Arizona is considered to be the perfect escape for people with allergies or asthma, due to its location and weather. However, Phoenix allergies can be just as bad as anywhere else in the country, some of the most frequent allergens being animal dander, mold, pollen, or mites.
One of the most effective ways to control the symptoms and treat allergies altogether is by taking allergy shots that are prescribed by your doctor and taken under medical supervision.
If you are pregnant and suffer from allergies or asthma, it’s important to always check in with your doctor to keep your symptoms under control, as sometimes they can worsen. But can you get allergy shots while pregnant? The short answer is yes, read below to find out more on the subject.
Do I need to skip allergy medication when I’m pregnant?
If your allergy symptoms are mild, you might not need to take any medication, instead focus on preventing the appearance of the symptoms and try to avoid your allergens altogether. However, if the symptoms are quite bad and make everyday activities difficult, your doctor might recommend taking medication to protect your and your baby’s health. In the case of asthma, you will need to continue with the medication prescribed by your physician as uncontrolled asthma symptoms might have serious effects on your pregnancy. However, whether your symptoms are mild or not, you should always consult your board-certified allergy specialist to have the right treatment prescribed.
What are allergy shots?
Allergy shots are a form of immunotherapy that involves the administration of a specific allergen like pet dander, pollen, or dust mites. These are meant to stimulate your immune system and help the body get used to allergens and build up a tolerance to them. Immunotherapy can take up to five years, during which your doctor will increase the dose of allergens in your shots. The treatment depends on your symptoms and allergy test results. A board-certified allergy specialist can always recommend a suitable testing method and treatment for your specific problem, so make sure you get the right help.
Can I continue to get allergy shots during pregnancy?
If you have been diagnosed with an allergy and medications don’t seem to alleviate your symptoms, allergists prescribe immunotherapy which has proven to be the most effective way to treat allergies and eliminate symptoms in the long run.
If you’re pregnant you should always seek advice from your doctor before you take any sort of medication. Allergy shots don’t represent a risk and they are safe to take while you are pregnant. However, your specialized physician will closely monitor your dose to reduce the risk of having an allergic reaction to these shots.
Your doctor would not recommend immunotherapy if you are pregnant but your treatment will not be interrupted if you become pregnant after your treatment started. Also, your doses most likely won’t be increased until after delivery. After giving birth, you can start receiving higher and higher doses and maintain the level of immunity you had before having a baby.
According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), allergies have a tendency to be hereditary, which means they can be passed from parents to their kids. If both parents suffer from allergies, their children have a 75% of chance being allergic as well and this percentage decreases if only one or none of the parents have allergies.
A study presented by the same institute revealed that pregnant women who receive allergy shots during pregnancy may decrease the baby’s risk to develop allergies.
However, patients receiving immunotherapy during pregnancy should be carefully monitored at all times, to make sure the correct dosage is received.
The takeaway
As seen above, allergen immunotherapy can safely continue if you are pregnant, under your doctor’s close supervision and in those patients who don’t develop adverse reactions to the shots. However, it is generally recommended for this treatment to not be started during pregnancy, due to a higher risk of anaphylaxis. It is crucial to closely monitor allergies and always check with your doctor for advice and recommended treatment.
If you would like to know more information on this, our qualified allergy associates are here to offer guidance, testing and treatment and answer your questions!
Get in touch today!
