When taken in the recommended order, allergy shots can provide significant symptom relief/TSN Allergy shots and shots, also known as allergen immunotherapy, consist of a series of treatments designed to provide long-term relief from severe allergies.
Allergy shot
- Who is suitable for allergy shots?
- How do allergy shots work?
- Preparing for allergy shots
- Procedure
- Efficiency
- Side effects
- Forecast
You may consider allergen immunotherapy if you have severe allergy symptoms that are interfering with your daily life, even after you have made changes to your lifestyle and adopted an allergy-friendly diet. Injections may be used to treat allergies due to:
- dust mites
- feathers
- dust
- pet dander
- pollen
- insects
When taken in the recommended order, allergy shots can significantly relieve symptoms. At the same time, this treatment option requires long-term use to achieve a prolonged effect.
Who is it suitable for?
You must be able to devote time to this treatment method. The therapy requires frequent injections at your doctor's office. Allergy shots can be used by people who have:
- allergic asthma
- allergic rhinitis
- eye allergies or recurring conjunctivitis
- allergies to insects, especially bees and other stinging insects
You may be a good candidate if you have year-round severe allergy symptoms and do not want to take medications for an extended period of time. This treatment method tends to work best for people who are sensitive to inhaled allergens and insect poisons.
Antiallergy vaccinations are used only for patients over 5 years of age. This is because children under 5 years of age may not be fully aware of the potential side effects and discomfort that may require discontinuation of treatment. It is also not recommended to get allergy shots if you are pregnant or have heart disease or severe asthma.
Doctor's mistake
Medical errors rank high on the list of causes of complications following a Botox procedure. This happens in cases where:
- the storage conditions of the drug were violated and caused its spoilage;
- the specialist is not sufficiently informed about subcutaneous muscular diffusion or has insufficient experience in performing such injections, as a result of which the drug, moving to neighboring tissues, causes their ptosis;
- for various reasons, a low-level clinic was chosen, where the procedure was carried out with gross violations, resulting in drooping of the upper eyelid, drying of the mucous membrane of the eyes, swelling of the face, the appearance of bags under the eyes, impaired blinking, paralysis of the orbicularis oris muscles;
- the drug was injected into areas of the face that were not suitable for this, and as a result of complete relaxation of the muscles, deformation of the oval occurred;
- the dosage was calculated incorrectly; with a lower dosage, there is no expected effect; with a higher dosage, deformation of the face and its transformation into an immobile mask are likely.
How do allergy shots work?
Allergy shots work by reducing symptoms from certain allergens.
Each injection contains a small amount of the allergen, so your body develops immunity to it over time. This process is very similar to taking a vaccine, where your body creates new antibodies to fight off invasive substances. Allergy shots also improve the way other immune system cells and substances respond to allergens. Ultimately, successful immunotherapy helps the body fight allergens and reduce adverse symptoms.
Allergy shots are aimed at reducing common allergy symptoms. Reducing asthma symptoms is also possible if it is allergic in nature.
Histamine receptor blockers
They can be considered real antiallergic injections - the mechanism of action is due to the inhibition of histamine-sensitive receptors.
They also reduce the production of histamine, which is involved in the development of an allergic reaction.
After the injection, allergy symptoms decrease.
The range of injectables is small and consists of first-generation drugs.
A characteristic feature of this group is a sedative effect, manifested by lethargy, drowsiness, and retardation of psychomotor reactions. Therefore, drivers and persons whose professional duties require quick reactions should limit their mental load.
In addition, such drugs narrow the lumen of blood vessels and some internal organs - the urinary tract, stomach.
This effect should be taken into account in patients with:
- Disorders of urination of various etiologies;
- Pathologies of the cardiovascular system;
- Hyperthyroidism, etc.
Note! When conducting skin tests for allergens, the use of antihistamines is stopped 3 days before the test.
Preparation
Before starting immunotherapy, you will need to undergo a complete allergy screening. Your doctor should know exactly what substances to use for injections. For example, if you have allergies during pollen season, he will check which types of pollen are causing your symptoms. Rapeseed and various tree pollens are common stimulants.
Allergy testing usually consists of skin pricking. During this test, your doctor will prick the skin of your back or forearm with several types of allergens to determine which ones cause reactions.
All tests and treatment with allergy shots are carried out by a specialized allergist or immunologist.
Procedure
Once your doctor identifies your allergens, you will begin receiving allergy shots. The process is divided into two phases: build-up and maintenance.
The build-up stage requires the most time. You receive injections up to twice a week to help your body become accustomed to the allergens. This phase lasts up to six months.
The maintenance phase consists of injections given once or twice a month. You enter this phase once your doctor determines that your body has become accustomed to the injections. They base this decision on your reaction to the injections. The maintenance phase lasts from 3 to 5 years. It is important that you do not skip any of your treatments if possible. This may interfere with the course of treatment.
You will need to remain in the doctor's office for 30 minutes after each injection to monitor for any side effects or reactions.
Main characteristics of injections
Derinat injections are a medicinal solution intended for intramuscular administration. This is a transparent liquid, it has no color, odor or impurities. The main active ingredient is sodium deoxyribonucleate at a concentration of 15 g/ml. In addition to the main component, the drug contains sodium chloride and water.
Injections will allow you to activate defenses and normalize humoral and cellular immunity in a short period of time. Thanks to Derinat, the body’s correct response to infections of various natures is ensured - viruses, bacteria or fungi. In addition, the solution can also be used for inhalation if the disease occurs with complications.
The composition of the drug is highly effective, it has many indications. It promotes rapid regeneration and repair of tissues and cells. The substance deoxyribonucleate allows you to stop inflammation and stimulate the necessary part of the immune system in a short time.
