Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBenefitsCommon Side EffectsLong-Term RisksChronic Condition ComplicationsAlternatives
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Benefits
Common Side Effects
Long-Term Risks
Chronic Condition Complications
Alternatives
However, steroid shots can cause side effects and long-term complications, so they are only recommended to allergy sufferers when all other treatments have not helped.
This article takes you through the short- and long-term side effects of steroid injections and provides alternative treatment suggestions for your allergy symptoms.
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Benefits of Steroid Shots for Allergies
Steroid shots for allergies target both immediate and long-term allergy symptoms. The steroid is slowly released into your body and continues working anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.
Benefits of long-lasting steroid shots include:
How Steroid Shots Work in Your Body
Common Side Effects of Steroid Shots for Allergies
While steroid shots can go a long way to alleviate allergies, it’s important to be aware of the many risks.
Side effects that may occur right away or soon after (24 hours) steroid shots include:
Long-Term Risks of Steroid Shots for Allergies
When steroid shots are used frequently or for long periods, more serious side effects may occur. Potential side effects of long-term steroid injection use may include:
Diabetes
Cardiovascular Disorders
Average and large doses of injected steroids can cause blood pressure to rise (hypertension), salt and water retention, and increased loss of potassium. Salt restriction and potassium supplementation may be necessary.
People withcongestive heart failure, high blood pressure, orrenal insufficiencyshould inform their healthcare provider of these conditions before being treated with corticosteroids.
Weakened Immune System
Corticosteroids reduce the activity of your immune system. Steroid shots for allergies may increase your susceptibility to a new infection, conceal some signs of a current infection, decrease your resistance, and worsen fungal infections, otherpathogens, orlatent tuberculosis. The rate of these complications increases with higher doses.
Chicken pox and measles can be more serious or even fatal in adults and children receiving steroid shots. If you are exposed to chicken pox or measles while being treated with steroids let your healthcare provider know immediately.
Speak with your healthcare provider before gettinganyvaccinationswhile being treated with steroid injections for allergies.
Adrenal Disorder
Oral, inhaled, topical, nasal, and intravenous forms of corticosteroids may lead to adrenal suppression (preventing your body from making needed cortisol) which can be life-threatening in some cases. Steroid therapies must be gradually tapered off to avoid adrenal suppression.
Vision Problems
Corticosteroids may increase the incidence ofcataracts,glaucoma(with possible damage to the optic nerves and blindness), andeye infections. For these reasons, your healthcare provider may monitor your intraocular pressure if you receive steroid shots for your allergies over a prolonged period.
Osteoporosis
Because corticosteroids have a major effect on the body’s use of calcium and vitamin D, prolonged use can lead to bone loss,secondary osteoporosis, and broken bones. Long-term use of steroid shots for allergies may also lead to the suppression of bone growth in children.
Obesity
Prolonged use of corticosteroids affects metabolism and how fat deposits are distributed in your body. Steroid use leads to increased appetite, subsequent weight gain, and added fat in your abdomen.
Complications for People With Chronic Conditions
If you have an underlying medical condition, you may notice additional side effects from steroid shots. Each chronic condition has different effects and they may include:
If you have been diagnosed with a chronic health condition, let your allergist or healthcare provider know when discussing your allergy treatment plan.
Alternatives to Steroid Shots for Allergies
If you live with allergies, ask your healthcare provider about trying one or more of the following alternative treatments.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapytrains the immune system to remain stable when exposed to allergens like pollen, insect venom, and dust mites. Small doses of allergens are gradually introduced to your body, which helps your immune system to become less reactive to them.
Immunotherapy is commonly administered as allergy shots (injection) orsublinguallywith allergy drops or tablets placed under the tongue. Not all allergies can be treated with immunotherapy.
Nasal Corticosteroids
Another option is to use nasal corticosteroids, which target only the nose and don’t have the systemic side effects steroid shots do. They relieve nasal congestion and inflammation but must be used daily for a few weeks to be effective.
Mast Cell Stabilizers
Mast cell stabilizers keep mast cells from releasing histamine. They are available for use in inhalers, nasal sprays, and eye drops. These medications tend to work best for prevention.
Antihistamines
Histamine is released whenever an allergen triggers your body. This reaction expands blood vessels and causes swelling.Antihistaminesreduce swelling and block symptoms like stuffy nose, watery eyes, and sneezing.Over-the-counterand prescription antihistamines are available.
Lifestyle Changes
There are a few ways you can reduce your exposure to allergens and irritants with lifestyle changes including:
Summary
Steroid shots for allergies are used to relieve inflammatory symptoms. Long-acting corticosteroid injections prevent the immune system from overreacting to allergens. Shots can eliminate some or all of your allergy symptoms, making it possible to go without the need for other medications.
