keep an eye on these reactions. The most common of them is anaphylaxis which causes wheezing, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, throat swelling, and chest pain or tightness.
The average cost of asthma allergy shots:
The annual cost of injectible asthma allergy shots is about $1,722 per year. However, the sublingual formulas offer the same cost savings at an estimated $670 per year.
Recent studies indicate that getting treated with asthma immunotherapy is usually more cost-effective than treating asthma attacks and flare-ups that would have occurred without the treatment.
Who is qualified to take asthma and allergy shots?
These shots are not just for people with asthma, they can be used in people with other forms of allergic reactions.
They can also be used in children and adults with allergic conjunctivitis, allergic rhinitis, and stinging insect allergies.
These allergy shots are not used for treating food allergies. This is because these allergies function differently.
