Allergy Injection Patient Instructions
Health Services offers an allergy clinic several days each week. If the hours do not work for your schedule, we can offer a list of community providers.
Health Services can administer up to a maximum of three injections. If you require more, we can offer a list of community providers.
Download the allergy information request letter and form. This form is required to initiate allergy injections at UHS.
Requirements for the extracts:
- Your full name must appear on the vial(s).
- Patient vial labels must be typewritten and contain an expiration
- Handwritten labels and “cross outs” are not acceptable.
- Injection records must be legible and contain unequivocal dosing instructions. These instructions must include directions for increasing patients through to their maintenance dose (interval and dose amount) and instructions for dose reductions if the patient is “late” for their injection or provided new vials
- The strength, contents and expiration date of the allergen extracts must be on the vial and on the injection record.
- All extracts vials received by UHS must be cool-to-touch. If we receive room temperature vials, UHS will contact your allergist to see if the vials are acceptable.
- Extracts will be kept in the refrigerator, unless otherwise indicated, in a compartment marked with your name. UHS is not responsible for replacing serum lost as a result of power outages.
At your first visit, you must have a physical exam by a clinician and meet with a nurse to review the allergy treatment schedule. Any unclear or missing information must be obtained from the allergist. You are required to have an annual visit with a clinician at UHS to continue receiving allergy injections here.
During Vists to the UHS Allergy Clinic
Please check in at a kiosk in the waiting room. You should not receive an allergy injection(s) if you:
- Have a fever or extended illness for any reason
- Are wheezing, are short of breath, are having an exacerbation of asthma symptoms
- Are taking a Beta-Blocker or a drug containing a Beta Blocker, a drug used to treat irregular heartbeats, headaches, eye problems and high blood pressure
If your allergist requires you to pre-medicate before your injection and you have not done so, you will need to reschedule your appointment for the allergy injection.
After receiving injections, you must wait 30 minutes* and have the injection site checked by the nurse for any reactions before leaving the clinic.
Due to the importance of this safety policy, if you fail or decline to follow this policy, we can no longer provide your injections.
While waiting to have the injection site checked, notify the nurse if you experience any of the following after receiving your injection(s): runny nose, wheezing, sneezing, flushing, hives, coughing, itching, facial swelling, anxiety, or shortness of breath.
*Based on best practice guidelines, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
After Receiving Your Injection
Avoid rubbing or scratching the arm in which you received the injection.
Avoid vigorous exercise 2 hours before and after injections, such as jogging, vigorous walking, gym workouts.
Although you may not experience any local reaction within the 30 minutes after the injection, it is possible to react later in the day. If a local reaction occurs:
- Take an antihistamine (like Claritin, Zyrtec, Allegra, Benadryl)
- Record the time and size of the reaction and how long it lasts. Report this to the nurse before you receiving the next injection.
- If the symptoms worsen, return to UHS or go to the nearest emergency department
You will be asked to sign a document acknowledging that you have read and understand the information prior to receiving your first injection in the clinic.