However, steroid shots can cause side effects such as increased appetite, difficulty sleeping, and short or long-term weight gain. Complications from long-term steroid use can include vision problems, adrenal disorders, and a weakened immune system. For those with manageable symptoms, alternative treatments and lifestyle changes can replace steroid shots for allergies.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Food and Drug Administration.KENALOG®-40 INJECTION triamcinolone acetonide injectable suspension, USP.Medline Plus.Hydrocortisone injection.Patel A, Bahna SL.Immediate hypersensitivity reactions to corticosteroids.Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2015;115(3):178-182.e3. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2015.06.022Bristol-Myers Squibb.Count on KENALOG-40 Injection.Pelewicz K, Miśkiewicz P.Glucocorticoid Withdrawal-An Overview on When and How to Diagnose Adrenal Insufficiency in Clinical Practice.Diagnostics (Basel). 2021;11(4):728. Published 2021 Apr 20. doi:10.3390/diagnostics11040728Fields, TR.Steroid Side Effects: How to Reduce Drug Side Effects of Corticosteroids. Hospital for Special Surgery. [Internet].Bope ET, Rakel RE, Kellerman RD, Conn HF.Conn’s Current Therapy 2010E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences; 2010.American College of Allergy Asthma & Immunology.Allergy immunotherapy.Allergy and Asthma Network.HEPA filters: Help or hype?Additional ReadingAllergy Shots (Immunotherapy). American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Food and Drug Administration.KENALOG®-40 INJECTION triamcinolone acetonide injectable suspension, USP.Medline Plus.Hydrocortisone injection.Patel A, Bahna SL.Immediate hypersensitivity reactions to corticosteroids.Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2015;115(3):178-182.e3. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2015.06.022Bristol-Myers Squibb.Count on KENALOG-40 Injection.Pelewicz K, Miśkiewicz P.Glucocorticoid Withdrawal-An Overview on When and How to Diagnose Adrenal Insufficiency in Clinical Practice.Diagnostics (Basel). 2021;11(4):728. Published 2021 Apr 20. doi:10.3390/diagnostics11040728Fields, TR.Steroid Side Effects: How to Reduce Drug Side Effects of Corticosteroids. Hospital for Special Surgery. [Internet].Bope ET, Rakel RE, Kellerman RD, Conn HF.Conn’s Current Therapy 2010E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences; 2010.American College of Allergy Asthma & Immunology.Allergy immunotherapy.Allergy and Asthma Network.HEPA filters: Help or hype?Additional ReadingAllergy Shots (Immunotherapy). American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Food and Drug Administration.KENALOG®-40 INJECTION triamcinolone acetonide injectable suspension, USP.Medline Plus.Hydrocortisone injection.Patel A, Bahna SL.Immediate hypersensitivity reactions to corticosteroids.Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2015;115(3):178-182.e3. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2015.06.022Bristol-Myers Squibb.Count on KENALOG-40 Injection.Pelewicz K, Miśkiewicz P.Glucocorticoid Withdrawal-An Overview on When and How to Diagnose Adrenal Insufficiency in Clinical Practice.Diagnostics (Basel). 2021;11(4):728. Published 2021 Apr 20. doi:10.3390/diagnostics11040728Fields, TR.Steroid Side Effects: How to Reduce Drug Side Effects of Corticosteroids. Hospital for Special Surgery. [Internet].Bope ET, Rakel RE, Kellerman RD, Conn HF.Conn’s Current Therapy 2010E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences; 2010.American College of Allergy Asthma & Immunology.Allergy immunotherapy.Allergy and Asthma Network.HEPA filters: Help or hype?
Food and Drug Administration.KENALOG®-40 INJECTION triamcinolone acetonide injectable suspension, USP.
Medline Plus.Hydrocortisone injection.
Patel A, Bahna SL.Immediate hypersensitivity reactions to corticosteroids.Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2015;115(3):178-182.e3. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2015.06.022
Bristol-Myers Squibb.Count on KENALOG-40 Injection.
Pelewicz K, Miśkiewicz P.Glucocorticoid Withdrawal-An Overview on When and How to Diagnose Adrenal Insufficiency in Clinical Practice.Diagnostics (Basel). 2021;11(4):728. Published 2021 Apr 20. doi:10.3390/diagnostics11040728
Fields, TR.Steroid Side Effects: How to Reduce Drug Side Effects of Corticosteroids. Hospital for Special Surgery. [Internet].
Bope ET, Rakel RE, Kellerman RD, Conn HF.Conn’s Current Therapy 2010E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences; 2010.
American College of Allergy Asthma & Immunology.Allergy immunotherapy.
Allergy and Asthma Network.HEPA filters: Help or hype?
Allergy Shots (Immunotherapy). American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).
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