allergy injections?

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Specializes in Level III cardiac/telemetry.

I am going for allergy testing next week and would like to be able to start injections (if indicated of course). I had a dr a few years ago that suggested it but I hated having to go to the clinic every week for the injections. Now my allergies have gotten so miserably bad that I will do whatever I have to. I'm wondering though if I can give myself the injections? I'm sure that at least for the first few times I would have to be at the clinic to make sure there is no adverse rxn, but later could I do them myself since I'm a student nurse? Or do you think one of my nursing teachers could give them to me while at school? I don't know if that is allowed. I just hope I can find something that will make my headaches and itchy/watery eyes and sneezing go away! Gotta love the Oklahoma wind that comes sweeping everything in off the plain!

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Absolutely not advisable to give to yourself. People have serious allergic reactions to this. Think about it....you are being injected with a KNOWN substance which you are already highly allergic to. As a nurse giving this, you must always have a doctor in house and be ACLS prepared, plus have immediate access to injectable epinephrine, injectable benedryl and O2 when giving allergy shots. I have seen reactions that require intervention!

edited to add that each time you get an allergy shot you must be monitored for 30 minutes and then the area measured which then determines the amount of allergen you will be injected with the following appointment.

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Specializes in Case Management.

Lana, I had this same problem and here is how I solved it--The first couple of months I went to the MD office and they injected me, and I stayed for 20 minutes while they watched me for a reaction. After the first couple of months, (and while I was in nursing school) I was able to have my serum shipped to me at nursing school. I would keep my serum in the refrigerator at school and once a week I would inject myself. I always asked a "buddy" to stay with me for a half hour or so, and I had an epi-pen at hand. I was a 4 minute walk to the ER from my dorm at nursing school. My doctor was very insistant that I do the shots while someone was close by. It worked out very well, and sometimes I let my friends practice sq injections on me. Hope this helps

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Specializes in floor to ICU.

Not a good idea at first as stated above. Wonder if you could do it once you reached your maintenence dose? However, it is possible to have a reaction at anytime...

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.

I coordinate our allergy clinic and while it is not necessary to have a physician or ACLS personnel present, you do need CPR-certified professionals available in case you have a reaction. This is a policy of every allergy doc we deal with. Also, in most cases you will be given a progressively larger dose of allergen so it might be some time before you reach a maintenance dose anyway.

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Specializes in Home Health Care.

I've been getting immuno therapy weekly for the last ten years, Just recently I reached maintenance enough to go q2 weeks. My allergist will not let me give them to myself.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, PSYCH, PP, CEN.

I was sick all the time till I started allergy shots. They made a huge difference in my life. I feel so much better. That said it will be worth the time investment to feel better. Take your books with you and study while you wait. It is best not to give them to yourself because you should be monitored. I had been taking them for more than ten years when I had severe reactions 2 times in a row. Good luck with your shots and I hope they make you feel much healthier like mine did.

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Specializes in Rural Health.

I do them at work but I work in an ER. My doctor isn't thrilled with the idea of me doing them w/o his watchful eye but my doctor is also 2 hours away and there is NO WAY I can make a 2 hour drive every week (or in my case, I take them every other day) for allergy shots so he's agreed to let me do them at work.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Like mom2michael, I also am allowed to self administer while I am at the hospital. I can only do this once I have reached maintenence dose though, not while doses are increasing.

Don't self administer at home. Even if you have been on the shots for years, each exposure to the allergen is a chance to have a severe reaction. It's too big a gamble.

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Specializes in all facets of clinic fp to surg et ob.

took them for 6 years--worked great--allergists in our area do not allow out of their or clinic office setting--(even when I was one mixing individual serums--mine refused) hard to manage but worth every drop.

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You might want to look into sublingual immunotherapy. I am trying this right now and it can be done at home, unlike shots, but works in a similar manner. I did some research before starting it and it appears to be effective in many people. I have had shots off and on for years and they really, really helped! But it was a hassle to go in eacy week for the injection and wait 20 minutes for a reaction, especially after I had kids. Good luck and I hope you feel better soon!

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You might want to look into sublingual immunotherapy. I am trying this right now and it can be done at home, unlike shots, but works in a similar manner. I did some research before starting it and it appears to be effective in many people. I have had shots off and on for years and they really, really helped! But it was a hassle to go in eacy week for the injection and wait 20 minutes for a reaction, especially after I had kids. Good luck and I hope you feel better soon!

American Chai--

I was just wondering how the sublingual immunotherapy is working for you. Also, do you know how expensive it is?

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