Allergy shots are a type of medicine you get at the doctor’s office. They contain small, controlled amounts of what you’re allergic to. You get them on a regular schedule for several years.

Allergy shots slowly expose your immune system to small amounts of allergens. This helps your body build tolerance and respond less strongly to the allergen over time. Common allergens we can give allergy shots for include pollen, dust mites, animals, insects, molds, and insect stings.

Your care team will tailor a safe and effective shot schedule for you. Shots usually continue for 3 to 5 years, or even longer, to give long-term relief.

Allergy shots are often used when avoiding triggers or when taking allergy medicines doesn’t provide enough relief. They’re part of a long-term care plan to help control allergies and improve your comfort.

Over time, allergy shots can reduce sneezing, itching, and congestion from allergies. They can also lower the risk of severe reactions, including reactions to insect stings.

Allergy shots work best for people with environmental or venom (insect sting) allergies. They’re a good treatment option when medicines alone don’t fully control these reactions.

Your doctor will review your allergy tests, symptoms, and health history to decide if allergy shots are safe and likely to help you.

• Environmental allergies: Environmental triggers can include pollen, dust mites, and pet dander. Allergy shots may reduce sneezing, itching, congestion, and other symptoms caused by these allergens.
• Venom (insect sting) allergies: Stings from bees, wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets can cause severe reactions. Allergy shots can help your body tolerate these stings and lower the risk of serious reactions over time.

Before shots 

Before you get your allergy shots, the doctor reviews your allergy tests and prepares a custom schedule.

During shots

When you get the allergy shot, you receive a small dose of the allergen under the skin. A trained nurse or other care team member will give you the shot, usually in the upper arm. 

Allergy shots follow 2 main phases:

• Build-up phase: You get an allergy shot 1 time per week at first. The dose gradually increases so your body can adjust to the allergen. 
• Maintenance phase: Once you reach the effective dose, you get your allergy shots every 2 to 4 weeks for several years. This schedule depends on your response and care plan.

The care team will ask you to stay in the clinic for a short time after each shot so they can watch for any reactions. Rarely, serious reactions like anaphylaxis can happen. This is why staff give shots in the clinic and watch you after every injection.

After shots

Most people feel fine, though you might have mild redness or swelling where you got the shot. Your doctor adjusts the dose over time to build tolerance and reduce symptoms.