Are there side effects from getting allergy shots long term?

I was an allergy nurse for many years. usually many will stop after about 5 yrs if they have been at maintenance dose about that long. some pts prefer to stay on longer as sort of a security. I was one of those. I finally had Rast testing which showed only 2 allergens remained. finally decided to stop the shots. eventually I went back to levoceterizine in am. then hydroxyzine at bedtime due to terrible itchy rash on my legs. since Bermuda grass is dormant this time of yr I've stopped the nighttime antihistamine as I'm needing cpap and 02 (very long story). hopefully u r being seen by allergist, not an ENT.

Susie, I appreciate your comments and suggestions.

Autoimmunity may be one of the long-term consequences of allergy shots.

I'm going to share my experience with you.

I suffer from Relapsing Polychondritis (an immune-mediated inflammatory disease) with renal involvement in the form of mesangial nephropathy, (which has evolved leading to fibrosis and glomerulosclerosis and almost end stage kidney disease) , I developed the disease at the age of 13 in the distant 2002 during the application of allergen-specific immunotherapy.

Because allergen-specific immunotherapy causes changes in the immune system, it is possible that it may influence the induction of diseases mediated by the immune system, such as autoimmune diseases, even some doctors point to the induction of autoimmunity as one of the possible long-term consequences of allergen-specific immunotherapy.

Increased levels of IL-10, TNF, and TGF-B, as well as changes in Treg cells and the Th2/Th1 balance, are the mechanisms that can cause autoimmune problems in people undergoing allergen specific immunotherapy.

Relapsing polychondritis is a Th1 and IL-10 mediated condition, while mesangial nephropathy is mediated by TGF-B.

In the medical literature there are many cases published over several years such as that of Dr. Ghorschi et al, “Manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis during specific subcutaneous immunotherapy of allergens”, “Scleroderma related to specific immunotherapy. Clinical Case Maciel BM, Morphine BM.” "Turkcapar N, M. Sjogren's syndrome induced by specific immunotherapy.", Pemphigoid-type reaction due to specific immunotherapy with allergen: an unusual adverse reaction Margarita Tomás-Pérez, "Autoimmune thyroiditis detected during allergen-specific immunotherapy: a case report Ahmet TÜRKELİ " among others.

The MDs, PhDs. Allan Linneberg and Andrzej Bozek carried out investigations where the cases of autoimmune disease that have appeared during or after the application of Specific Immunotherapy are indicated. Many of these cases have not been published, and as Dr. Linneberg mentions, it is a sensitive issue that requires significant action.

In the main guidelines for the use of specific immunotherapy, such as the EAACI , the DGAKI and the forums of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology AAAAI, this sensitive topic is mentioned.

My disease, other people's diseases , acknowledge the great ignorance and uncertainty of allergists that prevails in this area and call for a strong precautionary principle in relation to autoimmune diseases and allergen-specific immunotherapy.

I was negligently treated by an Allergist member of the National Council of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (CONICA) of México , my case was not published in the literature.

And that is why it is extremely important to evaluate people in terms of autoimmunity risk before starting SIT, my situation (along with that of other people) must not be repeated.

My body and my health were destroyed by Allergen Specific Immunotherapy and a negligent Allergist.