But the medicine Derinat in injections should only be prescribed by a doctor, unlike the drop form. The injection solution has some cardiac effects and also has an anti-ischemic effect.
The solution has two main forms:
- Concentration 1.5% - used mainly for intramuscular injections only.
- Concentrations of 0.25% - recommended for local and external use, for example, for inhalation or treatment of wound surfaces.
Each dosage form is intended for specific situations and is used only as indicated in a dose individually selected by the attending physician.
The active substance of the Derinat solution is quickly absorbed in the body and distributed, spreading through the lymph. Maximum accumulation occurs in the organs responsible for immunity and hematopoiesis. In smaller volumes, the substance accumulates in the mucous membranes of the digestive system and in the brain.
The drug is excreted in urine and feces. In patients with severe decompensated pathologies, dose adjustment of Derinat is not carried out.
Efficiency
Allergy shots may provide long-term relief after the injections stop. Some people who have used allergen immunotherapy may no longer need treatment for their allergies. You may even notice some benefits during early maintenance therapy.
In some cases, allergy shots don't work. This may be due to a number of reasons, including:
- stopping treatment due to reactions
- prolonged exposure to extremely high levels of allergens
- there is not enough allergen in the injections
- ineffective allergen testing
Side effects include reactions similar to hives or mosquito bites at the injection site/ Pixabay
Side effects
Common side effects include reactions similar to hives or mosquito bites at the injection site. The injection area may be swollen. This type of reaction is normal and may last for several hours before going away without any treatment.
Some people experience allergy symptoms after injections as a reaction to the injected allergens. These include nasal congestion, sneezing and itchy skin. Taking an antihistamine may help relieve these symptoms.
In rare cases, allergy shots can cause a serious reaction called anaphylaxis. During anaphylactic shock, you may experience dizziness and difficulty breathing. This reaction can occur within 30 minutes of receiving an allergy shot. Your doctor will likely ask you to stay in the hospital for half an hour after the injection so they can monitor you for this type of reaction.
If you get sick, tell your doctor. You may have to skip the injection until you recover. For example, getting an allergy shot for a respiratory illness may increase the risk of side effects.
Worst Negative Consequences
The likelihood of a disastrous outcome of any operation should always be kept in mind, therefore, forewarned is forearmed. What consequences are possible under unfavorable circumstances and how reparable are they?
- Ptosis of the eyelids is the inability to open the eyes, drooping eyebrows and their asymmetry. The reason is the inaccuracy of Botox administration or unequal development of facial muscles on the right and left sides of the face.
- Asphyxia is paralysis of the respiratory muscles as a result of lung pathology and exposure to an excessive dose of Botox.
This happens quite rarely, because it is simply impossible to significantly exceed the dose of Botox. Hypersensitivity to the drug also cannot be discounted. - Allergy and angioedema are a consequence of individual intolerance to botulinum toxin preparations and their components - gelatin, lactose (read about whether there can be an allergic reaction to botulinum toxin and filler and how this is expressed here).
- Anaphylactic shock is an extremely negative reaction to Botox that requires immediate medical attention.
- Inability to swallow, change in voice timbre, weakness of the neck muscles are also consequences of an overdose or too deep administration.
- Damage to the facial nerve by a needle and, as a consequence, loss of sensitivity in this area for a period from several days to several years - this happens extremely rarely with the atypical location of its processes, and it is not always possible to predict, although usually the doctor takes every precaution to avoid such a turn of events .
- The death of a patient as a result of Botox injection is a rare case when several circumstances are combined: the patient’s personal intolerance to the drugs and the unprofessionalism or negligence of the medical staff, or when trying to inject themselves.
We invite you to watch a video about complications after the procedure:
About what causes undesirable consequences after injections, as well as how to remove Botox from the face. read here.
Forecast
Many people respond well to allergy shots and can actually get rid of them. It may take a year before you see results. If you don't see any improvement after a year, you may need to talk to your allergist about other allergy control options.
If you have food allergies, talk to your doctor about how to avoid eating the foods you are allergic to. Allergy shots are not effective in treating food allergies.
Author: Alena Kyupeli
Hot prick. Reviews
The opinions of people who have undergone treatment and know what it is are very important for those patients who are prescribed such injections:
“I was in the hospital with pneumonia. These injections were also given as part of the complex treatment. This is an indescribable feeling, but everything quickly passes and is forgotten. There is nothing wrong with a slight wave of heat that passes just as quickly. After administering the medicine, everything returns to normal. In my case, these injections helped.” Marina, 31 years old.
“I want to say that in our hospitals they love to treat people, especially to prescribe injections. But you can get by with tablets, especially since calcium salts are well absorbed, and there is no such health risk when administered. I tried it on myself, then I persuaded the doctor to switch to pills. Everything ended well, I recovered.” Evgenia, 34 years old.
“I had an exacerbation of allergies, it was so bad that I was admitted to the hospital. They prescribed a course of chloride injections, it helped - now I know how important the right approach is.” Marina, 45 years old.
“I was in conservancy and was given Magnesia. It's really something to experience. I was not warned that these would be strange sensations. Sorry, but as soon as they inserted a needle into my vein and began to slowly inject the medicine, it seemed to me that I had urinated. It turns out that such sensations are normal, the “burning” was especially strong in the lower part of the body. Tolerable, of course, but I was scared. The second time I wasn’t so afraid. All sensations of heat come within a few minutes or even earlier. So it’s okay, the main thing is to bear and give birth to a healthy baby!” Marina, 23 years old.
