Allergy Shots In Murray & West Jordan, UT
When your allergy symptoms don’t improve with medications or you want long-lasting relief, allergy shots may be the solution you need. At Allergy Associates of Utah, Andrew Smith, MD, MS, Tara Sarin, MD, and the team offer both traditional and accelerated approaches to allergy shots that dramatically reduce allergy symptoms and often provide long-term results. To schedule an appointment for allergy treatment, call the office in Murray or West Jordan, Utah, or book online today.
What causes allergies?
Your allergies begin when your immune system overreacts to a harmless substance. Once your immune system identifies the substance as a danger to your health, it becomes an allergen.
Every time you encounter that allergen, your immune system releases chemicals that trigger your allergic reaction and cause your symptoms.
How do allergy shots work?
Allergy shots – also called immunotherapy – relieve your allergies by targeting the source of the problem: your immune system. The shots contain a very small dose of your allergen, injecting enough to activate your immune system without causing a full-blown allergic response.
Your Allergy Associates of Utah provider gives you a series of allergy shots, gradually increasing the dose in each shot. As you’re regularly exposed to the allergen, your immune system starts to develop a tolerance to it.
Over time, allergy shots desensitize your immune system, and your allergic reactions gradually diminish. Most patients experience significant relief from their symptoms, and some even find that their allergies disappear altogether.
Which allergies improve with allergy shots?
Allergy shots can treat nearly every type of allergy, including allergies to:
- Pollen
- Pet dander
- Dust mites
- Mold spores
- Insect venom
Food allergies are an exception. While immunotherapy for peanut allergies may soon be available, the only current treatment for a food allergy is to eliminate the food from your diet.
How long will I need to get allergy shots?
If you haven’t had allergy testing, the first step is to get a skin test to identify your allergen. Then your physician gives you allergy shots on a regular schedule that goes through two phases:
Build-up phase
When your allergy shots begin, you get one or two shots a week. This is called the build-up phase because your provider increases your dose with each shot. The build-up phase continues for 3-6 months for most patients until your provider determines you’re ready for the maintenance phase.
Maintenance phase
During the maintenance phase, you get an allergy shot once or twice a month, and each time you get the same dose. The maintenance phase generally lasts 3-5 years. Your symptoms gradually improve throughout this phase until you reach optimal allergy relief.
Many patients experience long-lasting results after they finish the maintenance phase and stop getting allergy shots.
Allergy Associates of Utah also offers accelerated approaches to immunotherapy that can help you achieve significant relief from your allergy symptoms.
What is cluster immunotherapy?
Cluster immunotherapy or rapid desensitization is a safe and effective treatment to address underlying allergies. During cluster immunotherapy, you receive a series of injections based on the results of previous allergy skin tests.
Allergy Associates of Utah formulates your immunotherapy vials based on your specific allergies. During treatment, you receive two to three injections every 30 minutes for about two hours. This allows you to receive a month’s worth of immunotherapy in one visit.
With cluster immunotherapy, you receive a maintenance dose over a period of weeks rather than months. This ensures you experience the benefits of immunotherapy sooner.
For added patient convenience, Allergy Associates of Utah has office hours designed to accommodate your busy schedule, allowing you or your child to receive your allergy shots without having to miss too much work or school.
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