Are there allergy shots for food allergies?

No. Unfortunately, at this time there are no allergy shots specifically for food allergies. However, there are treatments and some medical trials that may help you cope with food allergies a bit easier.  We will discuss the different treatments available for food allergies and how they can help you live a normal, healthy life!

Is there immunotherapy for food allergies?

Not yet, but hopefully soon! Allergy immunotherapy is currently being studied as a potential treatment for food allergies. Allergy shots are the most common form of immunotherapy, and they work by exposing a person to small amounts of the allergen they are allergic to. Over time, this exposure can help reduce the severity of an allergic reaction.

 Hopefully in the near future science will be able to use allergy shots for food allergies as well.

Treatments for food allergies

There is no cure for food allergies, and there are no allergy shots specifically for food allergies as of yet. However, there are treatments that can help manage the symptoms.

Avoidance

The most common treatment is to avoid the food that triggers the reaction. This may be difficult, especially if you are not sure which foods trigger the reaction. Even if you do know your allergen triggers, there are still other barriers you will need to consider. 

Avoiding Food Allergens Barriers

avoiding food allergens barriers infographic. Avoiding food allergens is the first line of defense against food allergies. Sometimes avoiding food allergens can be hindered by these barriers. Food Cross Contamination, Unavoidable exposure (public places or airborne), Undeclared allergens in products, Unsure of what food you are allergic to
  • Food cross contamination
  • Unavoidable exposure (public places/airborne) 
  • Undeclared allergens in products 
  • Unsure of what food you are allergic to 

Medications

There are also medications that can help lessen symptoms, such as antihistamines and epinephrine (emergency use). Talk with a medical provider to discuss options. 

Clinical Trials

There are some treatments that are currently being studied, such as oral immunotherapy (OIT) and epicutaneous immunotherapy (EPIT).

Oral immunotherapy for food allergies

Oral Immunotherapy (OIT) infographic fact. OIT Exposes a person to a small amount of an allergen to build up a tolerance to that substance.

Oral Immunotherapy (OIT) is when a person is exposed to small, increasing amounts of the allergen they are allergic to. The goal is to build up a tolerance so that if the person accidentally ingests the food, they will have a less severe reaction.

Epicutaneous immunotherapy for food allergies

Epicutaneous Immunotherapy (EPIT) infographic fact. EPIT is a patch containing an allergen is placed on the skin. This exposure to the allergen should reduce the severity of an allergic reaction to that substance.

Epicutaneous immunotherapy (EPIT) is when a person is exposed to small amounts of the allergen through their skin. A patch is placed on the skin that contains the allergen, and over time this exposure can help reduce the severity of an allergic reaction.

While these treatments may help, they are not available for everyone and have some risks associated with them. It is important to talk to your doctor about the best treatment option for you.

Final Thoughts 

There aren’t allergy shots for food just yet, but hopefully, we will see some medical breakthroughs soon. In the meantime, avoidance and antihistamines are our best bet. 

What has helped with your food allergies? I’d love to hear your story! chris@allergypreventions.com 

By Chris

Chris is the creator of Allergy Preventions. As an allergy sufferer himself, his vision is to help others find relief from allergies. By combining his 14 years of Public Health experience, personal experience, and his thirst for knowledge, he is dedicated to providing quality recommendations to assist families with allergy symptom relief.