How Long Do Allergy Shots Last?

Allergy shots, also known as immunotherapy, work by gradually retraining your immune system to stop overreacting to specific allergens. Because they're a long-term treatment rather than a quick fix, patients often want to know exactly what kind of time commitment they're signing up for — and what they get out of it afterward.

Two phases, several years

Allergy shots are given in two phases. The build-up phase involves more frequent injections — often once or twice a week — with gradually increasing allergen doses, usually over several months. Once you reach an effective maintenance dose, shots are typically given about once a month, and this maintenance phase generally continues for three to five years.

Why the full course matters

The three-to-five-year timeline isn't arbitrary — it reflects how long it genuinely takes the immune system to build lasting tolerance to an allergen. Stopping early often means symptoms return sooner, while completing the full course gives the treatment the best chance of providing benefits that last well beyond the shots themselves, in many cases for years afterward.

Is immunotherapy right for you?

Allergy shots tend to make the most sense for patients with significant symptoms in more than one season, those who want to reduce long-term reliance on daily allergy medication, or patients whose allergies aren't well controlled by medication alone. The process starts with allergy testing to confirm exactly which allergens are driving your symptoms, since immunotherapy only works when it's targeted at your actual triggers.

Getting started at Noel ENT

At Noel ENT, our allergy team has helped patients throughout Lafayette and Abbeville move past short-term symptom relief and toward lasting improvement through properly managed immunotherapy.

Tired of allergy medication that only works while you're taking it? Schedule an appointment with Noel ENT to find out if allergy shots are right for you.

‍