About Allergies: What Allergy Shots Can Do For You

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Allergies Allergies Symptoms / Diagnosis Treatment Coping From Daniel More, MD, your Guide to Allergies Allergy shots, or immunotherapy, represents the only treatment that can actually change the underlying problem of allergies. Unlike medications, which only serve to cover up symptoms, allergy shots offer the only potential cure for allergies. For most of my patients, I give a trial of various allergy medicines, but even when a medication "works" for their symptoms -- there really isn't an endpoint to taking the medicine. Once the medicine is stopped, allergy symptoms quickly return. The benefit of allergy shots also lasts for many years after the shots are stopped -- because immunotherapy works more like a vaccine against allergies, rather than a medicine. So why aren't more people taking allergy shots for their allergies? Maybe because most people aren't aware that this type of treatment even exists. All About Allergy Shots When medications fail to adequately control allergy symptoms and avoidance of the trigger is not easy or possible, an allergist may recommend immunotherapy or "allergy shots". This treatment consists of a series of injections containing small amounts of the substances to which a person is allergic... See More About:  hayfever  skin testing  antihistamines Allergy Drops as an Alternative to Allergy Shots Sublingual immunotherapy, or SLIT, is a form of immunotherapy that involves putting drops of allergen extracts under the tongue. Many people refer to this process as "allergy drops," and it is an alternative treatment for allergy shots. This form of immunotherapy has been used for years in Europe, and recently has had increased interest in the United States... See More About:  allergy testing  allergy shots  allergist Which is Better: Allergy Shots or Allergy Drops? People often wonder which therapy is better -- allergy shots or allergy drops. The answer isn't always that simple, although there only a couple of major differences that should be considered when deciding between allergy shots and drops... See More About:  allergies  allergist  allergy testing Allergies Ads Allergy Treatment Skin Allergy Allergy Symptoms Dust Allergy Allergy Cure Featured Articles Food Allergies Allergies in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Drug and Latex Allergies Insect Allergies Anaphylaxis Allergy Shots and Drops (Immunotherapy)   More from About.com Backyard Chickens 101 Dabble in the self-sufficient, eco-friendly life with these essential chicken-raising tips. More> 24 Amazing Container Gardens These gorgeous and creative gardens prove it doesn't take a lot of space to create something special. More> This newsletter is written by: Daniel More, MD Allergies Guide Email Me | My Blog | My Forum   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About Allergies newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2011 About.com   Must Reads What are Allergies? Symptoms of Allergies Diagnosis of Allergies Treatment of Allergies Preventing Allergies Advertisement